{"id":258889,"date":"2025-07-12T12:16:45","date_gmt":"2025-07-12T12:16:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/258889\/"},"modified":"2025-07-12T12:16:45","modified_gmt":"2025-07-12T12:16:45","slug":"tour-de-france-stage-8-live-the-sprinters-battle-again-on-the-road-to-laval","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/258889\/","title":{"rendered":"Tour de France stage 8 LIVE – The sprinters battle again on the road to Laval"},"content":{"rendered":"

Refresh <\/p>\n

2025-07-12T12:08:20.261Z<\/p>\n

Today’s stage started in Saint-M\u00e9en-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\u00a0\u00e0\u00a0pois in 1950, as well as 11 individual stages from 1948 to 1955.<\/p>\n

2025-07-12T12:00:21.357Z<\/p>\n

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

\"SAINT-MEEN-LE-GRAND,<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

2025-07-12T11:57:33.667Z<\/p>\n

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 Intermarch\u00e9-Wanty riders sitting just behind him.<\/p>\n

2025-07-12T11:51:32.929Z<\/p>\n

Some photos of the sprinters at the start of today’s stage. Who will come out on top in Laval?<\/p>\n

Image 1 of 7<\/p>\n

\"SAINT-MEEN-LE-GRAND,(Image credit: Getty Images)\"SAINT-MEEN-LE-GRAND,(Image credit: Getty Images)\"SAINT-MEEN-LE-GRAND,(Image credit: Getty Images)\"SAINT-MEEN-LE-GRAND,(Image credit: Getty Images)\"SAINT-MEEN-LE-GRAND,(Image credit: Getty Images)\"SAINT-MEEN-LE-GRAND,(Image credit: Getty Images)\"SAINT-MEEN-LE-GRAND,(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

2025-07-12T11:41:58.820Z<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\"SAINT-MEEN-LE-GRAND,<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

2025-07-12T11:29:14.776Z<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

2025-07-12T11:25:59.503Z<\/p>\n

A quick look at yesterday’s results before the official start of stage 8. An exciting finish on the M\u00fbr-de-Bretagne saw Tadej Poga\u010dar take the victory and extend his overall lead.<\/p>\n

No changes expected in the general classification today though, as it is set to be a stage for the sprinters.<\/p>\n

2025-07-12T11:16:54.673Z<\/p>\n

The riders have now rolled out in Saint-M\u00e9en-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.<\/p>\n

\"SAINT-MEEN-LE-GRAND,<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

2025-07-12T11:05:02.728Z<\/p>\n

Five minutes until the neutralised start in Saint-M\u00e9en-le-Grand.<\/p>\n

2025-07-12T11:00:44.308Z<\/p>\n

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?<\/p>\n

\"SAINT-MEEN-LE-GRAND,<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

2025-07-12T10:54:13.214Z<\/p>\n

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

\"SAINT-MEEN-LE-GRAND,<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

2025-07-12T10:47:31.902Z<\/p>\n

‘Perhaps we’re off to a legal battle or perhaps it’s a storm in a teacup’ \u2013 Patrick Lefevere weighs in on Remco Evenepoel transfer saga<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Could Evenepoel be on the move from Soudal Quick-Step for 2026? The current maillot blanc’s contract situation has certainly attracted lots of attention, with Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe and Ineos Grenadiers the supposed frontrunners to sign the Belgian rider for next season.<\/p>\n

\"CAEN,<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

2025-07-12T10:37:45.055Z<\/p>\n

Aside from Tadej Poga\u010dar, the only other rider to win a Tour de France stage in Laval was current Soudal Quick-Step sports director Tom Steels in 1999.<\/p>\n

\n

We continue our adventure at the #TDF2025 with a 171.4km flat stage between Saint-M\u00e9en-le-Grand and Laval, where a certain @SteelsTom won in 1999.Photo: @GettySport pic.twitter.com\/Yg32CjFW7BJuly 12, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

2025-07-12T10:33:08.763Z<\/p>\n

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 Poga\u010dar winning an individual time trial which finished in the city.<\/p>\n

\"LAVAL<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

2025-07-12T10:20:02.143Z<\/p>\n

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-M\u00e9en-le-Grand, around 15 minutes before the flag drops for the official start.<\/p>\n

2025-07-12T10:10:38.710Z<\/p>\n

Tour de France stage 7: Tadej Poga\u010dar tops Jonas Vingegaard to win on M\u00fbr-de-Bretagne<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

World champion back in maillot jaune as Mathieu van der Poel can’t hold GC contenders’ pace<\/p>\n

2025-07-12T10:04:46.473Z<\/p>\n

Stage 7 on Friday saw Tadej Poga\u010dar grab his second stage win of the first week, blasting off to beat Jonas Vingegaard on the M\u00fbr-de-Bretagne.<\/p>\n

\"MUR-DE-BRETAGNE<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

2025-07-12T09:57:11.293Z<\/p>\n

A look at today’s stage map.<\/p>\n

\"Maps<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Geoatlas)<\/p>\n

2025-07-12T09:53:34.640Z<\/p>\n

‘I’ve done it seven times, so he can do it once’ \u2013 Peter Sagan backs Mathieu van der Poel for Tour de France green jersey battle<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Record points classification winner says Jonathan Milan is the other main challenger but ‘there’s still a long way to go’<\/p>\n

\"Alpecin<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

2025-07-12T09:46:58.513Z<\/p>\n

Tadej Poga\u010dar leads the green jersey standings so far. He took back the jersey from Jonathan Milan with his win on the M\u00fbr-de-Bretagne which, bizarrely, offered up 50 points at the finish \u2013 the same as a pan-flat sprint stage.<\/p>\n

Poga\u010dar has 156 points to his name while Milan lies second on 122. Biniam Girmay is on 111, while Mathieu van der Poel is next on 108.<\/p>\n

2025-07-12T09:41:00.105Z<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

At the finish there’s a maximum of 50 points up for grabs, so it’s all set for a mass bunch gallop.<\/p>\n

2025-07-12T09:35:30.715Z<\/p>\n

Here’s a look at today’s stage profile. Mostly flat, as you can see…<\/p>\n

\"Profiles<\/p>\n

(Image credit: ASO)<\/p>\n

2025-06-27T13:32:02.005Z<\/p>\n

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of stage 8 of the 2025 Tour de France!<\/p>\n