Tour de France Stage 8 - SPOILER

[Keith Oates]

Today is the first of the hilly stages and so the climbers and GC hopefuls will be trying to gain some time today. No doubt all the favorites will be watching each other carefully but I'm hoping that Contador will reduce his time deficit on the others!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[lukesdad]

I think he ll have a go today. Tomorrow looks tougher but its too far to the finnish for him.

 

[raindog]

Perhaps the final climb today won't be steep enough for Berto to drop the others, but I bet he'll have a go. Going to be an interesting day.

 

[yello]

Perhaps the final climb today won't be steep enough for Berto to drop the others, but I bet he'll have a go. Going to be an interesting day.

I think he has to. He needs to pick up the odd 5 or 10 seconds wherever he can. He'll be a marked man and not be allowed to get too far away in the mountains. I can't see him getting it all back with one lone bid. Cadel can TT too, so Contador can't look to win it all back there either.

Today will, I think, show how Contador himself views it. If he sits in then I reckon he feels confident of getting it back in the mountains. If makes a break then he's looking for the odd seconds to make less of a later ask. It is a stiff finish today (7.4km of 5.7%, 2km respite then 1500m of 10% - according to my local rage) so I don't rule out him trying to claim some time on the GQ leaders. Yes, it will be an interesting day!

 

[Baggy]

Am also looking forward to today!

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Vino's found a bit of extra spark from somewhere!

 

[Baggy]

Lucozade!

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Lucozade!

That'll be it, a sugar rush!

 

[Keith Oates]

Vinokourov in yellow on the road, I hope that changes before they reach the line!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Keith Oates]

Movistar will be happy with that win but the other favorites crossed together so no real change in their placings. Roll on tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1 Rui Alberto Faria Costa (Por) Movistar Team 4:36:46
2 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:00:12
3 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 0:00:15
4 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
5 Peter Velits (Svk) HTC-Highroad
6 Dries Devenyns (Bel) Quickstep Cycling Team
7 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre - ISD
8 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Saxo Bank Sungard
9 Andy Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek
10 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek

 

[raindog]

Hushovd for crying out loud!!!! What a ride.

Evans looking pretty good.

 

[yello]

I was going to post exactly the same thing Raindog. I said yesterday - in chat I think - that I though Hushvold was defending yellow really well but I wasn't expecting him to hold on to it today so credit where it's due. An excellent ride.

I'm not quite sure what happened to Vinokorov. It looked as if he'd got yellow in the bag but he must have died badly on that last km. I thought it was a really gutsy break from him and I found myself willing him on. Amazing how one can forget one's grudges!

I think Contador was looking to see if it was on in the last km but he'd got too may markers. I laughed as I saw him, Schleck and Evans intently watching each other - as others whipped past:

Another point of note for me was Gautier, the Europcar rider in the breakaway; my god, what a ragged rider! He must have been slaying himself because he seemed all over the place. I felt sure he was going to bin it at any moment.

Brilliant ride from Costa. Put the work in, jumped from the break and made it stick then dug in deep to hold off the chasers. A thoroughly deserved win.

 

[yello]

And David Millar still in the top 10! I wasn't watching for him, and certainly not expecting it. That's a top result. Chapeau sir!

 

[montage]

good ride by Uran

 

[dellzeqq]

Hushovd admitted that he'd surprised himself