Refresh

2025-07-12T12:08:20.261Z

Today’s stage started in Saint-Méen-le-Grand, which last hosted a stage of the Tour de France in 2006. It is also the birthplace of three-time Tour de France winner Louison Bobet, who won consecutive editions in 1953, 1954 and 1955. The Breton rider also won the maillot à pois in 1950, as well as 11 individual stages from 1948 to 1955.

2025-07-12T12:00:21.357Z

All smiles for Visma-Lease a Bike at the start today. Could we see Wout van Aert feature in the sprint later on?

SAINT-MEEN-LE-GRAND, FRANCE - JULY 12: Wout Van Aert of Belgium and Team Visma | Lease a Bike prior to the 112th Tour de France, Stage 8 a 197km stage from Saint-Meen-le-Grand to Laval (Espace Mayenne) / #UCIWT / on July 12, 2025 in Saint-Meen-le-Grand, France.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-12T11:57:33.667Z

It has been a quiet start to today’s stage, as we’re still waiting to see the first attacks of the day. Quinn Simmons is currently setting the pace on the front of the main bunch, with a collective of Intermarché-Wanty riders sitting just behind him.

2025-07-12T11:51:32.929Z

Some photos of the sprinters at the start of today’s stage. Who will come out on top in Laval?

Image 1 of 7

SAINT-MEEN-LE-GRAND, FRANCE - JULY 12: Jonathan Milan of Italy and Team Lidl - Trek - Green Sprint Jersey prior to the 112th Tour de France, Stage 8 a 197km stage from Saint-Meen-le-Grand to Laval (Espace Mayenne) / #UCIWT / on July 12, 2025 in Saint-Meen-le-Grand, France.(Image credit: Getty Images)SAINT-MEEN-LE-GRAND, FRANCE - JULY 12: Tim Merlier of Belgium and Team Soudal Quick-Step meets the media press prior to the 112th Tour de France, Stage 8 a 197km stage from Saint-Meen-le-Grand to Laval (Espace Mayenne) / #UCIWT / on July 12, 2025 in Saint-Meen-le-Grand, France.(Image credit: Getty Images)SAINT-MEEN-LE-GRAND, FRANCE - JULY 12: Jordi Meeus of Belgium and Team Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe meets the media press prior to the 112th Tour de France, Stage 8 a 197km stage from Saint-Meen-le-Grand to Laval (Espace Mayenne) / #UCIWT / on July 12, 2025 in Saint-Meen-le-Grand, France.(Image credit: Getty Images)SAINT-MEEN-LE-GRAND, FRANCE - JULY 12: Phil Bauhaus of Germany and Team Bahrain - Victorious prior to the 112th Tour de France, Stage 8 a 197km stage from Saint-Meen-le-Grand to Laval (Espace Mayenne) / #UCIWT / on July 12, 2025 in Saint-Meen-le-Grand, France.(Image credit: Getty Images)SAINT-MEEN-LE-GRAND, FRANCE - JULY 12: Soren Waerenskjold of Norway and Team Uno-X Mobility meets the media press prior to the 112th Tour de France, Stage 8 a 197km stage from Saint-Meen-le-Grand to Laval (Espace Mayenne) / #UCIWT / on July 12, 2025 in Saint-Meen-le-Grand, France.(Image credit: Getty Images)SAINT-MEEN-LE-GRAND, FRANCE - JULY 12: Dylan Groenewegen of Netherlands and Team Jayco AlUla prior to the 112th Tour de France, Stage 8 a 197km stage from Saint-Meen-le-Grand to Laval (Espace Mayenne) / #UCIWT / on July 12, 2025 in Saint-Meen-le-Grand, France.(Image credit: Getty Images)SAINT-MEEN-LE-GRAND, FRANCE - JULY 12: Arnaud Demare of France and Team Arkea - B&B Hotels signing autographs prior to the 112th Tour de France, Stage 8 a 197km stage from Saint-Meen-le-Grand to Laval (Espace Mayenne) / #UCIWT / on July 12, 2025 in Saint-Meen-le-Grand, France.(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-12T11:41:58.820Z

Some unfortunate news at the start today, as Jayco AlUla have confirmed that Eddie Dunbar has abandoned the Tour de France after his crash yesterday. The Irishman made it to the sign-on podium with a bandaged arm, but has decided not to start the stage.

SAINT-MEEN-LE-GRAND, FRANCE - JULY 12: Eddie Dunbar of Ireland and Team Jayco AlUla prior to the 112th Tour de France, Stage 8 a 197km stage from Saint-Meen-le-Grand to Laval (Espace Mayenne) / #UCIWT / on July 12, 2025 in Saint-Meen-le-Grand, France.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-12T11:29:14.776Z

The official start has been given for today’s stage, but none of the riders are jumping out of the peloton to form a breakaway just yet. It’s fairly relaxed in the peloton for now, but it’s only a matter of time before someone tries to make a move.

2025-07-12T11:25:59.503Z

A quick look at yesterday’s results before the official start of stage 8. An exciting finish on the Mûr-de-Bretagne saw Tadej Pogačar take the victory and extend his overall lead.

2025-07-12T11:16:54.673Z

The riders have now rolled out in Saint-Méen-le-Grand for the neutralised start of stage 8 of the Tour de France. There’s around 6km of neutral zone before the flag drops for the official start, where we expect to see a battle to make the early breakaway.

