Giro d’Italia: Veteran Thomas de Gendt wins stage eight in breakaway in Naples

Belgian veteran Thomas de Gendt claimed another fine breakaway victory at a Grand Tour by winning stage eight of the Giro d’Italia in Naples.

The 35-year-old was part of an initial breakaway before attacking again in the latter stages and winning a four-man sprint at the end of a hilly circuit.

It is the Lotto-Soudal rider’s fifth Grand Tour stage win, 10 years after his first in the Giro.

Spaniard Juan Pedro Lopez kept hold of the leader’s pink jersey.

Lopez, the early leader but not seen as a real challenger for the overall race win, finished in the peloton with most of the main contenders for the general classification.

Frenchman Guillaume Martin was part of the initial breakaway which finished three minutes ahead of the peloton, allowing him to jump from 14th to fourth in the overall standings.

Sunday’s stage, which features a number of large climbs, will be the first test of the contenders, which includes Britain’s Simon Yates.

On his stage win, De Gendt said: “Today was one of those days that suits me.

“Ten years after the Stelvio stage [his first Giro win] I finally win a stage at the Giro again.

“If you asked two weeks ago if I was able to I would have said no because I was in such bad shape. Now the good legs are coming.”