Tour de France Stage 8: Mads Pedersen claims sprint victory as Mark Cavendish suffers crash in final Tour; Check Key highlights here

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Mark Cavendish, former world champion Mads Pedersen showcased his prowess by securing a second-stage victory at the Tour de France. With an impressive surge of power, Pedersen emerged victorious in a mass sprint during the 201-kilometre (125-mile) eighth stage from Libourne to Limoges in central France. Defending champion Jonas Vingegaard retained the coveted yellow jersey. Pedersen demonstrated exceptional strength along the lengthy final stretch, fending off a late charge from Jasper Philipsen, who had previously claimed victory in all three sprints earlier in the race. The 2023 Tour de France's eighth stage covered a challenging 200.7km route from Libourne to Limoges. Starting in the renowned wine region of Bordeaux, the stage meandered through the hilly landscapes of the Dordogne and Limousin regions. The course presented four categorized climbs, including the Côte de Champs-Romain (303m), the Côte de la Crouzille (323m), the Côte de Saint-Sylvestre (302m), and the Côte de la Bussière (353m). The final ascent, the Côte de la Croix-de-Perche (289m), spanned 4.8km with an average gradient of 5.5%.

The stage presented challenging hilly terrain and scorching weather conditions. Numerous attacks were launched right from the start of the stage, indicating a highly competitive race. Tim de Clercq, Anthony Delaplace, and Anthony Turgis formed a breakaway trio, establishing a significant four-minute lead with 160 kilometres remaining. The main peloton trailed the front trio by four minutes when there were eighty kilometres left in the stage. Mark Cavendish experienced a severe crash, leading to his unfortunate withdrawal from the Tour de France. Kasper Asgreen showcased his strength and