Hello and welcome to stage 8 of the Vuelta a España

For the first time since stage five, the sprinters have a chance to go for a stage win today – but it won’t be easy. There’s a tough climb crested within the final 30km, which is hard enough to potentially see some sprinters dropped, to see attacks go clear from the peloton. It’s a well-balanced parcours, that promises to be very exciting

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The riders are off from the unofficial start, short of one rider who finished yesterday. Luca Van Boven has abandoned the race after his nasty crash yesterday.

The four jersey wearers at the start today – Onley, Pogačar, Van Aert and Leknessund.

The action is set to kick off any moment, but before it does, be sure to catch up with yesterday’s stage, the first at this year’s race to be won by the breakaway.

Vuelta a España: Andreas Leknessund, Tobias Johannessen solo away from Wout van Aert in Uno-X Mobility 1-2 on stage 7

There was a crash in the neutralised zone, which has delayed the official start of the stage. But hopefully we will be racing any moment.

The peloton are still behind the race car, as the start continues to be delayed as a result of the crash.

When things finally do kick off, expect a fierce battle for the break, on a day where their hopes of survival feel realistic.

OFFICIAL START

And they’re off! Everyone has regrouped and regathered themselves after the crash, and the race has at last began.

So far it’s Burgos Burpellet BH showing most intent. Their rider Sinuhé Fernández has a gap of one minute after attacking from the flag, while his teammate José Luis Faura attempted to join him, before dropping back into the peloton.

150KM TO GO

The peloton has already eased up, and allowed Fernández a lead of almost two and a half minutes already. The anticipated battle to get into the break has not materialised; and you wouldn’t expect Fernández to have any chance fending off an entire peloton by himself.

This was the moment at the start of the day when Fernández attacked, ahead of a disinterested peloton He must surely have imagined he’d have so company when he made the move.

DNF – IVAN SOSA

We have had a first abandon as a result of the pre-flag crash, and it’s Kern Pharma’s climber Diego Uriarte. That’s a shame as he has been lively at this Vuelta, getting into the break on multiple occasions already.

Here was a glimpse of the chaotic aftermath following that incident earlier in the day.

140KM TO GO

Fernández has been given a huge lead over the peloton, almost up to 6 minutes. The peloton is taking thins easy, though Visma have taken control of the pace-setting, presumably for their sprinter Matthew Brennan.

DNF – FLORIS VAN TRICHT

Unfortunately, there has been a second abandon as a consequence of the crash at the start of the day. NSN’s Floris Van Tricht had been making his Grand Tour debut, but finishes in unlucky fashion.

130KM TO GO

Visma are leading the peloton, but are a distant 5:30 behind Fernández. It’s been a subdued start to the stage.

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120KM TO GO

A few riders have been held up and are making their way through the convoy back into the peloton. One of those riders is Primož Roglič – he appears unhurt, and it’s unclear for now whether he went down.

The pace has picked up a bit, but Fernández’s lead remains over five minutes.

Roglič did indeed go down, as evidenced by a small rip in his jersey. He does appear to be riding comfortably, though, and is calmly making his way back towards the peloton.

DNF – MATTIA GAFFURI

More bad news to report, as Mattia Gaffuri becomes the third rider of the day to abandon. He was one of the men to go down in the incident a few kilometres ago, and was clearly much worse off than Roglič.

110KM TO GO

Steven Kruijswijk has been tasked with setting the pace at the front of the peloton for Visma-Lease a Bike, doing all the work by himself. He’s keeping the lone leader Fernández at five minutes, as Visma look to set Brennan up for another sprint win.

There was some speculation yesterday that Pogačar’s attack in the closing stages was motivated by anger, and the need to prove a point after being caught by Enric Mas the day before. But the Slovenian himself denied this, when talking to the media yesterday.

‘I wasn’t angry at all’ – Vuelta a España leader Tadej Pogačar denies he attacked on Aramón Valdelinares finish because he was upset

Callum Thornley is on bidon duty for Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe. There’s no sign that his leader Primož Roglič is suffering at all following his crash, but we’ll only know for sure when he’s tested on tomorrow’s mountain stage.

