Stage 8 preview
Aigurande – Super-Besse Sancy
The favourites emerge
This stage joins two towns also linked in the 2008 Tour. The route between them is slightly different, though, with the cat 2 Col de Croix Saint-Robert providing a stiff test prior to the final climb up to the ski resort of Super-Besse. Three years ago, Riccardo Riccò led the field home while Stefan Schumacher lost the yellow jersey after crashing in the final charge to the hill-top finish. Neither, of course, will race this year, but the yellow jersey could still change hands. The final ramps are steep enough to split the field and to ensure all the yellow jersey favourites will be working hard.
Details -
Distance: 189 km
Highest point: 1,451m
Category: Medium mountains
Sean Yates says...
'In the Massif Central, it’s often so hot the tarmac starts to melt. The stages are hectic until the break goes but the main group will never coast and let a group get 20 minutes. I doubt that the finish is hard enough to cause big splits in the GC guys."
Stage map
Stage profile
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
2025 gravel national champions index
A guide to who is wearing the jersey of a gravel national champion and when the title battles take place -
Virginia's Blue Ridge CO Cross: Rochette and Strohmeyer go back-to-back with C2 victories in Roanoke
Bakker and Mani earn podiums on Sunday for elite women while Brunner repeats in second ahead of Werner for elite men -
Eyewitness: Destroyed barricades, flares and police lines – the unfolding turmoil that stopped the Vuelta a España reaching the final finish line in Madrid
As riders celebrated on the road in the early kilometres of stage 21 ominous signs mounted around the pro-Palestine protest lined barriers of the final circuit -
Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal: Brandon McNulty and Tadej Pogačar finish one-two in UAE Team Emirates domination at WorldTour race
Quinn Simmons give USA two riders on podium with third-place finish