The eighth stage took the peloton from Chieti to Fermo over 156 kilometers. After a flat opening phase, the finale featured several punishing climbs. In the lightning-fast start, nobody managed to establish an early breakaway. The decisive move only formed with just under seventy kilometers remaining.  

Three riders managed to break clear of the peloton: Andreas Leknessund, Mikkel Bjerg, and Jhonatan Narváez. A large chasing group set off in pursuit of the trio but failed to close the gap. In the peloton, the riders of Team Visma | Lease a Bike controlled the pace in support of Jonas Vingegaard. Yesterday’s stage winner was also entitled to wear the blue mountains jersey today.  

In the demanding finale, where the steep climbs came in rapid succession, Narváez dropped his two fellow escapees. The Ecuadorian crossed the line solo in Fermo. Behind him, things remained relatively calm in the peloton. An acceleration by pink jersey holder Afonso Eulálio was immediately answered by Jonas Vingegaard, who gained two extra seconds and remains second overall.  

“We raced today exactly as we wanted to: staying out of trouble was the main objective”, Vingegaard said afterwards. “The pace was incredibly high, but I enjoyed it as well. My teammates worked hard all day to keep me in a safe position. Tomorrow brings a tough stage with a mountaintop finish. There are no easy stages in the Giro, and today proved that once again.”