After a punchy finale at Mûr-de-Bretagne and a GC battle that’s dominated headlines through the first week, stage 8 of the Tour de France offers a reset. With a flatter route, milder terrain, and a likely sprint in Laval, this is a key opportunity for the remaining fast men.
It’s a day for control – for the peloton to keep things calm and for sprint teams to earn their money. One final uncategorised bump could still provide tension in the closing kilometres, but this is not a day for the climbers or the GC contenders.
The departure of Jasper Philipsen has changed the shape of the sprint hierarchy, and while his Alpecin-Deceuninck team reshuffle their sprint plans with Kaden Groves, the power now shifts to the likes of Tim Merlier and Jonathan Milan, the two standout performers from stage 3’s sprint in Saint-Quentin.
The route – Classic sprint stage through Upper Brittany
From Saint-Méen-le-Grand to Laval, the 171km stage rolls through the eastern edge of Brittany, a region with deep roots in both cycling and cultural identity. It’s Louison Bobet country at the start, then into the hometown of artist Henri Rousseau at the finish – but expect the canvas here to be painted by the sprinters.
The only climb of the day, the Côte de Nuillé-sur-Vicoin (0.9km at 3.8%), crests with just under 17km remaining. It’s barely enough to unsettle the peloton, but it could play a role in disrupting lead-out trains. Jacky Durand-style breakaway efforts may be attempted, but realistically, the day is likely to come down to a high-speed showdown.
What’s on offer
Date: Saturday, 12th July
Distance: 171km
Start/Finish: Saint-Méen-le-Grand – Laval
Sprints: Vitré (km 85.5)
Climbs:
Côte de Nuillé-sur-Vicoin (cat. 4, km 155)
Prediction
Jonathan Milan has come close already and will be desperate to convert consistency into victory. With the terrain flat and his team focused entirely on him, this could be his moment to open his Tour de France account. We’re backing the powerful Italian to get the better of Merlier and the rest in Laval.
