Arnaud Démare edges out Gaviria, Kristoff, and Sagan in penultimate stage of Tour de Suisse
Démare takes excellent win in bunch sprint as Richie Porte retains overall lead
As was the case on stage three, Fernando Gaviria (Quick-Step Floors) and Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) were forced to settle for the minor places as Arnaud Démare (Groupama-FDJ) took victory on stage seven of the Tour de Suisse.
Groupama-FDJ had put in a textbook lead-out effort through the final five kilometres to put Démare in a good position, but found themselves overtaken by Quick-Step Floors as Maximilano Richeze moved Gaviria to the front with 200m to go.
From there it looked like the Colombian's stage to lose, but Démare showed an impressive burst of speed as he came through on the right-hand side to take the stage win, with Alexander Kristoff (Katusha-Alpecin) in third and Sagan in fourth.
There were splits in the group behind, but no major changes in the general classification, meaning that Richie Porte (BMC Racing) maintains a 17-second lead over Nairo Quintana (Movistar) going into Sunday's final time trial.
How it happened
The penultimate stage of the Tour de Suisse was the shortest road stage of the race, with the peloton facing just 123km over the course of six circuits around the town of Bellinzona.
A brisk start saw Eddie Dunbar (Aqua Blue Sport), Willie Smit (Katusha-Alpecin), Nathan Brown (EF Education First-Drapac), and Paul Ourselin (Direct Energie) escape early and open a lead of 1-30 over the peloton before the sprinters' teams started to get organised behind.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Lotto-Soudal, Quick-Step Floors, Bora-Hansgrohe and Groupama-FDJ all shared turns on the front to bring the gap down below a minute for the first time with 27km to go, and that continued to fall as the break crossed the line for the penultimate time at 21.3km remaining, taking a lead of 35 seconds into the sixth and final lap.
A slight uphill ramp saw the opportunity for Ourselin attempt to apply the pressure in the break, but the gap was still coming down as Team Sky, Mitchelton-Scott, and Astana joined the chase.
A few last attacks from Smit and Dunbar only delayed the inevitable, and the Irishman and South African were the last to be caught with six kilometres to go as the sprinters positioned themselves behind.
Bora-Hansgrohe and Groupama-FDJ were the most prominent teams through the next few kilometres, with the French team looking particularly impressive with five riders in line ahead of Arnaud Démare.
In fact, a huge turn by Ramon Sinkeldam was even enoguh to cause splits in the group in the final kilometre, before Quick-Step moved to the front to set up Fernando Gaviria.
For a moment it looked as if Gaviria had the jump on Démare, but the Frenchman looked seriously imrpessive as he drew alongside his rival and came around the right-hand sign to take the win, with Alexander Kristoff (Katusha-Alpecin) in third and Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) in fourth.
Results
Tour de Suisse 2018, stage eight: Bellinzona to Bellinzona, 123km
1. Arnaud Demare (Fra) Groupama-FDJ, in 2-41-17
2. Fernando Gaviria (Col) Quick-Step Floors
3. Alexander Kristoff (Nor) UAE Team Emirates
4. Peter Sagan (Slo) Bora-Hansgrohe
5. Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek-Segafredo
6. John Degenkolb (Ger) Trek-Segafredo
7. Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) Dimension Data
8. Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bahrain-Merida
9. André Greipel (Ger) Lotto Soudal
10. Michael Matthews (Aus) Team Sunweb, all at same time
General classification after stage eight
1. Richie Porte (Aus) BMC Racing, in 28-47-17
2. Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar, at 17 secs
3. Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Team Sunweb, at 52 secs
4. Enric Mas (Esp) Quick-Step Floors, at 53 secs
5. Sam Oomen (Ned) Team Sunweb, at 1-13
6. Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana, at 1-28
7. Mikel Landa (Esp) Movistar, at 1-31
8. Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo, at 1-37
9. Simon Spilak (Slo) Katusha-Alpecin, at 1-48
10. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo, at 2-26
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Henry Robertshaw began his time at Cycling Weekly working with the tech team, writing reviews, buying guides and appearing in videos advising on how to dress for the seasons. He later moved over to the news team, where his work focused on the professional peloton as well as legislation and provision for cycling. He's since moved his career in a new direction, with a role at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
-
Tweets of the week: Pogačar can be beaten, Pidcock meets the royals, and Remco's an Arsenal fan
Sadly for Tadej Pogačar, serial winning doesn't seem to apply to go karting
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Friday roundup: Rapha does sportswear, Oakley meets PNS and Restrap makes a vest
Two new clothing lines, some hi-tech smart glasses and a hydration vest to inspire you to ride further
By Luke Friend Published
-
Denmark's new GC hope and a sober Wout van Aert: Five things we learned from the Tour de Suisse
It was a dark week in Switzerland but seven stages of racing still happened
By Adam Becket Published
-
Tour de Suisse stage six neutralised in tribute to Gino Mäder
Peloton to ride final 20km of route in memory of Swiss rider
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Gino Mäder resuscitated after terrifying Tour de Suisse crash
The Swiss rider was found unresponsive and airlifted to hospital
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Felix Gall powers to first major career win and overall race lead on stage four of Tour de Suisse
Gall takes over the GC lead from Mattias Skjelmose with Remco Evenepoel in third
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Mattias Skjelmose drops Remco Evenepoel to take Tour de Suisse lead and stage three victory
22-year-old tops GC by 17 seconds ahead of world champion
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Geraint Thomas takes overall victory at Tour de Suisse as Remco Evenepoel wins stage eight time-trial
The Welshman has found his form ahead of the Tour de France
By Pete Trifunovic Last updated
-
Thibaut Pinot wins Tour de Suisse stage seven as Sergio Higuita takes the overall lead
The Frenchman secured his second win of the year
By Pete Trifunovic Last updated
-
Covid threatens to disrupt Tour de France line-up
Virus sweeps through the peloton at key preparation races with Tour de Suisse race leader Vlasov forced to abandon
By Tom Thewlis Last updated