Stage eight, the first hilly stage of the Tour de France, left four men feeling very satisfied with their day’s work.
The happiest by far was Portuguese rider Rui Costa, who broke away in a group of nine at the beginning of the 189km stage and managed to hold on up the short final climb up Super-Besse to record his first Tour stage win.
By the time the breakaway group had completed the top of the biggest climb of the day, a 6km Category 2 up the Col de la Croix Saint-Robert, the group had been whittled down to four riders.
Rui Costa made his winning move on the approach to the final climb, holding off the fast finishing elite of the tour.
Finishing only 12 seconds behind Costa was Phillipe Gilbert. In the process, he picked up 25 green jersey points.
When added with the 6 points he collected in the intermediate sprint, his tally of 31 point saw him convincingly retake the lead in green jersey competition from J.J Rojas.
Gilbert has every reason to be happy. He has collected a first and two seconds so far and his terrific all round ability will make him difficult to beat in the race for the green jersey.
Thor Hushovd finished the day happily holding onto his yellow jersey. He finished 17th only 15 seconds behind Costa. More importantly, he recorded the same time as Cadel Evans and maintained his solitary second lead.
Cadel Evans happily continued on his merry way and finished a very positive third.
Although, the climbs were not difficult enough to really test him and his rivals, he reminded Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck that he looks an altogether different proposition this year.
Let’s hope appearances are not deceptive come Bastille Day in the Pyrenees.
Sunday’s Stage 9 is going to be a leg breaker. The 208km stage from Issoire to Saint-Flour is pretty much up and down all the way. It has eight climbs, including three Category 2 climbs. The stage also finishes with a 1.6 km Category 4 climb.
This type of lumpy stage is perfect terrain for a strong breakaway group. Tactically, it should be one of the most interesting days of the tour.
The sprinters will just want to get the stage over and done with. They will enjoy the rest day on Monday before getting two more chances to pick up a win before trying to survive the big climbs.
Thor Hushovd will again be hoping to finish with the same time as Evans.
Evans will be hoping likewise.
Stage 8 Results
Rider Team Time Gaps
1. FARIA DA COSTA Rui MOVISTAR TEAM 4h 36′ 46″
2. GILBERT Philippe OMEGA PHARMA – LOTTO 4h 36′ 58″ + 00′ 12″
3. EVANS Cadel BMC RACING TEAM 4h 37′ 01″ + 00′ 15″
4. SANCHEZ Samuel EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI 4h 37′ 01″ + 00′ 15″
5. VELITS Peter HTC – HIGHROAD 4h 37′ 01″ + 00′ 15″
6. DEVENYNS Dries QUICK STEP CYCLING TEAM 4h 37′ 01″ + 00′ 15″
7. CUNEGO Damiano LAMPRE – ISD 4h 37′ 01″ + 00′ 15″
8. CONTADOR Alberto SAXO BANK SUNGARD 4h 37′ 01″ + 00′ 15″
9. SCHLECK Andy TEAM LEOPARD-TREK 4h 37′ 01″ + 00′ 15″
10. SCHLECK Frank TEAM LEOPARD-TREK 4h 37′ 01″ + 00′ 15″
16. HUSHOVD Thor TEAM GARMIN – CERVELO 4h 37′ 01″ + 00′ 15
Overall Standings
Rider Team Time Gaps
1. HUSHOVD Thor TEAM GARMIN – CERVELO 33h 06′ 28″
2. EVANS Cadel BMC RACING TEAM 33h 06′ 29″ + 00′ 01″
3. SCHLECK Frank TEAM LEOPARD-TREK 33h 06′ 32″ + 00′ 04″
4. KLÖDEN Andréas TEAM RADIOSHACK 33h 06′ 38″ + 00′ 10″
5. FUGLSANG Jakob TEAM LEOPARD-TREK 33h 06′ 40″ + 00′ 12″
6. SCHLECK Andy TEAM LEOPARD-TREK 33h 06′ 40″ + 00′ 12″
7. MARTIN Tony HTC – HIGHROAD 33h 06′ 41″ + 00′ 13″
8. VELITS Peter HTC – HIGHROAD 33h 06′ 41″ + 00′ 13″
9. MILLAR David TEAM GARMIN – CERVELO 33h 06′ 47″ + 00′ 19″
10. GILBERT Philippe OMEGA PHARMA – LOTTO 33h 06′ 58″ + 00′ 30″
20. CONTADOR Alberto SAXO BANK SUNGARD 33h 08′ 10″ + 01′ 42″
Green Sprint Jersey Standings
Rider Team Points
1. GILBERT Philippe OMEGA PHARMA – LOTTO 187 pts
2. ROJAS Jose Joaquin MOVISTAR TEAM 172 pts
3. CAVENDISH Mark HTC – HIGHROAD 153 pts
4. HUSHOVD Thor TEAM GARMIN – CERVELO 130 pts
5. EVANS Cadel BMC RACING TEAM 120 pts
Australian Overall Standings
Pos. Rider Team Gap Time
2 141 Cadel EVANS BMC 00:00:00 33:06:29
72 113 Simon GERRANS SKY 00:14:42 33:21:11
90 005 Richie PORTE SBS 00:21:04 33:27:33
106 174 Matthew Harley GOSS THR 00:24:37 33:31:06
123 016 Stuart O’GRADY LEO 00:28:16 33:34:45
171 177 Mark RENSHAW THR 00:41:26 33:47:55
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