Giro 2013 Stage 8: Dowsett does it

The British time trial champion, Alex Dowsett of Movistar, won the long, tough race against the clock today between Gabicce Mare and Saltara. Dowsett negotiated the 54.8-kilometre course in 1:16:27, eleven seconds faster than the day’s runner-up Bradley Wiggins (Great Britain/Sky), who had to change bikes before the first time check. Ryder Hesjedal faded throughout the stage, finishing 18th on the day, 2:23 in arrears, which bumped him down to sixth on GC.

Vincenzo Nibali (Italy/Astana) vaulted into the pink jersey after coming fourth today, ripping the maglia rosa from the shoulders of Dowsett’s Spanish teammate Benat Intxausti. 2011 Tour de France winner Cadel Evans (Australia/BMC) sits second on GC following a good ride of 1:17:02.

Tomorrow’s hilly route, containing the 2013 Giro’s first Cat. 1 climb, comes a day before the first rest day.

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2013 Giro stage 8
1) Alex Dowsett (Great Britain/Movistar) 1:16:27
2) Bradley Wiggins (Great Britain/Sky) +0:10
3) Tanel Kangert (Estonia/Astana) +0:14
18) Ryder Hesjedal (Canada/Garmin-Sharp) +2:23
34) Svein Tuft (Canada/Orica-GreenEdge) +3:40
111) Christian Meier (Canada/Orica-GreenEdge) +7:00
153) Dominique Rollin (Canada/FDJ) +8:35

2013 Giro GC
1) Vincenzo Nibali (Italy/Astana) 29:46:57
2) Cadel Evans (Australia/BMC) +0:29
3) Robert Gesink (The Netherlands/Blanco) +1:15
4) Bradley Wiggins (Great Britain/Sky) +1:16
5) Michele Scarponi (Italy/Lampre-Merida) +1:24
6) Ryder Hesjedal (Canada/Garmin-Sharp) +2:05
101) Dominique Rollin (Canada/FDJ) +42:42
114) Christian Meier (Canada/Orica-GreenEdge) +49:46
158) Svein Tuft (Canada/Orica-GreenEdge) +1:01:48