Arnaud Démare: ‘A little more placement’.

Race reportJul 12, 2025

World Team TeamTour de France

Finish for sprinters in Laval, end of the 8th stage of the Tour de France. Kévin Vauquelin remains 3rd in the provisional overall classification.

Arnaud Démare

I don't have any feelings of frustration because I gave it everything I had. I didn't want to ‘put my leg down’ too early because I knew it was going to come from behind. But in the end, from the roundabout to the last kilometre banner, I was quite far back. So I made an effort to get back up, and I succeeded. I'm even in Mathieu Van Der Poel's wheel, but when the sprint starts, I don't have the same energy after all that effort. I need a bit more positioning to keep my physique up in the final, because there are still opportunities for sprints in this Tour de France.

Laurent Pichon

Sport director

There was a great deal of popular enthusiasm for this second start in Brittany on the home turf of the ARKEA-B&B HOTELS team. The pace was fairly leisurely, but the tension increased as we approached Laval and the urban developments at the city entrances. We did our best to protect Arnaud. From the last roundabout to the last kilometre, he put in a good effort, which cost him the chance to do better. He'll have another chance to sprint tomorrow in Châteauroux. Kévin Vauquelin remains 3rd overall in the Tour de France after this stage, which was reserved for sprinters.

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