Healy claims first ever Grand Tour stage win

Ireland's Ben Healy has won stage eight of the Giro d'Italia, claiming his first Grand Tour stage victory.

The EF Education-EasyPost rider had made no secret of his desire to target the 207-km ride from Terni to Fossombrone, and with 50k to go, he did just that.

Healy launched an audacious solo attack and put real distance between himself and the leading pack, sprinting to a 90 second lead with 40k left.

The 22-year-old held that lead throughout the mountain ascent and as the descent began with 30k to go, Healy continued to lead by just over 90 seconds with a pack of five chasing him.

Any fears that the chasers could attack Healy faded at the final climb with 10k to go as they looked to save their strength for tomorrow and the EF Education-EasyPost cycling was able to comfortably power his way up the final climb for a famous win.

Healy crossed the finishing line in a time of 4:45.54.

The stage win caps a remarkable few months for Healy, who took his first professional stage win on Stage 3 of Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali in March.