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Edward Theuns (Trek – Segafredo) is pulling through with his teammates – this could have been a stage that suited him, but it looks like he’ll have bigger fish to fry later. We’re getting close to the first intermediate sprint point.
The gap to the 21 riders is growing – it’s 2 minutes now with 120km to go. Many of the potential stage favourites are in this break.
Have a read of today’s stage preview by Barry Ryan. Today is a unique day at the Giro, it’s basically a mini-classic through the streets of Naples.
125km to go – 21 riders off the front
With the gap holding at 1’40”, Trek Segafredo aren’t happy with this composition. They have their entire team chasing at the front of the peloton.
Thomas De Gendt attacked off the front of the breakaway to try and break things up in the front group, but his acceleration was unsuccessful. There are still 21 riders in the break.
Here are the names of the 21 riders in the breakaway.
Guillaume Martin (COF)
Diego Ulissi (UAD)
Sylvain Moniquet (LTS)
Harold Tejada (AST)
Davide Gabburo (BCF)
Jorge Arcas (MOV)
Mattias Skjelmose Jensen (TFS)
Edoardo Zardini (DRA)
Lilian Calmejane (ACT)
Mathieu Van Der Poel (AFC)
Fabio Felline (AST)
Thomas De Gendt (LTS)
Wout Poels (TBV)
Andrea Vendrame (ACT)
Simone Ravanelli (DRA)
Mirco Maestri (EOK)
Jasha Sütterlin (TBV)
Mauro Schmid (QST)
Biniam Girmay (IWG)
Samuele Rivi (EOK)
Harm Vanhoucke (LTS) Peloton is at 1’40”
The breakaway is growing with about 21 riders bridging the gap to Van Der Poel. Names to follow.
It’s been a rapid start in Naples. Van Der Poel is still off the front by 10 seconds and he’s being chased by Thomas De Gendt (LTS), Andrea Vendrame (ACT) and Biniam Girmay (IWG). The peloton is at 55 seconds.
143km to go – Mathieu Van Der Poel goes solo
Van Der Poel had something going for a bit, but the pace has lulled after the peloton brought the breakaway back.
Mathieu Van Der Poel (AFC) is making it hard from the start and trying to force a breakaway. A surprise? No, he’s targeted this stage and said he wants to win it however he can. He must sense the winner will come out of a breakaway today.
It’s already going at an extremely difficult pace on this lumpy and technical circuit. The route offers no let up from start to finish.
We’re off and running for what will be an intense and nervous stage 8 of the Giro. After a short neutral zone of 2.4km, we’re already seeing some attacks off the front.
