Enric Mas moves up a position in the top 10 overall ahead of the final stage.
Yves Lampaert became the 14th different Deceuninck – Quick-Step rider to get a victory this season after blitzing the 19.2km course around Goms and breaking the sub 22-minute barrier for an outstanding time of 21:58. The 28-year-old Belgian rolled down the ramp long before the general classification favourites and showcased his ITT capabilities, displaying great composure as he went fastest through the intermediate point, before comfortably slotting into the hot seat at the finish.
Minutes later, the 2017 Belgian ITT National Champion was joined on the provisional podium of stage 8 by teammate and former owner of the best young rider jersey Kasper Asgreen, who was just five seconds off the pace as he continued to impress en route to scoring another strong result at World Tour level.
Being an early starter meant that Yves had to wait for several hours to see if he’ll get his maiden World Tour individual time trial victory, but it was all worth it, as nobody could get close to his outstanding time. The double Dwars door Vlaanderen victor ended up taking to the podium, where he celebrated Deceuninck – Quick-Step’s 41st victory since the month of January.
“I didn’t expect it, because before the start I thought I didn’t have the best feelings, but I just gave it my all and rode full gas. To beat so many riders, so many specialists of the discipline, including the World Champion, it’s just incredible and feeds my confidence ahead of next week’s Nationals. It’s my first World Tour ITT win and it’s just crazy. I’m surprised, but at the same time, so, so happy”, an elated Yves said after capturing his first victory in 12 months.
Asgreen made it a Deceuninck – Quick-Step 1-2, but he wasn’t the last of the team’s riders to impress on Saturday afternoon. Enric Mas – the squad’s highest-ranked rider in the overall standings – started the day in seventh place and posted a time of 23:12, which elevated him a position ahead of the final leg.
Scheduled around the same picturesque town of Goms, the ninth stage of the Tour de Suisse will be a mountainous one, set to feature three energy-sapping climbs: Nufenenpass, Gotthardpass and Furkapass, the last of these being topped with just 26 kilometers to go.
Photo credit: ©Tim De Waele/ Getty Images
