British rider Alex Dowsett made a solo break to win the eighth stage of the Giro d'Italia on Saturday as Portugal's Joao Almeida retained the leader's pink jersey. Dowsett of Israel Start-Up Nation crossed the line more than a minute ahead of Italian Salvatore Puccio of Ineos and Briton Matthew Holmes of WorldTeam Lotto after the 200km run from Giovinazzo to Vieste. ea/pb