Pozzovivo takes another Giro win for home nation

Domenico Pozzovivo wins, Giro d'Italia 2012, stage 8

Giro d'Italia 2012 stage eight photo gallery by Graham Watson>>

Diminutive Italian Domenico Pozzovivo struck another big blow for Italian pride by winning stage eight of the Giro, the second in two days for the home nation.

The Colnago CSF rider was the first to attack on the final climb to Lago Laceno and so deserved the stage win. There was never any reaction from the big names behind him, in fact the three Liquigas riders on the front of the leading group, lead by Sylvester Szmid, barely even blinked.

Benat Intxausti (Movistar) eventually went after Pozzovivo, and although he stayed clear of the group behind to take second, he never looked like he was going to catch him. Not even the short descent to the finish line could slow Pozzovivo the pocket rocket down.

The descent should have favoured the group behind, but with no urgency they made little inroads to Pozzovivo's lead as he churned a surprisingly big gear to finish alone and move himself up to within a minute of the lead.

It was another surprisingly tough day on the race as a groupetto came in well down on the leaders. The favourites at the front looked comfortable enough, all apart from Ryder Hesjedal. The race leader fought all the way up the final climb to hold on to the group, at times he was last man, throwing his bike around desperately trying to hold the wheel in front.

Earlier in the stage a group of four riders had jumped away from the peloton, but it was doomed from the start. Movistar rider Andrey Amador - one minute 16 seconds down on the overall - got himself in to the group and the others let him stay there. The peloton was never going to let him ride in to pink in such a soft way, so their gap was pegged and the group brought back well before the finish.

Results

Giro d'Italia 2012, stage eight: Sulmona to Lago Laceno, 229km

1. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Colnago-CSF Inox in 6-06-05

2. Benat Intxausti (Spa) Movistar at 23 secs

3. Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Katusha at 27 secs4. Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM

5. Dario Cataldo (Ita) Omega Pharma-QuickStep

6. Damiano Caruso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale

7. Gianluca Brambilla (Ita) Colnago-CSF Inox

8. Bartosz Huzarski (Pol) NetApp

9. Jose Rujano (Col) Androni Giocattoli

10. John Gadret (Fra) Ag2r La Mondiale all same time

Other

11. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Barracuda at 27 secs

13. Rigoberto Uran (Col) Sky at 27 secs

Overall classification after stage eight

1. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Barracuda in 32-23-25

2. Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Katusha at 9 secs

3. Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Astana at 15 secs

4. Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Astana at 35 secs

5. Benat Intxausti (Spa) Movistar at 35 secs

6. Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale at 40 secs

7. Damiano Caruso (Ita)  Liquigas-Cannondale at 45 secs

8. Dario Cataldo (Ita) Omega Pharma-QuickStep at 46 secs

9. Frank Schleck (Lux) RadioShack-Nissan at 48 secs

10. Eros Capecchi (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale at 52 secs

Other

11. Rigoberto Uran (Col) Sky at 53 secs

Ryder Hesjedal kept hold of the pink jersey, albeit with a reduced margin

Pozzovivo wins the stage

Giro d'Italia 2012: Latest news

Schleck building form in Giro for final week in Alps

English speakers on top

Giro favourites to make move in first mountain finish

Malori will relish time in Giro lead

Sky's Giro team time trial disappointment

Phinney's terrible day sees Giro lead slip away

Teams ready for Giro's team time trial

Phinney given all-clear after Giro crash

Ferrari should be ashamed of Giro sprint, says Cavendish

Giro remembers Wouter Weylandt

Cavendish and Thomas a winning combo, says Brailsford

Geraint Thomas narrowly misses out on Giro lead

Phinney realises Giro dream

Giro d'Italia 2012: Live coverage

Giro d'Italia 2012 live text coverage schedule

Giro d'Italia 2012: Stage reports

Stage eight: Pozzovivo takes another Giro win

Stage seven: Hesjedal moves into Giro lead

Stage six: Rubiano solos to epic Giro stage win

Stage five: Cavendish bounces back for another stage win

Stage four: Garmin-Barracuda win TTT to take lead

Stage three: Goss wins in Horsens as Cavendish and Phinney crash

Stage two: Cavendish wins in Herning

Stage one: Phinney wins time trial

Giro d'Italia 2012: Photo galleries

Stage eight photo gallery

Stage seven photo gallery

Stage six photo gallery

Stage five photo gallery

Stage four photo gallery

Stage three photo gallery

Stage two photo gallery

Stage one photo gallery

Giro d'Italia 2012: Teams and riders

Giro d'Italia 2012 start list

Giro d'Italia 2012: TV guide

Giro d'Italia 2012: British Eurosport TV schedule

Related links

Giro d'Italia 2012: The Big Preview

Cycling Weekly's Giro d'Italia section

 

Thank you for reading 10 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

Founded in 1891, Cycling Weekly and its team of expert journalists brings cyclists in-depth reviews, extensive coverage of both professional and domestic racing, as well as fitness advice and 'brew a cuppa and put your feet up' features. Cycling Weekly serves its audience across a range of platforms, from good old-fashioned print to online journalism, and video.