Felix Gall, safely in the peloton. He was one of the big winner of yesterday’s stage, finishing the best of the rest behind…., and as a result moved up to fourth overall, just 11 seconds away from the podium. He’s unlikely to have a chance to gain that time today, but will tomorrow.

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90KM TO GO

Still it’s Steven Kruijswijk leading the peloton all by himself, and he’s brought the gap to Sinuhé Fernández down to 3:20. The terrain remains flat for a while longer yet, before things get interesting with the category three climb of Puerto de Barx.

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An interesting development at the front of the peloton, as Steven Kruijswijk pulls off briefly from the front to take a comfort break, and Alpecin-Deceuninck briefly take over from him. Kruijswijk is back on the front again now, but that’s still a hint that Alpecin fancy their chances for the win today with Kaden Groves, despite the Australian’s lack of form and failure to get into the mix on the previous sprint stages at this Vuelta.

70KM TO GO

The gap continues to come down, with now just under two minutes separating Fernández and the peloton, still being led by Kruijswijk. The Dutchman does have a posse of Alpecin riders right behind him, ready to try and set Groves up for the win

While we assume Kruijswijk is working for his Visma teammate Matthew Brennan, the team also have another potential option for the day in Wout van Aert. The Belgian was in the break yesterday and came close to winning the stage, and as a result is wearing the green jersey, leading the points classification ahead of Tadej Pogačar by two points

That’s a slender lead, and one he’ll surely want to defend – but that’ll be hard if he’s working to try and set Brennan up for a win.

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Who will sprint for Netcompany Ineos today? Axel Laurance is looking in good form, with a 5th and 8th finish to his name already this week, but also have Ben Turner as an option, who has a bunch sprint stage win at the Vuelta on his palmares from last year. It’s a tricky choice for the team, and both riders are capable climbers who will fancy their chances of surviving the climb.

Another rider to look out for today is Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe’s Jordi Meeus. He’s one of the few riders in the peloton who can rival Brennan for pure speed, and managed to survive the climb on stage five that put paid to so many other sprinters’ hopes. He was second that day, and will be eager to go one better having not won a race for almost three months.

50KM TO GO

Sinuhé Fernández might not be out in front for much longer at this rate. His lead over the peloton has dropped to only just over a minute, although the chase may slow down if the peloton is reluctant to make the catch to early – the sprinters’ teams wont want to leave themselves exposed to attacks on the upcoming Puerto de Barx.

Following his fourth-place finish on stage five, Alessandro Romele is also a rider to look out for in the expected sprint today, though he’s made headlines for the wrong reasons most recently. The Italian took responsibility for the crash that saw Luca Van Boven abandon the race prior to today’s stage.

‘It was fair that I got it’ – Alessandro Romele accepts yellow card for crash incident that led to Luca Van Boven Vuelta a España abandon

40KM TO GO

The riders are approaching the day’s intermediate sprint, and as a result the pace in the peloton has picked up. It’s Visma-Lease a Bike who have put more men at the front, in search of increasing Van Aert’s lead in the points classification, and are set to catch Fernández before the sprint.

INTERMEDIATE SPRINT

Van Aert takes the maximum 20 points at the sprint. Sinuhé Fernández was caught beforehand, and the green jersey was able to take the sprint without anyone competing against him.

CRASH – POGACAR

The red jersey is down, and he looks hurt. He’s still sat on the floor a minute or so after hitting the deck. His race might be in peril.

Pogačar has gone down very heavily, and has shed a lot of blood. He briefly got back up on his feet, but has sat down again, clearly in a lot of pain. His abandonment appears imminent.

The peloton has slowed down, but is already several minutes ahead.

DNF – TADEJ POGACAR

The red jersey has climbed into the medical vehicle, and has left the race. This is a shocking development in the race.

