Tour de France Today: All you need to know about stage 8

After many hilly days in succession, stage 8 will be a relief to many, in particular the sprinters. It’s a flat profile beginning in Saint-Méen-Le Grand and heading out of Brittany and into Mayenne. According to Christian Prudhomme, the route for the most part is sheltered from the wind and is primed for a bunch sprint.

In total, the route is 171.4 kilometres long with one categorised climb on the profile with 16.4 kilometres to go. The climb shouldn't pose a threat to the sprinters standing 900 metres long at 3.8%. 

A full preview for stage 8 can be found here.
Follow every km of stage 8 with our live report.

Tom Steels, now a sports director at Soudal Quick-Step, won the last stage that finished in Laval back in 1999 and will be hoping that his team's sprinter Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step) can shine on this stage and follow in his footsteps. 

Merlier already has a stage win to his name, and the European champion will be one of the standout favourites for this stage alongside Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek). It will be an important day for the sprinters to gain significant points for the points classification as Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) currently leads Milan by 34 points with the mountains to come in weeks 2 and 3, and could carry Green to Paris almost by default.

Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty), Dylan Groenewegen (Jayco AlUla), Jordi Meeus (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Søren Wærenskjold (Uno-X Mobility) and Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain-Victorious) among others are also names to watch for the stage honours. 

Tadej Pogačar is back in the yellow jersey as the leader of the general classification and currently holds a margin of 54 seconds over Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) in 2nd and 1:11 ahead of Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) in 3rd. Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike) sits in 4th at 1:17 whilst Mathieu van der Poel slipped out of yellow and into 5th.

Pogačar also regained the lead in the points classification after his victory on stage 7 and now leads Jonathan Milan by 34 points and 45 points over Biniam Girmay. 

UAE Team Emirates-XRG also continue to lead the mountains classification via Tim Wellens, who sits on 8 points, 1 ahead of Pogačar, whilst Evenepoel remains in white as the leader of the youth classification.

Visma | Lease a Bike are the current leaders of the team classification after stage 7. 

Everything you need to know from the last 24 hours of the Tour de France:

• Tour de France: Pogačar powers back into yellow at Mûr-de-Bretagne-on-stage-7
• 'Lambs to the slaughter' lose out in Visma-UAE war of attrition - Tour de France Analysis
• Almeida's heavy crash mars Pogačar's 'perfect day' at Tour de France
• Vingegaard admits sprint mistake after finishing second to Pogačar
• Proud Van der Poel cedes Tour de France yellow with an eye on the green jersey
• Upbeat Remco Evenepoel 'still growing' into Tour de France
• No new Mûr-de-Bretagne record in Tour de France stage 7
• Visma | Lease a Bike hits back at Pogačar: 'It's nice that he doesn't get it'

Stage 8 of the 2025 Tour de France will begin with a neutralised start at 13:10 (CET), with the finish expected around 17:04 (CET). Full live coverage will be available from start to finish.

When should you tune in? (Based on 47kph schedule)

• Intermediate Sprint at Vitré: 85.9km to go - Around 15:14
• 4th category Côte de Nuillé-sur-Vicoin: 16.4km to go - Around 16:43

All times CET

The 2025 Tour de France is being broadcast in over 190 countries. In the table below, you can find the broadcasters for the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and Australia.

Do you want to know more about the broadcaster for your county? Visit our 'How to watch the 2025 Tour de France' guide.' This guide includes the full TV schedule, live stream options, and a country-by-country broadcaster list.

• Our live race report keeps you updated with all the action as it happens, and also brings you the key pre and post-race interviews. Coverage for stage 8 starts at 12:15 (CET)
• During the whole day, you can enjoy full coverage in terms of news and interviews
• Directly after the race, you can enjoy a post-race podcast with Cyrus Monk and Aiden Burgess
• For sharp insights and expert takes, stay tuned to Domestique after the finish.