Giro d’Italia Stage 8: Gianluca Brambilla takes stage and race lead

Gianluca Brambilla (Etixx-Quick Step) won stage eight of the Giro d’Italia, a 186km stage from Foligno to Arezzo. The Italian was the strongest rider in the day’s break and also took over the overall race lead after Tom Dumoulin was dropped by his rivals on the day’s final climb

The stage was defined by the category two Alpe di Poti, the summit of which came 17km from the finish.

Early on the climb, just after they’d hit gravel roads, Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) attacked. As others reacted, race leader Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin) soon found himself in difficulty and by the time he crested the summit, he had lost over a minute on a select group of favourites.

Up ahead, Brambilla pressed on and finished far enough ahead that he not only overhauled the 1m46s deficit to Dumoulin, but also held off those who finished ahead of the Dutchman in the chasing group.