• Giro d'Italia, Stage Eight

Wiggins second behind Dowsett in time trial

Sir Bradley Wiggins worked hard for second on the day © Getty Images

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Sir Bradley Wiggins went some way to reviving his Giro d'Italia hopes as he made time on some of his main rivals in Saturday's time trial, won by Britain's Alex Dowsett.

The Tour de France champion had a horrid first week in the Giro, with a string of setbacks seeing him fall down the general classification.

The time trial from Gabicce to Mare-Saltara was expected to suit Wiggins and he claimed second on the stage behind fellow Brit Dowsett. He still has work to do with some big mountain stages to come, but is now back in the hunt for a podium place.

Wiggins made a slow start and was well down at the first of the time checks and he was also forced to stop to change his bike on account of a pucnture. But from the moment Wiggins switched bikes, he fairly flew home and came within 10 seconds of Dowsett's winning time of 1:16:27.

Vincenzo Nibali is favourite for overall glory and he produced a superb ride, limiting his losses to Wiggins to 11 seconds.

Defending Giro champion Ryder Hesjedal was the big loser on the day as he was consistently off the pace and crossed the line in a time of 1:18:50 - over two minutes adrift of Wiggins.

Benat Intxausti started the stage in the leader's pink jersey but he lost a chunk of time as Nibali took over the race lead - with Cadel Evans up to second.

Stage eights, Gabicce to Mare-Saltara
1. Alex Dowsett (GB) Movistar 1:16:27"
2. Bradley Wiggins (GB) Sky +:10"
3. Tanel Tangert (Est) Astana +:14"
4. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana +:21"
5. Stef Clement (Ned) Blanco +:32"
6. Luke Durbridge (Aus) Orica +:35"
7. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing +:39"
8. Manuele Boaro (Ita) Saxo - Tinkoff +:45"
9. Sergio Henao (Col) Sky +:53"
10. Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre +:53"

General classification after stage eight
1. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana 29:46:57"
2. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing +29"
3. Robert Gesink (Net) Blanco +1:15"
4. Sir Bradley Wiggins (GB) Sky +1.16"
5. Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre +1:24"
6. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin +2:05"
7. Sergio Henao (Col) Sky +2:11"
8. Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) Vini Fantini +2:43"
9. Przemysław Niemiec (Pol) Lampre +2:44"
10. Rigoberto Uran (Col) Sky +2:49"

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