The eight stage of Vuelta a Espana, a 166 km stage from Jeres de la Frontera to the summit arrival on Alto de Penas Blancas, changes the overall classification and gives Lampre-Merida a taste of bitterness and an outlook of hope.

It was a very bad day for Diego Ulissi, who got involved in a crash in the approach of the final climb. The young talent from Tuscany couldn’t come back to the bunch, so he had to surrender and he reached the arrival 14 minutes and 18 seconds behind the winner Leopold König.

But also Scarponi didn’t perform very well. He was not at the top, but according to Scarponi it gives hope for the rest of the Vuelta.

The "Eagle from Filottrano", who finished 23rd, 57 seconds behind König, explained that: "I don’t have that bad feelings, but of course I'm not yet at the top of my potentiality. That I’m not at the top is also why I was  late at the arrival, but it was not a large loss, so I think I can face the rest of the Vuelta with optimism because my condition can only become better and better".

Michele Scarponi is now placed 18th in the GC, 2 minutes and 3 seconds behind the Irishman Nicolas Roche, while Diego Ulissi is placed 54th, 15 minutes and 19 seconds behind Roche.