Narvaez wins Giro stage - scary moment for Vingegaard

Jhonatan Narvaez has given his hard-hit UAE team its third stage win in the Giro d'Italia. The Ecuadorian professional cyclist, who had already won the fourth stage, also won the eighth stage after 156 kilometres on the final climb on the narrow streets of Fermo. The team of cycling dominator Tadej Pogacar, who is not taking part in the Giro, had lost its three most important riders due to heavy crashes at the start of the tour.

The Norwegian Andreas Leknessund finished second, 32 seconds behind Martin Tjøtta. Narvaez's team-mate Mikkel Bjerg had previously done a lot of work for the Ecuadorian's victory. Top favourite Jonas Vingegaard, who rode in the blue jersey of the best climber the day after his victory on the Blockhaus, made up two seconds on overall leader Afonso Eulalio in the final sprint.

However, the Portuguese is 3:15 minutes ahead of Vingegaard. Third is the Austrian Felix Gall, 3:34 minutes behind. The favourites were in hot pursuit in the final.

After the difficult and long section the day before, the pros nevertheless set a fast pace on the 156 kilometres on Saturday. From the start in Chieti, the riders headed rapidly towards the coast. There were numerous attacks straight away, but no group was able to break away for long. The riders also had to contend with the wind.

There was a moment of shock for Vingegaard when the peloton split up and he was in the back group. But his team closed the gap. Then the trio of Bjerg, Narvaez and Leknessund were able to break away. In the hilly finale with steep ramps, 29-year-old Narvaez broke away with just under ten kilometres to go.

The next mountain top finish on Sunday

After the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España, Vingegaard also wants to win the third grand tour at the Giro. Only seven riders have managed that. On Sunday, the Dane has the chance to get closer to the leader's pink jersey at the next mountain finish.

The predominantly flat section along the Adriatic coast at the start turns into a climbing test at the end. The stage ends after 184 kilometres and a total of around 2400 metres in altitude on the Corno alle Scale in the Bolognese Apennines.

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