Démare out-guns Gaviria, Kristoff and Sagan to take Sprint Stage

Just 17 seconds separate Porte and Quintana ahead of the final 34km Individual Time Trial

Arnaud Demare (Groupama-FDJ) has won the day's bunch sprint at the Tour de Suisse. The Frenchman beat Fernando Gaviria and Peter Sagan.

The last stage before the closing individual time trial took place over 123.8 kilometres on a circuit in Bellinzona with a rolling profile. Four riders attacked from the peloton in the first kilometres of the day and managed to create a gap of more than two minutes with the pack.

Willie Smit (Katusha-Alpecin), Nathan Brown (EF Education First), Edward Dunbar (Aqua Blue Sport) and Paul Ourselin (Direct Energie) worked together to keep a good advantage on the pack. Smit and Dunbar resisted getting caught by the peloton while the other two surrendered with nine kilometres to go.

In the end, the peloton was stronger than the two escapees and they were reeled back in with five kilometres remaining. Groupama-FDJ controlled the pace of the pack at the last kilometres and this paid off because Arnaud Demare had a perfect position to face the final and crossed the line ahead of Fernando Gaviria (Quick-Step Floors) and Peter Sagan (Bora-hansgrohe).

Richie Porte (BMC) arrived safely with the pack and he keeps the leader's jersey ahead of the last stage. Just 17 seconds separate him and Quintana coming into the final 34 km time trial stage which should provide a nail biting finish!

VIDEO: 2018 Tour de Suiise Stage 8 Final Sprint

2018 Tour de Suisse Stage 8 Top 10

1 Arnaud Demare (Fra) FDJ 2:41:17 
2 Fernando Gaviria (Col) Quick-Step Floors   
3 Alexander Kristoff (Nor) UAE Team Emirates   
4 Peter Sagan (Slo) Bora-Hansgrohe   
5 Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek-Segafredo   
6 John Degenkolb (Ger) Trek-Segafredo   
7 Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) Dimension Data   
8 Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bahrain-Merida   
9 André Greipel (Ger) Lotto Soudal   
10 Michael Matthews (Aus) Team Sunweb  

2018 Tour de Suisse GC after Stage 8

1 Richie Porte (Aus) BMC Racing Team 28:47:17 
2 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team 0:00:17 
3 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Team Sunweb 0:00:52 
4 Enric Mas (Spa) Quick-Step Floors 0:00:53 
5 Sam Oomen (Ned) Team Sunweb 0:01:13 
6 Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana Pro Team 0:01:28 
7 Mikel Landa (Spa) Movistar Team 0:01:31 
8 Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo 0:01:37 
9 Simon Spilak (Slo) Katusha-Alpecin 0:01:48 
10 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo 0:02:26