All eyes are on Hayter as the Tour of Britain Stage 8 rolls in to Aberdeenshire
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The focus will be firmly on current race leader Ethan Hayter (INEOS Grenadiers) in Aberdeenshire as he fights to hold on to his lead in ahead of the final stage of the Tour of Britain which starts on Stonehaven.
Should he maintain his lead, he will become the second youngest champion at age 22, with his 23 birthday in six days time, behind 2014 victor Dylan van Baarle, who was eight months his junior.
The Tout of Britain stage eight can be seen live on ITV4 from 10.15am on Sunday with a highlights programme at 8pm.
Hayter goes into stage eight as the AJ Bell Tour of Britain leader, with Wout van Aert just four seconds behind him.
If he finishes the race Hayter will win the Sportsbreaks.com points jersey, while Canyon dhb SunGod rider Jacob Scott will be crowned both the SKODA King of the Mountains and Eisberg sprints champion.
Commenting on stage eight Andy Hawes, the AJ Bell Tour of Britain route director said: “And so to stage eight and a route that we had planned long before the pandemic struck.
"As this is the race’s first visit to Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen, it was important to reflect as the area’s character and terrain.
“I think we do this throughout – for example, the start town of Stonehaven is as pretty as it is quaint, and will give us a start backdrop like no other along the route.
"Cairn o’Mount, which starts 33 kilometres into the stage, is one of the best ŠKODA King of the Mountains climbs of the entire race.
"It will be good to show it off to a worldwide audience: its steepness, terrain and the hairpins at its summit make it feel like a Grand Tour climb.
“After that the riders will take in rolling open countryside and some stunning views through the Cairngorns. Nonetheless, this stage is still set up perfectly for a sprint finish.
"The final corner, a swooping bend onto Aberdeen’s Esplanade, comes 1500 metres from the line.
"Expect a very fast finish to the Tour."
Stage seven saw Belgian rider Yves Lampaert took Deceuninck – Quick-Step’s first victory of the tour in Edinburgh on Saturday having outsprinted Matteo Jorgenson (Movistar Team) and Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling’s Matt Gibson in Holyrood Park after the trio broke away on the outskirts of Edinburgh.
