Coquard's sprint victory at the Vuelta España

Bryan Coquard (Cofidis) wins the eighth stage of the Vuelta España, from Puçol to Xeraco (171 km).

Burgos' Fernandez attempted a solo breakaway, but the group calmly kept him under control and caught him with 38 km to go.

Van Aert wins the intermediate sprint and, a few kilometers later, Pogacar crashes and sensationally retires.

The group thus tackles Puerto de Barx at a slow pace without any rider attempting to break away.

Instead, Azparren tries to finish the descent of Q 36.5 with a solo attack that is short-lived.

The peloton thus heads for the sprint, with another crash involving a dozen riders at 6 km to go. The sprint is also particularly tense, with Van Aert launching Brennan and yet another crash splitting the group in the final hundred meters.

Pedersen launches his sprint well but is beaten by Coquard with a lunge. Meeus is 3rd.

ORDER OF ARRIVAL

1 COQUARD Bryan Cofidis 3:47:06

2 PEDERSEN Mads Lidl - Trek 0:00

3 MEEUS Jordi Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe 0:00

4 TURNER Ben Netcompany INEOS 0:00

5 LABROSSE Jordan Decathlon CMA CGM Team 0:00

6 ROMELE Alessandro XDS Astana Team 0:00

7 TRONCHON Bastien Groupama - FDJ United 0:00

8 HOFSTETTER Hugo NSN Cycling Team 0:00

9 AULAR Orluis Movistar Team 0:00

10 BRENNAN Matthew Team Visma | Lease a Bike 0:00