Race preview for the eighth stage of the 2025 Tour de France: Sprinters Take Center Stage
The 2025 Tour de France is set to witness an exciting sprint finish in Stage 8, as the peloton heads towards Vitré for a flat, fast, and technically challenging stage.
The stage profile, spanning 174 kilometers, comprises mostly flat terrain with only one minor categorized climb, the Côte de Nuillé-sur-Vicoin, which is 0.9 kilometers long and boasts a gradient of 3.8%. This mild elevation and grade are too mild for even Tadej Pogačar's most decisive attack, making this stage likely to be controlled by the sprint teams.
The main contenders for the Stage 8 sprint are Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step) and Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek), who finished first and second in an earlier sprint stage. They are considered the premier sprinters remaining in the race and the main favorites for this flat stage finish.
Merlier, fresh off his Stage 3 victory, is a strong contender for a repeat performance. Soudal-QuickStep is actively working to protect Remco Evenepoel near the front of the peloton, which could provide Merlier with the ideal lead-out for a potential victory.
Milan, on the other hand, will be craving his first stage win of his Tour de France debut and will likely be the team's singular focus. His teammate, Kaden Groves, steps up after Jasper Philipsen’s exit due to a crash.
Other notable sprint contenders include Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty), Jordi Meeus and Danny van Poppel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain Victorious), Søren Wærenskjold (Uno-X Mobility), Pavel Bittner (Picnic PostNL), Pascal Ackermann (Israel-Premier Tech), Dylan Groenewegen (Jayco-Alula), Alberto Dainese (Tudor), and Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck).
The slight climb and technical finish of stage 8 will put a lot of stress on the lead-out trains and may cause major GC teams to compete for a crash-free position. With the General Classification (GC) riders taking a moment of peace, the sprinters are expected to take centre stage in this high-speed battle.
Stage 8 of the Tour de France offers an opportunity for the pure sprinters to shine, and with the top contenders lining up, it promises to be an exciting finish. Keep an eye on Tim Merlier and Jonathan Milan as they aim to add another stage win to their Tour de France tally.
The 2025 Tour de France's Stage 8, marked by its flat, fast, and technically challenging course, is anticipated to showcase a thrilling sprint finish among the top sprinters. Notable contenders for the Stage 8 sprint include Tim Merlier, Jonathan Milan, Biniam Girmay, Jordi Meeus, Danny van Poppel, Phil Bauhaus, Søren Wærenskjold, Pavel Bittner, Pascal Ackermann, Dylan Groenewegen, Alberto Dainese, and Kaden Groves.
