Stage 8 from Cazères-sur-Garonne saw early attacks as Benoît Cosnefroy and Nans Peters (AG2R-La Mondiale), Ilnur Zakarin (CCC), Kevin Reza and Quentin Pacher (B&B Hotels-Vital Concept), Michael Morkov (Deceuninck-Quick Step), Neilson Powless (EF), Fabien Grellier and Jérôme Cousin (Total Direct Energie), Carlos Verona (Movistar), Toms Skujins (Trek-Segrafredo), Soren Kragh Andersen (Sunweb) and Ben Hermans (Israel Start-Up Nation) formed a 13-man breakaway group which at one stage of the day’s race had an advantage of 14’15’.

On the climb of the Port de Balès, Cousin rode away from the breakaway with 60km remaining but was reeled in 9km before the top of Port de Balès. Peters, Zakarin and Pacher moved into position while Jumbo-Visma seized the reins of the peloton.

Eventual stage winner Peters crossed the Port de Balès in first position with 36.5km to go, along with Zakarin but the Russian didn’t manage to follow the Frenchman in the downhill.

Peters started the ascent to col de Peyresourde with an advantage of 45 seconds’ over his rival. Tom Dumoulin (Jumbo-Visma) worked hard at the front of the chase but Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) was first to attack, followed by Primoz Roglic and Nairo Quintana (Arkea-Samsic).

Pogacar went again, so did Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) and Quintana at the beginning of the downhill. While Peters kept his advantage to win stage 8, the yellow jersey group was reunited behind Pogacar who reduced his deficit on General Classification.

Bardet gained two seconds to move up as well but Yates remained in the yellow jersey with Rogli content to stay in second place.

Ireland’s Sam Bennett did claw back two points in the green jersey race thanks to the day’s intermediate sprint.

The Carrick-on-Suir rider is now just seven points behind points classification leader Peter Sagan, with 131 points to the Slovakian’s 138.

Team Sunweb’s Nicolas Roche is in 59th place overall, 46 minutes and 36 seconds behind yellow jersey-wearer Adam Yates, while Israel Start-Up Nation’s Dan Martin in 71st, almost an hour down.

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Visited for the first time in 1971, when Luis Ocaña crushed all his rivals en route to one of the most dominant wins ever seen at the Tour de France, Orcières-Merlette returned on the race after 31 years. First summit finish of this edition, coming at the end of a stage that featured four other classified climbs, Orcières-Merlette witnessed another strong and composed display of Julian Alaphilippe, who retained the yellow jersey, that he will now sport for the 17th time.

The stage that started from Sisteron was animated by six riders, whose margin was kept in check by Deceuninck – Quick-Step, who helped Sam Bennett win the intermediate sprint in Veynes.

The Irish Champion emerged the fastest when the bunch passed through there, some three minutes behind the escapees, and is now on equal scores with the green jersey classification leader.

On the early slopes of Orcières-Merlette the last survivor of the day’s breakaway was caught. The pace was ramped up four kilometres to go, but no move came until with 300 metres remaining, when the acceleration of Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) saw the Slovenian claim the victory in an uphill sprint after a lot of work by his teammate Wout Van Aert.

Tadej Pogačar showed he is carrying good form as the Slovenian youngster from UAE Team Emirates finished in 2nd place, with Guillaume Martin of Cofidis taking third.

Stage 4 results
1. Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) 4:04:47
2. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) s.t.
3. Guillaume Martin (Cofidis) s.t.

General classification after the 4th stage
1. Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick Step) 18:07:04
2. Adam Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) @ 4 ”
3. Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) @ 7 ”

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