Two days after his adventure in the front of the race which lasted until the final climb to Javalambre, Rui Costa again showed the jersey of Intermarché-Circus-Wanty until the final of the eighth stage of the Tour of Spain this Saturday 2nd of September.
This eighth stage, which was decided in the downhill of Xorret del Cati, contained five categorised climbs on the 165 kilometer route starting in Denia.
The former 36 year old world champion, who is making the combination Tour de France – Tour of Spain for the first time in his career, joined the breakaway of around thirty riders a little after the start.
Rui Costa managed his efforts well and started the final climb as part of a leading group of four riders with an advantage of one minute.
Despite this small gap, taking into account the steep slopes of Xorret del Cati, Rui Costa resisted in the lead until the last two kilometers of the climb and tried to follow the favourites until he eventually crossed the line in 24th position.
“Even though I didn’t have the best feeling after the start, I managed to join the breakaway and in the end my legs responded well to the accumulation of efforts. I the front we understood that Jumbo-Visma had the race under control and that the chances for our breakaway were small. I felt really good in the final and I was ready to give everything. It is a pity that we didn’t receive more freedom. But there will be other stages in which the breakaway has a chance to receive green lights of the peloton to make it to the finish, that’s why I will try again and again.”
