Jhonatan Narvaez strikes again with solo victory in gruelling Giro d’Italia stage 8
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UAE Team Emirates-XRG's Ecuadorian rider Jhonatan Narvaez leads the 8th stage of the Giro d'Italia 2026-Tour of Italy cycling race between Chieti and Fermo, central Italy on May 16, 2026.
PHOTO: AFP
CHIETI, Italy – Ecuador’s Jhonatan Narvaez claimed his second stage victory of the Giro d'Italia on May 16, delivering a masterful solo performance to win stage 8 after a gruelling finale.
The UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider outlasted Andreas Leknessund in a tense pursuit up the final climbs, crossing the line 32 seconds ahead of the Norwegian. Portugal’s Afonso Eulalio held on to the leader’s pink jersey ahead of Jonas Vingegaard.
Leknessund mounted a determined chase in an effort to stay in contact with Narvaez up the punishing final ascent, but he was unable to bridge the gap and crossed the line in second place.
Following May 15’s brutal mountain finish on the Blockhaus, in which Denmark’s Vingegaard secured an emphatic victory, the riders moved to the Adriatic coast before tackling a punishing uphill finish in the Marche region town of Fermo.
Norway’s Martin Tjotta of Uno-X Mobility saw off the remaining chasers to secure third place, 10 seconds behind compatriot Leknessund.
Narvaez powered to victory in stage four on May 12. The 29-year-old also won Giro stages in 2020 and 2024, and had not raced this season before the Grand Tour following a crash in January in Australia. REUTERS
