Tao Geoghegan Hart following stage 8 of the Giro d'Italia: "Amazing atmosphere meant the super steep climbs felt like a Classics race"

On a thrilling day of racing at the Giro d'Italia, one which was sorely needed after the snoozefest that was stage 7, stage 8 saw the general classification battle ignite and INEOS Grenadiers Tao Geoghegan Hart was right in the thick of it.

"Eventually the break went after two hours and then it was a quite strong pace all day I would say," the former Giro winner recapped in a post-stage interview with the INEOS Grenadiers official media team as he spun his legs on the warm-down bike. "Amazing atmosphere meant the super steep climbs felt like a Classics race."

Geoghegan Hart and his teammate Geraint Thomas were the only ones of the GC contenders to be able to follow the attack of Primoz Roglic on the final climb and the trio finished alongside each other, gapping the pre-race favourite, Soudal - Quick-Step's Remco Evenepoel.

"I was kind of expecting it to really kick off. Really happy that G and I were there in the mix, in the front and another big day tomorrow," Geoghegan Hart continues. "We said in the meeting that we want to try and take time on anyone we can but also stay safe and ride our own race and we did all of those so it was really good."