How to watch Stage 8 of the Tour de France as breakaways may have their day

After dragging themselves over mountain passes in the Pyrenees, the sprinters had their fun from Mont-De-Marsan to Bordeaux, and provided the teams of the fast men control the breaks it could be a bunch finish in Limoges.

There are two Cat. 3 and one Cat. 4 climbs to get over in the 200.7km run from Libourne to Limoges, which could tempt the breakaway, and will depend on how much rope they are allowed.

After the agony of the near miss in Bordeaux, Mark Cavendish’s legion of fans will hope he can muster something on the drag to the line.

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Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) and general classification rival Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) will have another chance recharge the batteries after going into the red on stages five and six, knowing full well what is to follow on Sunday (a mountain finish atop Puy De Dome).

Tour de France 2023 – Stage 8 profile

Image credit: Eurosport

Eurosport’s Felix Lowe was hard at work pre-Tour and has lots for you to feast your eyes on. Head here for his bumper team guide, over this way for his yellow jersey guide and ratings (i.e. Jonas Vingegaard v Tadej Pogacar), or in this direction for his guide to the key stages.

Biniam Girmay showed his hand for the first time when taking the intermediate sprint on Friday and then claimed third on the road in Bordeaux behind Jasper Philipsen and Cavendish. The uphill drag looks ideal, provided his Intermarche–Circus–Wanty team can tee him up for the finish.

How can I watch the 2023 Tour de France on TV and live stream?

Every stage of the 2023 Tour de France will be broadcast in full on Eurosport 1, while you can watch ad-free on discovery+ and eurosport.com. Orla Chennaoui will again front our pre- and post-race show The Breakaway, with Robbie McEwen, Adam Blythe and Dan Lloyd as pundits.

Rob Hatch and Carlton Kirby will be leading things in the commentary box, with Sean Kelly, Lloyd, Blythe, McEwen and Jonathan Harris-Bass for company, while Philippe Gilbert, Alberto Contador, Jens Voigt and Blythe will be bringing fans closer to the action from the back of the motorbike during the race.

Our Stage 8 coverage kicks off from 11:00 BST on Friday with The Breakaway, with the stage scheduled to start at 11:30 BST.

Tour de France 2023 TV and live stream schedule, plus route details

StageDateStart / FinishDistanceBreakaway on-air time (BST)Stage 1Sat July 1Bilbao – Bilbao182km (Hills)11:00Stage 2Sun July 2Vitoria-Gasteiz – San Sebastian209km (Hills)11:00Stage 3Mon July 3Amorebieta-Etxano – Bayonne185km (Flat)11:30Stage 4Tue July 4Dax – Nogaro Circuit182km (Flat)11:30Stage 5Wed July 5Pau – Laruns165km (Mountains)11:30Stage 6Thu July 6Tarbes – Cauterets145km (Mountains)12:00Stage 7Fri July 7Mont de Marsan – Bordeaux170km (Flat)12:00Stage 8Sat July 8Libourne – Limoges201km (Hills)11:00Stage 9Sun July 9Saint-Leonard-de-Noblat – Puy de Dome184km (Mountains)12:00Rest dayMon July 10—Stage 10 Tue Jul 11Parc Vulcania – Issoire167km (Hills)11:45Stage 11Wed Jul 12Clermont Ferrand – Moulins180km (Flat)11:45Stage 12Thu July 13Roanne – Belleville-en-Beaujolais169km (Hills)11:45Stage 13Fri July 14Chatillon-Sur-Chalaronne – Grand Colombier138km (Mountains)12:30Stage 14Sat July 15Annemasse – Morzine152km (Mountains)11:45Stage 15Sun July 16Les Gets – Saint Gervais180km (Mountains)11:45Rest dayMon July 17—Stage 16Tue July 18Passy – Combloux22km (ITT)11:45Stage 17Wed July 19Saint Gervais – Courchevel166km (Mountains)11:00Stage 18Thu July 20Moutiers – Bourg en Bresse186km (Hills)12:00Stage 19Fri July 21Moirans-en-Montagne – Poligny173km (Flat)12:00Stage 20Sat July 22Belfort – Le Markstein133km (Mountains)12:00Stage 21Sun July 23Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines – Paris Champs-Elysees115km (Flat)15:00