Giro 2015 Stage 8: Intxausti wins mountain stage, Contador leader

Hills, mountains and a top-finish Campitello Matese after a irregular 13 kilometres climb, that's today's story. The race explodes on the closing climb with Benat Intxaustii being strongest after a very strong performance by Steven Kruijswijk during the day. Contador takes 2 bonus seconds and retains GC lead. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 8th stage 2015 Giro

1. Beñat Intxausti (spa)
2. Mikel Landa (spa) + 0.20
3. Sebastian Reichenbach (swi) + 0.31
4. Fabio Aru (ita) + 0.35
5. Alberto Contador (spa) s.t.
6. Richie Porte (aus) s.t.
7. Rigoberto Uran (col) s.t.
8. Dario Cataldo (ita) s.t.
9. Damiano Cunego (ita) s.t.
10. Damiano Caruso (ita) s.t.

GC after stage 8
1. Alberto Contador (spa)
2. Fabio Aru (ita) + 0.04
3. Richie Porte (aus) + 0.22
4. Dario Cataldo (ita) + 0.30
5. Mikel Landa (spa) + 0.42
6. Roman Kreuziger (cze) + 1.00
7. Giovanni Visconti (ita) + 1.16
8. Rigoberto Uran (col) + 1.24
9. Damiano Caruso (ita) + 1.34
10. Andrey Amador (crc) + 1.38

Race report
The pace is high in the beginning of the stage. With 36 km’s done the pack breaks into pieces. Meanwhile Contador was wide awake and he took 2 bonus seconds.

On the lower slopes of the Forca d’Acero Steven Kruijswijk escapes and Vandewalle, Zakarin, Intxausti, Betancur, Niemec, Reichenbach, Pellizotti, Finetto, Danielson, Samoilav and Bongiorno are chasing.

Kruijswijk is the first to crest Forca d’Acero and in the descent he is accompanied by Betancur and Pellizotti, while Vandewalle bridges the gap also. With 60 km’s Pellizotti is dropped and is swallowed by the chasers. The pack takes it easy and lingers at 10 minutes.

Astana opens the chase and at the bottom of the closing climb up to Campitello Matese the pack is 5 minutes down on the escapees. With 11 km’s left Betancur attacks but Kruijswijk takes over. He goes solo, while Vandewalle leaves Betancur. On the lower slopes Reichenbach and Intxausti leave their companions and they head for the front of the race. After catching Kruijswijk Intxausti escapes with 3.6 km’s left.

In the peloton Aru attacks with 5 km’s to go. He is accompanied by Contador, Uran, Porte and Landa, while the latter escapes. He eats Kruijswijk and the other early escapees alive, except for Intxausti. The Spaniard wins, Landa is second and Reichenbach third.

Aru tries to get rid of his rivals, but doesn’t succeed.