Tinkoff-Saxo’s team captain Alberto Contador showed determination, when he out of the saddle accelerated in response to attacks from Fabio Aru and Richie Porte on the final climb of stage 8 in Giro d’Italia. Contador himself notes that he is happy with the outcome.
 
After having dislocated his shoulder two days ago, Contador and the riders and sports directors of Tinkoff-Saxo were acutely aware of the big test that lay ahead on the stage 8 summit finish to Campitello Matese. After having successfully defended his race lead, even extending it with two bonus seconds, Contador asserted that he had responded well.
 
"I’m really happy. Yesterday and today have been really hard days. Today the start of the stage was incredibly fast until the break went. Then at the end Astana made it difficult for us. Aru and Richie both wanted to attack but I think that I responded quite well and now I’m off to rest. It was obvious that Aru was going to attack today. Richie and Fabio are both here to win and that’s what they’re trying to do. They tried to get me, they tried to attack me and despite my crash I’ve been able to respond to these attacks", explains Alberto Contador.

"The last climb was not too steep but the first hour of racing was frenetic, with 30 or 35 riders in the front group. That made the last climb harder. Today was a very important test for me. Today was crucial. I saved it without problems, and I'm happy. The Giro d'Italia has just started. I'm pretty confident. I'll go better on the bike tomorrow. Time is on my side. 

"My shoulder injury affects me during the race and outside it. I sleep with my arm immobilised, which is uncomfortable, but I couldn't say in percentage terms how much it affects my performance. There are only a few days to go until the time trial. We will have to do some tests, because I usually race time trials with my arms close together and I may need to change position. 

"I can tell you that, during yesterday's stage, I had a dislocated shoulder, I'd been racing for four hours, and I looked at how far we still had to go, the wind, and I thought: another four hours. In the end we rode more than 270 kilometres. I thought: this is what cycling is."

The 186km stage 8 from Fiuggi to the 13km and 6.9 percent climb Campitello Matese was won by breakaway rider Beñat Intxausti in front of Mikel Landa, while the GC-riders came in scattered with only Contador, Porte, Aru, Uran and Cataldo in the first group. According to Tinkoff-Saxo’s Head Sports Director Steven de Jongh, stage 8 had turned out “very positive”.
 
“We saw a very, very hard start of the stage with many splits and gaps after 26km of racing followed by a wet descent. We lost some guys in this part, which was unfortunate but they came back up to the front at a time, where the peloton slowed down. Overall the guys did a really good job and once again they were completely focused on supporting Alberto”, says Steven de Jongh, who adds about the action on the final climb:

“It was a very positive day with a good outcome considering the situation after Alberto’s crash. He didn’t lose time and stayed with Aru and Porte allowing him to get through another day. Yesterday he could stay in the saddle but today he had to climb, ride out of the saddle and follow attacks, but he was able to do this. Right now our goal is to survive until the rest day on Monday, but first we have to get through tomorrow’s medium mountain stage”.
 
Tinkoff-Saxo has undoubtedly been visible at the front of the pack during the first week of racing. But according to Ivan Basso, double Giro-winner and trusted teammate of Contador, the team must do this for another two-weeks.
 
“I’m happy that it went like this today and that Alberto retains the lead. The Giro is still long and Milan is still far away. It’s normal to spend a lot of energy at the front and in the wind when you have the leader’s jersey. Now Alberto has to improve day by day and we have much work ahead of us”, explains Ivan Basso and adds:
 
“On a stage like today, the main rule of thumb is to stay together and help each other all the way. We hopefully have 15 days left in the front, which of course costs energy, but when you have a big leader you have to be there”, underlines Ivan Basso.
 
Stage 9 to San Giorgio del Sannio presents the riders with 215 kilometers of constant undulating racing. Alberto Contador leads the Giro d’Italia by 4 seconds in front of Fabio Aru.