Coquard finally tastes Grand Tour stage success as Pogacar's abandonment shocks Vuelta

Bryan Coquard (Cofidis) finally claimed his first Grand Tour stage victory on stage 8 of the Vuelta a España in Xeraco as race leader Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) was forced to abandon. 

Xabier Mikel Azparren (Pinarello-Q36.5), who made a move after the Puerto de Barx, pushed the sprinters' teams all the way, being caught with just under 2km remaining.

Netcompany-Ineos led under the flamme rouge, before Wout van Aert, with Christophe Laporte (Visma | Lease a Bike) on his wheel, hit the front, though Matthew Brennan was stuck in traffic. 

Laporte opened up the sprint, before Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) came around the Frenchman. It looked like the Dane had enough to take victory, but Coquard dashed past on the line with a bike lunge to take his first Grand Tour stage victory. 

The stage will also unfortunately be remembered as the day when Pogačar was forced to abandon the Vuelta in the red jersey after he was involved in a crash with 32km remaining.

He remained on the ground, being treated by medical staff. After initially getting to his feet, Pogačar, who had multiple wounds, had to sit back down.  

After more checks, Pogačar was forced to abandon the Vuelta as he entered the race ambulance on his way to hospital. 

As a result, Enric Mas (Movistar) is the new Vuelta leader, ahead of Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe).

There was a crash in the neutralised zone which involved several riders, including Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe). 

The crash delayed the start proper, and while all riders were initially able to continue, two Grand Tour debutants, Diego Uriarte (Equipo Kern Pharma) and Floris Van Tricht (NSN), were forced to abandon the race.

With a sprint finish likely on the cards, there was little interest in boarding the breakaway train when Sinuhé Fernández (Burgos-Burpellet BH) steamed his way off the front of the peloton. 

There was a crash in the peloton with 38km remaining which included Lars Craps (Lotto-Intermarché) and Ethan Hayter (Soudal Quick-Step), though both were able to continue.

A larger crash occurred a short while later with 32km remaining, which involved the race leader Pogačar.

The peloton slowed down while the race leader was being checked by race doctors, but Pogačar was ultimately forced to abandon the race. 

The remaining UAE riders travelled in a group multiple minutes behind the peloton for the remainder of the stage. 

Van Aert claimed maximum points atop the Puerto de Barx, before Azparren launched an attack. 

The Spanish rider built an advantage of around 20 seconds, but there were too many teams chasing behind for him to stay clear, and he was caught with under 2km remaining.

There was yet another crash in the peloton with 10km remaining, but all riders were able to continue, though Roland Thalmann (Tudor) suffered significant wounds.