Benat Intxausti (Movistar) has won Stage 8 of the Giro d’Italia. The Spaniard jumped into a long break and jumped away from it on the day’s last climb to take the mountainous, 186-km ride from Fiuggi to Campitello Matese in 4:51:34. Mikel Landa (Astana) finished second at 0:20, and Sebastian Reichenbach (IAM Cycling) finished third at 0:31. Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo Bank) remains the maglia rosa.

Tom Danielson (Cannondale-Garmin) animated much of the early hostilities. The American jumped away early, and after he was caught, joined a break composed of Gianfranco Zilioli (Androni Giacattoli-Venezuela), Branislau Samoilau (CCC Sprandi-Polowice), Roger Kluge (IAM Cycling), Louis Vervaeke (Lotto-Soudal), Ruben Fernandez (Movistar), Eduard Grosu (Nippo-Vini Fantini), and Elia Favilli (Southeast). The peloton split, and the front group engulfed the break.

The gap between the first and second groups grew to a minute. The latter chased and merged with the former. Contador snared two seconds at an intermediate sprint and extended his lead over Fabio Aru (Astana) and Richie Porte (Sky) by that amount of time.

When the two groups merged, Steven Kruiswijk (LottoNL-Jumbo) attacked. Ten riders set out after the Dutchman, but when the chase stalled Carlos Betancur (Ag2r-La Mondiale) and Franco Pellizotti (Androni Giacattoli-Venezuela) bridged up to him. Eventually, Kristof Vandewalle (Trek) joined the trio.

The quartet’s lead swelled to nine minutes. Pellizotti dropped back to the chase group, but the others collaborated well. With 29 km remaining, the escapees led the peloton by seven minutes.

Astana massed at the front. The bunch’s acceleration reduced the fugitives’ advantage by a minute. At the base of the Category 1 ascent to the finish, the break led the chase group by 1:23.

With 12 km left, the peloton had closed to with four minutes of the break. Betancur attacked. Kruiswijk bridged up to the Colombian and countered.

Intxausti and Reichenbach bridged up to Kruiswijk from the chase group. With four km remaining, they dropped the LottoNL-Jumbo man. One km later, Intxausti dropped Reichenbach. He had plenty of time to celebrate as he reached the finish line.

Behind, the battle for the maglia rosa took place. Astana set a pace that ground down the maglia rosa group. With five km to go, Aru attacked, and Landa joined him. Eventually, Contador and Porte caught the Astana man, and Landa set out after Intxausti.

Leopold Konig set the pace for Sky. With less than two km left, Damiano Cunego (Nippo-Vini Fantini) attacked. Aru caught his compatriot and countered.

Porte, Contador, and Rigoberto Uran (Etixx-Quick Step) joined Aru. Porte launched an attack, was caught, and tried again. The Australian caught not get clear, and the maglia rosa group rode home 0:35 after Intxausti.

Intxausti had seen this stage as one that he could win. “I was looking for a stage win, and today was a good possibility,” the Movistar man said. “I was in a breakaway with good riders. There were lots of attacks on the final climb, but mine was the one that stuck. I had good legs all day. I waited until four km to go, then gave it 100 percent. My team car kept me informed of the gap, and I had faith in my legs. I love the Giro: I’ve now won two stages and worn the maglia rosa for a day. There’s lots of racing left, and I hope the team continues this good run.”

The day was difficult for Contador and his dislocated shoulder, but he took advantage of circumstances to extend his overall lead. “My team was working hard at the front, and I saw the opportunity to gain two seconds in the intermediate sprint, so I took it,” said the Tinkoff-Saxo Bank man. Two seconds are two seconds:  In a time trial, you suffer a lot to gain two seconds. On the final climb, I knew that Aru and Porte would attack, and I responded. I wasn’t comfortable on my bike, as you could see, but I got through the day and I’m happy. I’m sleeping with my arm immobilised, and I have to remember that I have the injury and not make any sudden movements. I hope I’m okay for the time trial, which could be difficult for me. Astana is looking very strong, but I think that time is on my side.”

In the overall, Contador leads Aru by 0:04 and Porte by 0:22. Stage 9 will not change this state of affairs. The rugged, 215-km ride from Benevento to San Giorgio del Sannio will feature two Category 2 ascents, one of which summits 10 km from the finish, and a Category 1 climb. A break should decide the stage. Who will be in it? Check in at www.roadcycling.com and find out!