Tour de France - Professional cyclist Girmay wins eighth stage - Ackermann fourth
Near the former residence of statesman Charles de Gaulle, Ethiopian rider Biniam Girmay proudly struck his chest and celebrated his second Tour-stage win, as German sprinter Pascal Ackermann grumbled about his missed daily success. In the commune of Colombey-les-Deux-Églises, the 30-year-old, who is currently making his Tour debut, could not keep up with Girmay, the Belgians Jasper Philipsen and Arnaud De Lie, and finished in fourth place on the 183.4 kilometers of the eighth stage.
For Tour debutant Ackermann, this would have been the greatest achievement of his career. In the previous three sprint decisions, he played no role, finishing in 15th, 6th, and 9th places. Sprint star Philipsen remained winless.
In the general classification, no change was foreseeable. Superstar Tadej Pogacar continues to lead by 33 seconds over Belgian Remco Evenepoel, who won the time trial the previous day. Title defender Jonas Vingegaard is in third place, 1:15 minutes behind.
Norwegian cycling experienced a rollercoaster of emotions on Saturday. Norwegian Jonas Abrahamsen, who had been wearing the polka-dot jersey as the King of the Mountains since Tour Day 1, was alone in the lead for nearly 140 kilometers and impressed with his powerful solo ride. During the race, it was announced that Abrahamsen's countryman André Drege had fallen on the descent of the Großglockner in the parallel running Austria-Rundfahrt and died. Details about the incident were initially unknown.
Goal line near Charles de Gaulle's estate
The question arose before Stage 8 of the three-week country tour whether the sprinters or escapees would have the final say in the finish area. After five well-received climbs, the flat final stretch allowed for interpretation, as to who could jubilate near De Gaulle's Altersitz in Colombey-les-Deux-Églises. De Gaulle, who was the French president from 1959 to 1969, died in that Tour goal in 1970.
Ex-World Champion Mads Pedersen could not experience the first Tour finish line in that small town as a rider before the start of the Etape. The 28-year-old Dane withdrew from the race three days earlier due to the consequences of a fall. So far, there had been few serious crashes in the Tour.
Title defender Vingegaard satisfied with time trial
It looked different in the cycling world in the spring. The top stars around Remco Evenepoel and title defender Vingegaard had sustained serious injuries in a mass crash of the favorites at the Basque Country Tour. In particular, Vingegaard's start at the Tour was marked by a big question mark. But the Dane showed that he had been able to keep up with the Slovenian top favorite Pogacar better than expected. At the first mountain challenge at the Col du Galibier and the Individual Time Trial on Friday, Pogacar extended his lead over the Dane.
Vingegaard was pleased with his performance in the first of two races against the clock. "To be honest, it was a good time trial for me," said the 27-year-old. He finished 37 seconds behind Evenepoel and 25 seconds behind Pogacar in fourth place. "I had calculated that I would lose even more time," he admitted. Vingegaard felt that he was improving from day to day.
The top stars around Pogacar and Vingegaard are expected to feature again on Sunday at the ninth stage. The 199 kilometers around the city of Troyes await gravel sections. Riders in the race for the general classification could suffer significant time losses due to crashes or defects. In total, there are 14 gravel sections, spanning a length of 32 kilometers.
- Professional cyclist Jasper Philipsen aims to secure his first Stage victory in the Tour de France, joining the likes of stars such as Pascal Ackermann and Tadej Pogacar.
- The country estate where Charles de Gaulle spent his later years served as the finish line for the eighth stage of the Tour de France, marking the accomplishment of Ethiopian rider Biniam Girmay and the disappointment of Ackermann.
- In the UCI WorldTour, sprint finishes often highlight the talent of stars like Philipsen and Ackermann, who have previously claimed stage victories in events like the Sprint Nextel Cup.
- The Dutch-Belgian duo of Philippsen and Arnaud De Lie exhibited strong performances during the stage, ensuring that top professional cyclists are consistently in the conversation for victories.
- In the international cycling community, the Tour de France is often considered the pinnacle of professional cycling, drawing in stars from various countries to compete on the grueling French courses.
- Norwegian cyclist Jonas Abrahamsen couldn't celebrate a Stage victory despite his impressive display in the King of the Mountains challenge, as the tragic news of fellow countryman André Drege's death in a separate race overshadowed the event.
- Following the announcement of Drege's death, the mood in the peloton became somber, with stars and fans alike paying tribute to the fallen rider, reminding everyone that even in the face of celebrations and victories, cycling comes with its shares of risks and sacrifices.
- Title defender Jonas Vingegaard continues to impress in the Tour, securing a top-three placement in the general classification, showcasing his resilience and grace under pressure, as he aims to steal the spotlight from stars like Pogacar and Evenepoel.
- As the tour enters its ninth stage, the focus shifts to endurance and grit, with stars like Vingegaard, Pogacar, and Evenepoel looking to keep their positions in the general classification, facing gravel sections and potential pitfalls that could determine the ultimate success of these professional cyclists in the race.
