Tour de France stage eight predictions: Tom can be top in Lausanne

Free cycling tips, best bets and analysis for Stage Eight of the Tour de France on Saturday.

Where to watch

ITV4 & Eurosport, from 12.20pm Saturday

Stage eight preview

After Friday's fireworks on the final climb to La Super Planche des Belles Filles, Saturday's stage eight gives the peloton a chance to breathe.

In previous years the organisers night have used a medium-mountain day such as this as an opportunity to reward the sprinters for their perseverance in surviving a perilous opening week.

However, the 186.3km route from Dole to the home of the International Olympic Committee, Lausanne, finishes with a late ascent featuring sections pitching at 12 per cent, which all but rules out a battle between the speedsters.

The general classification riders will need to be alert but the closing climb suits the puncheurs, several of whom have shown the form to succeed in Switzerland.

Yellow jersey Tadej Pogacar may fancy another late dart from the pack as he eyes a third win in as many days but given that Sunday is the first real day in the mountains, he may be more reserved.

Instead, those who can sustain short, sharp uphill efforts such as Wout van Aert and Michael Matthews are contenders.

So too, is white jersey-holder Tom Pidcock who is enjoying a stellar Tour debut.

The Olympic mountain biking champion has belied his inexperience in expertly guiding his Ineos Grenadiers colleagues through the first week and on Thursday, sealed his maiden top five finish in Longwy.

This stage boasts a similar finish up the Cote du Stade Olympique and having been 14th on Friday, Pidcock has to fancy his chances.

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