The peloton looks a little in shock, riding only at a steady pace, with no team taking control despite nearing the start of the climb. UAE riders who waited for Pogačar, some of whom also went down in the same incident, are pacing their way back to the peloton.

This is the tenth Grand Tour of Pogačar’s, and the first he has ever abandoned. Before today, he’d never even finished lower than third place.

KOM – PUERTO DE BARX

The race goes on, and the peloton have just crested the day’s sole climb, Van Aert claiming the KOM points on offer at the top.

No team really took it on, and no attacks came, so it seems like this stage will go down to a sprint, with most if not all of the major sprinters still in contention.

ATTACK – AZPARREN

There’s been an attack from the peloton, as Azparren makes an opportunistic move in the aftermath of the climb. He’s leading by a few seconds, but the peloton has matters under control.

20KM TO GO

Azparren still leads the race, but only by about 15 seconds. Visma-Lease a Bike lead the peloton, and have it all strung out as they set things up for the sprint.

Movistar are also present towards the front of the peloton, near Visma-Lease a Bike. They suddenly find themselves in possession of the virtual red jersey, with Enric Mas set to take it on the podium tonight, all being well.

10KM TO GO

10 seconds is Azparren’s slender lead, as he goes under the 10km to go banner.

There’s been yet another crash, about five riders going down this time, including Carlos Rodríguez and Luke Tuckwell. Roland Thalmann also went down, and has a very nasty looking road rash, but is on his bike and making his way back to the peloton.

5KM TO GO

The peloton is bearing down on Azparren as they enter the final, technical 5km. The catch is soon to be made, with Visma still leading.

Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe have taken control at the front of the peloton, with Alpecin also bringing Groves towards the front, and Brennan still up there for Visma-Lease a Bike.

1KM TO GO

Azparren was caught 500m ago, and now Netcompany lead the peloton as they enter the final kilometre.

Van Aert is leading out the sprint, but it’s for Laporte rather than Brennan, who is further down.

BRYAN COQUARD WINS

Coquard takes it, the Grand Tour stage he has spent his whole career chasing!

It was a dramatic finale, with yet another crash in the final few hundred metres taking out several riders.

It looked as though Mads Pedersen was going to take the win, but Coquard came from behind and pipped him with a bike-throw. Meeus was third, Turner fourth, and, despite all their work, Brennan was Visma’s best-placed rider in tenth.

It was a very close sprint, with Coquard taking it thanks to an impressive bike-lunge. The Frenchman really wanted that one.

The story of the day is of course the crash that has seen race leader, and the seemingly invincible, Tadej Pogačar leave the race. Here’s our full report of the incident that has rocked the Vuelta.

Tadej Pogačar abandons the Vuelta a España after crash on stage 8

On a brighter note, what a day for Bryan Coquard. This is the thirteenth Grand Tour he has ridden in his career; and, despite having 55 career wins to his name, he’d never before won one at this level. His record of fishing second three times at the Tour de France, and third another two times, has made him notorious as a perennial bridesmaid, so this victory will bring great joy to cycling fans around the world.

Right from the neutralised section, when a crash delayed the start, it was a grim day at the Vuelta, with multiple crashes throughout the stage. Roland Thalmann was one of the worst affected, suffering bad road rashes and a torn jersey when he went down towards the end. A lot of riders have been in the wars.

Pogačar’s crash has blown this race wide open, with multiple riders now within shooting distance of the red jersey.

For now, Enric Mas leads it. Here he is on the podium, sportingly choosing not to adorn the jersey in honour of the stricken Slovenian.

Thanks for joining us today, on a stage that has turned this Vuelta on its head. This one had the whole range of emotions, from the devastation of Pogačar’s crash, to the ecstasy of Coquard’s first Grand Tour win. What had looked like a very straightforward race now looks extremely unpredictable, with multiple riders now in contention for the red jersey.

All bets are off, so be sure to join us again tomorrow – which is a monster stage in the mountains, and where the new-look GC race is to start taking shape.