Lotto-Soudal Cycling Team (France) - Press Release: One of the best escapees of the peloton took the win in the eight stage of the Tour de France today. After riding a whole day in the breakaway, Thomas De Gendt accelerated at fourteen kilometres from the finish line and left his fellow escapee De Marchi behind. Alaphilippe and Pinot came very close, but De Gendt managed to keep the two behind him. 

Thomas De Gendt:

"We really wanted to have someone in the breakaway today. The first attack in the peloton was the right one to form the break of the day and it was pretty easy to be part of it. Strange, because I was expecting a lot more fighting. Together with three other riders, I escaped, but the peloton never gave us much space. As for me, you don't need a lot of advantage on this parcours; you just need to ride smart."