A revelation at the start of the season, Irishman Ben Healy (EF Education) won stage 8 of the Giro d’Italia alone this Saturday in Fossombrone, while Primoz Roglic attacked to recover 14 seconds from Remko Evenpoel.
The young 22-year-old rider, with medium-length hair and an unusual image among the peloton, put on an exhibition that might be more typical of Tadej Pogacar.
The winner of the day held a lead of 1 minute and 49 seconds over his three breakaway teammates, Canada’s Derek Gee, Italian Filippo Zana and Frenchman Warren Barguil.
More than four minutes behind Healy, Rogik capped the day well by cutting 14 seconds off his great rival Evenpoel for the final victory, the first in this Giro ahead of Sunday’s 35km individual time trial. The bar faltered.
The Slovenian attacked on the final climb from Cappuccini, followed by the two Ineos riders, British Tao Geoghegan Hart and Geraint Thomas.
The British formation started the day without Italian Filippo Ganna, the double time trial world champion, who had tested positive for Covid-19.
Evenpoel, for his part, could not tolerate the change of pace and reached the finish line with a small group of pursuers, including Portuguese João Almeida.
Norwegian Andreas Leknesund managed to keep the pink jersey with a lead of 8 seconds over Evenpoel and 38 seconds over Roslik.
Ben Healy (EF Education) has been a revelation this season start after a remarkable Classics campaign with two second places in the Fleche Brabanzona and Amstel Gold Races and a fourth place in Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
A most prestigious win for the young Irishman, who is making his debut in a spectacular stage race.
Colombians in the Giro d’Italia
This Saturday, May 13, was not a great passage for the Colombian, as he could not respond to the attacks of Primoz Rogić, who was unstoppable in the mountains and was cutting time off his biggest rival, Remko Evenpol.
The best in the fraction was Colombian Santiago Buitrago, who entered in 24th place, 5 minutes and 8 seconds behind the winner of the eighth stage. Second was Colombian Rigoberto Urán who entered 6 minutes and two seconds behind the winner.
Santiago Buitrago is the best Colombian in the general classification in Box 17, just two minutes and 52 seconds behind leader Andreas Leknesund.
