And so it was a British cyclist who won the time-trial, just it wasn't Wiggins. It was Movistar's Alex Dowsett. Naturally all talk after the event was about why Wiggin's didn't win it, though it has to be said, if Wiggins was on a shocking day as many feared he was when he came through the 26km check 52 seconds down on Dowsett, then what does that say about the rest that he still finished second?
Wiggins clearly kept something in the tank for he came very strong in the final sector finishing just ten seconds behind Dowsett, but no doubt he wasn't himself for Vincenzo Nibali came in just 11 seconds down on the Olympic time-trial champion and with it he took the Pink jersey. There were rumours throughout the day that Wiggins was carrying a stomach bug -- something Sky would quick to deny -- or perhaps he was just lacking a little form due in part to the stresses of the day before, but either way it's ensured this race is very much up for grabs.
Wiggins had lost 1 minute 24 seconds to Nibali the day before due to his inability to go downhill in the rain, and today should have been about him overcoming that deficit. He did against almost all the others, but Nibali remains 1 minute 16 seconds ahead of him in the general classification and the Italian has to be feeling good about his chances heading towards the high mountains. Wiggins will have no choice but to go on the offensive.
One man who really struggled, by comparison, was defending champion Ryder Hesjedal. The Canadian lost 2 minutes 23 seconds to Dowsett and thus 2 minutes 2 seconds to Nibali. It leaves Hesjedal with 2 minutes and 5 seconds to overcome in the next two weeks if he's to retain his title.
Tomorrow the race heads into the slightly higher hills, though not quite the mountains. It could yet prove interesting however and Hesjedal will want to respond right away to his losses today. Given what we seen earlier this week you should certainly expect for more drama tomorrow. It's clear that the big favorites are not going to sit around waiting for the biggest peaks to sort out who wins this tour.
Stage 8 results
1. Alex Dowsett (Gbr) Movistar in 1-16-27
2. Brad Wiggins (Gbr) Sky at 10 secs
3. Tanel Kangert (Est) Astana at 14 secs
4. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana at 21 ses
5. Stef Clement (Ned) Blanco at 32 secs
Others:
7. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC at 39 secs
11. Robert Gesink (Ned) Blanco at 1-22
18. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Sharp at 2-23
General classification after stage 8
1. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana in 29-46-27
2. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC at 29 secs
3. Robert Gesink (Ned) Blanco at 1-15
4. Brad Wiggins (Gbr) Sky at 1-16
5. Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre-Merida at 1-24
6. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Sharp at 2-05
