[16.05 17:13] Chris Anker Sorensen celebrated one the greatest moments of his career by winning the mountain stage to Terminillo in Giro d’Italia.

After yesterday’s mud bath, the international peloton today enjoyed a more traditional day at work on the 189 kilometer long eighth stage of the Giro d’Italia from Chianciano Terme to Terminillo with an uphill finish over 16 kilometers.

Team Saxo Bank’s Chris Anker Sorensen soon seized the opportunity to leap away in a long-lasting breakaway of 17 riders. And the front group worked well together to gain as much time as possible before taking on the long final climb. In the front of the peloton, Lampre controlled the pace.

As the front group including Team Saxo Bank’s climber, Chris Anker Sorensen hit the foot of the climb with a two minute gap to the chasing peloton, the breakaway was soon split in two. With 12 kilometers to go, Team Saxo Bank’ Chris Anker Sorensen tried to create a gap but it was not until Simone Stortoni (Colnago) leaped away, that the race truly opened. The Team Saxo Bank-rider however closed the gap alone to the small Italian rider and went pass him to increase the pace of the duo.

And the pace of the Danish rider soon became too much for Simone Stortoni (Colnago) who was dropped with kilometers to go and the Team Saxo Bank-rider now struggled intensely to maintain the pace to the finish line on top of the climb to beat the chasing pack of favorites coming close from behind.

But Team Saxo Bank’s Chris Anker Sorensen was simply the best and was the first appearing rider in dense fog on top of the climb crossing the finish line alone in his greatest victory of his career.

300 meters to go, I was still doubting whether or not I was going to last all the way but I kept them behind me so I could celebrate the biggest victory of my career. I have never done this climb before but naturally, I was well-prepared and had done my homework studying the stage profile and I knew the climb would cause a lot of pain. When Stortoni launched his attack I was aware that I had to close the gap in my own rhythm to avoid a lactic build-up. At the same time I wanted to let him think that I was suffering more than I actually did so I could get him to work in front of me before I went away. The stage developed exactly like I wanted it to, said a tired Chris Anker Sorensen after his heroic effort and announced his enthusiasm about the team spirit of the young delegation of Team Saxo Bank riders in Italy:

The atmosphere on this team is unique and we have already achieved more than we expected. But of course we had a lot more confidence in ourselves than some critics of the team who felt that our line-up for the Giro wasn’t strong enough. I guess we invalidated that assumption today. It’s often best letting the legs do the talking, concluded today’s stage winner.

Sports director, Dan Frost witnessed the great victory from the team car following the Danish rider:

The situation was completely insane. On the final three kilometers I am in the car with goosebumps all over my body and inches away from being a nervous wreck screaming out the window, then screaming into the steering wheel while Pascal (mechanic) is hanging out the sun roof rooting for Chris (Anker Sorensen). He (Chris) is fighting relentlessly like a bear out there and truly honors the stage with this victory. His fight in the front of the race is an image of the way our whole team has been fighting for success in this race. They are all putting in everything they have to succeed as a rider and as a team. The only difference is that today the struggle was visible to everyone. We came to the Giro with no big expectations and this delegation of riders simply keeps surprising us all and they have now made the Giro a success for the team, said a very happy sports director, Dan Frost after the stage.

Team Saxo Bank’s Richie Porte did another great job today and he is sixth overall.
Alexandre Vinokorov (Astana) is still in the lead of the race ahead of World champion, Cadel Evans (BMC).