The Dutch rider of Team Sunweb, already winner in two stages in year 2015, did a tactical masterpiece today in Palinuro, chasing and overtaking the Ukrainian Tatiana Riabchenko (Lensworld – Kuota), who tried a solo breakaway until two kilometers from the finish. Brand has built her feat with a majestic attack descending from the categorized climb of Cuccaro Vetere, where the delay was of over one minute from Riabchenko, as she was with her compatriot Janneke Ensing (Alè – Cipollini – Galassia) and Anouska Koster (WM3). Brand did the show on the technical downhill and the gap decreases quickly: 30“ after Centola but she slipped on the asphalt, restarting immediately. Riabchenko has been taken at the beginning of the final climb, she tried to resist but lost meters in the final. Brand obtained her third victory in the Giro Rosa, after Mantova and Loano 2015, jumping to the Place 5 in the General Classification. The peloton arrives after 1’33“ and Megan Guarnier won the sprint for the third placement.

Anna Van der Breggen keeps the Pink Jersey with two stages remaining, the gap from Elisa Longo Borghini and Annemiek Van Vleuten isn’t changed. The new leader of the Young Classification is now the Danish Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (Cervelo Bigla). Tomorrow the Stage 9 goes from Palinuro to Polla for a very hilly stage which ends with a circuit of 36 kms.
RESULTS STAGE 8 (TOP 5):
1. Lucinda Brand                         3h46’10“ 2. Tatiana Riabchenko                       +12“ 3. Megan Guarnier                          +1’33“ 4. Annemiek Van Vleuten               +1’33“ 5. Elisa Longo Borghini                  +1’33“
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE 8:
1. Anna Van der Breggen           19h24’57“ 2. Elisa Longo Borghini                     +1’03“ 3. Annemiek Van Vleuten                  +1’39“ 4. Megan Guarnier                            +3’07“ 5. Lucinda Brand                               +3’26“
THE JERSEYS OF THE 28TH GIRO ROSA AFTER STAGE 8:
Maglia ROSA COLNAGO: Anna Van der Breggen (Boels Dolmans) Maglia CICLAMINO SELLE SMP: Annemiek Van Vleuten (Orica-Scott) Maglia VERDE PURPLE by GLOBAL STOCK: Annemiek Van Vleuten (Orica-Scott) Maglia BIANCA COLNAGO: Floortje Mackaij (Team Sunweb) Maglia BLU GSG: Elisa Longo Borghini (Wiggle High5)

Photo (c) Flaviano Ossola