SAINT-MEEN-LE-GRAND, FRANCE - JULY 12: Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia and UAE Team Emirates - XRG - Yellow leader jersey prior to the 112th Tour de France, Stage 8 a 197km stage from Saint-Meen-le-Grand to Laval (Espace Mayenne) / #UCIWT / on July 12, 2025 in Saint-Meen-le-Grand, France.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-12T11:05:02.728Z

Five minutes until the neutralised start in Saint-Méen-le-Grand.

2025-07-12T11:00:44.308Z

Ineos Grenadiers have been fairly anonymous in this first week of racing at the Tour de France. Are they saving themselves for some of the tougher stages later in the race? Or do they simply not have the firepower to match the likes of UAE and Visma?

SAINT-MEEN-LE-GRAND, FRANCE - JULY 12: (L-R) Samuel Watson of Great Britain and Carlos Rodriguez of Spain and Team INEOS Grenadiers prior to the 112th Tour de France, Stage 8 a 197km stage from Saint-Meen-le-Grand to Laval (Espace Mayenne) / #UCIWT / on July 12, 2025 in Saint-Meen-le-Grand, France.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-12T10:54:13.214Z

Happy Birthday to Valentin Madouas! The Frenchman turns 29 years old today and is starting the stage in his home region of Brittany.

SAINT-MEEN-LE-GRAND, FRANCE - JULY 12: (L-R) Cyril Barthe of France, Valentin Madouas of France and Guillaume Martin of France and Team Groupama - FDJ prior to the 112th Tour de France, Stage 8 a 197km stage from Saint-Meen-le-Grand to Laval (Espace Mayenne) / #UCIWT / on July 12, 2025 in Saint-Meen-le-Grand, France.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-12T10:47:31.902Z

‘Perhaps we’re off to a legal battle or perhaps it’s a storm in a teacup’ – Patrick Lefevere weighs in on Remco Evenepoel transfer saga

CAEN, FRANCE - JULY 09: Remco Evenepoel of Belgium and Team Soudal Quick-Step celebrates at podium as White best Young Rider Jersey winner during the 112th Tour de France, Stage 5 a 33km individual time trial stage from Caen to Caen / #UCIWT / on July 09, 2025 in Caen, France. (Photo by Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-12T10:37:45.055Z

Aside from Tadej Pogačar, the only other rider to win a Tour de France stage in Laval was current Soudal Quick-Step sports director Tom Steels in 1999.

2025-07-12T10:33:08.763Z

The riders head into the Pays de la Loire region today with a stage finish in Laval, which regularly features in the Boucles de la Mayenne stage race. The last time it featured at the Tour de France was on stage 5 in 2021, with Tadej Pogačar winning an individual time trial which finished in the city.

LAVAL ESPACE MAYENNE, FRANCE - JUNE 30: Tadej Pogačar of Slovenia and UAE-Team Emirates White Best Young Rider Jersey celebrates at arrival during the 108th Tour de France 2021, Stage 5 a 27,2km Individual Time Trial stage from Changé to Laval Espace Mayenne 90m / ITT/ @LeTour / #TDF2021 / on June 30, 2021 in Laval Espace Mayenne, France.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-12T10:20:02.143Z

There’s just under an hour to go until the riders get underway for stage 8 of the Tour de France 2025. The neutralised start is set to take place at 13:10 local time in Saint-Méen-le-Grand, around 15 minutes before the flag drops for the official start.

2025-07-12T10:10:38.710Z

Tour de France stage 7: Tadej Pogačar tops Jonas Vingegaard to win on Mûr-de-Bretagne

2025-07-12T10:04:46.473Z

Stage 7 on Friday saw Tadej Pogačar grab his second stage win of the first week, blasting off to beat Jonas Vingegaard on the Mûr-de-Bretagne.

MUR-DE-BRETAGNE - GUERLEDAN, FRANCE - JULY 11: Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia and UAE Team Emirates - XRG celebrates at finish line as stage winner ahead of Jonas Vingegaard of Denmark and Team Visma | Lease a Bike (L) during the 112th Tour de France, Stage 7 a 197km stage from Saint-Malo to Mur-de-Bretagne (Guerledan) / #UCIWT / on July 11, 2025 in Saint-Malo, France. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images)

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-12T09:57:11.293Z

A look at today’s stage map.

Maps of the 2025 Tour de France stages

(Image credit: Geoatlas)

2025-07-12T09:53:34.640Z

‘I’ve done it seven times, so he can do it once’ – Peter Sagan backs Mathieu van der Poel for Tour de France green jersey battle

Alpecin - Deceuninck team's Dutch rider Mathieu van der Poel wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey looks on after passing the finish line during the 7th stage of the 112th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, 197 km between Saint-Malo and Mur-de-Bretagne Guerledan, in Brittany, western France, on July 11, 2025. (Photo by Loic VENANCE / AFP)

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-12T09:46:58.513Z

Tadej Pogačar leads the green jersey standings so far. He took back the jersey from Jonathan Milan with his win on the Mûr-de-Bretagne which, bizarrely, offered up 50 points at the finish – the same as a pan-flat sprint stage.

2025-07-12T09:41:00.105Z

With an intermediate sprint mid-stage, we expect the break to take the big points there, though it likely won’t be a large move so there should be a mid-stage sprint showdown.

2025-07-12T09:35:30.715Z

Here’s a look at today’s stage profile. Mostly flat, as you can see…

Profiles of the 2025 Tour de France stages and climbs

(Image credit: ASO)

2025-06-27T13:32:02.005Z

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of stage 8 of the 2025 Tour de France!