Tour de France – Stage 8

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Stage win for Frenchman Blel Kadri, Simon Yates makes the days break whilst Contador puts a few seconds into Nibali as the GC is shaken up

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Tour de France – Stage 8

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Frenchman Blel Kadri of AG2R-La Mondiale was the only survivor of the day’s breakaway after he chased down Sylvain Chavanel on the first of three climbs in the final 20k before going solo and staying away to the finish line.

He delivered the first French stage win of the 2014 Tour de France whereas behind there was the battle of the GC contenders with Alberto Contador gaining a few seconds on Nibali as he moved up into the top ten on GC. The day also saw the youngest rider in the race, Britain’s Simon Yates, chase across to a break and stay out front until first dropped by Kadri and then caught by the GC battle on the final climb.

Five riders in the lead
The day began with a few skirmishes before a breakaway was formed at km 42 with the reunion of Niki Terpstra (Omega Pharma-Quick Step), Blel Kadri (AG2R-La Mondiale), Sylvain Chavanel (IAM Cycling), Adrien Petit (Cofidis) and Simon Yates (Orica-GreenEdge). Chavanel had gone clear at km 23, firstly rejoined by his former Quick Step team-mate Terpstra at km 26, and later by the other three as Yates, the youngest rider in the Tour de France now, initiated the reaction.

Quickly, it became clear that Peter Sagan wasn’t going to ask his team-mates to ride behind the escapees as he did on stage 7, even though the finale at La Mauselaine was said to be worth a try from him. The Astana team of race leader Vincenzo Nibali meanwhile sat at the front of the peloton giving the front five plenty of lead with none of them a threat to the GC contenders.

The five escapees covered 51.2 kilometres in the first hour of racing which shows it was no soft ride out front and with 50km to go, Terpstra, Kadri, Chavanel, Petit and Yates reached their maximum advantage of 11 minutes over the peloton.

Just a few kilometres further, pouring rain fall on the break and encouraged the riders to speed up as they hit the first climb. With Yates at the back and unable to react to the attack, Chavanel broke away before Kadri reacted and set off after his fellow Frenchman.

A drag race ensued between Chavanel and Kadri while Yates soon rode off the front of the chasing three. Kadri caught Chavanel and then dropped him, continuing to ride solo towards the ski resort of La Mauselaine. In the rapidly shrinking peloton, Tinkoff-Saxo set a tough pace on the climbs, mostly to keep Alberto Contador safe on a rain soaked roads.

With fog on the downhill of the col de Grosse-Pierre, some important GC riders were already in trouble: Michal Kwiatkowski (OPQS), Pierre Rolland (Europcar), Jakob Fuglsang (Astana), Laurens ten Dam (Belkin), Fränk Schleck (Trek) and others …

Contador prevails in the final climb
With Kadri having first secured the lead in the King of the Mountains competition, he kept the momentum going and increased his lead over Chavanel before claiming a brilliant solo victory atop La Mauselaine in the wet. That was the first race. In the second, for the GC, the fight for GC went on. Contador finished off the job that his teammates had started a long way back down the road, gapping Nibali and positioning himself in seventh place on GC

The GC was certainly shaken up. Nibali continues to hold on to his Yellow jersey and leads his teammate Fuglsang by 1.44 with Richie Porte now 1.58 down on Nibali after losing a couple of seconds in the scrap for the line today. Despite being dropped in the GC battle, Poland’s Kwiatkowaski is now 4th and first in the Under 25 competition whilst a rider who has not stood out as yet, Valverde, is in 5th just ahead of Contador.

Another favourite, Van Garderen, lost time (23 secs) on Contador whilst another rider tipped to do well, Rui Costa also lost time on Contador and Nibabli. Before Froome left the race, it was tipped he and Contador would battle for the win and Nibali was a podium contender. Now it seems that perhaps Contador will run away with the race on the longer climbs to come. As he said the day before, the race won’t be won in the alps but the Pyrenees.

Blel Kadri: Talking about the chase with Simon Yates, he says “we fought a lot to catch that breakaway. It was a 40-km long effort to make it. On the way, I mostly feared Chavanel and Terpstra. I knew they would attack. So when Chavanel accelerated, I immediately went behind him. I was ready for that. I’ve realized that he wasn’t that strong, so I rode away solo because I wanted to avoid the return of Simon Yates as he’s a much better climber than me”.

“I also knew that, had I stayed with Chavanel, he would have dropped me off on the downhill as this is his strong point. It’s something crazy to win a stage at the Tour de France. I was convinced that I’d do it one day like Christophe Riblon at l’Alpe d’Huez last year. Our goal as a team was to win a stage. The polka dot jersey is the icing on the cake. I’m really happy. Now I hope that we’ll see AG2R-La Mondiale at the front again in the days to come.”

Simon Yates: “It was a hard day out but it is a good experience. I kept going on with it early, it was tough even to get in (the break). I ended up going flat stick just to get in.”

Talking about the first climb, he said, “It kicked up straight away. The legs were a little cold in the rain and they got the gap straight away and I just couldn’t get back to them. It’s ok, I rode as hard as I could. I think you have to (learn from the experience) don’t you. How could you not learn from these experiences? It’s the biggest bike race we do all year.”

Sport director Matt White said he wasn’t surprised that 21-year-old Yates was able to grasp such an opportunity. “He is class. The kid is class,” White said. “We wouldn’t have taken him to the Tour de France if he couldn’t be in moves like that today. It was the first opportunity we gave to Simon Yates in the Tour de France and he took it with two hands”.

Michal Kwiatkowski (Best young rider) “I suffered on the first hill when the Tinkoff-Saxo riders started to accelerate but I remained motivated and I was lucky to be helped by Tony Martin and Jan Bakelants who stayed with me. I continued to fight to lose the minimum of time. At the end of the day, it’s not too bad because I’m the best Young rider now. Tinkoff-Saxo has been a very strong team today. Contador knows that he has to make it up for the time lost on Nibali. As for myself, I try to do my best in the overall standings but I have no idea of what I’ll be able to do compare to the best climbers. So far so good.”

Tejay Van Garderen “I am doing my best to brush it (his crash on stage 7) off and keep looking forward,” van Garderen said. “I think today I did a good job. But we have another couple of hard days before the rest day.”

CLASSIFICATIONS
Yellow: Vincenzo Nibali
Green: Peter Sagan
KoM: Blel Kadri
Young Rider (U25): Michael Kwiatkowski
Team: Astana
Combativity: Blel Kadri

STAGE RESULT

1 Kadri Blel Ag2r La Mondiale 03h 49′ 28″
2 Contador Alberto Tinkoff-Saxo @ 02′ 17″
3 Nibali Vincenzo Astana Pro Team @ 02′ 20″
4 Porte Richie Team Sky @ 02′ 24″
5 Pinot Thibaut Fdj.Fr @ 02′ 28″
6 Péraud Jean-Christophe Ag2r La Mondiale @ 02′ 28″
7 Valverde Belmonte Alejandro Movistar Team @ 02′ 36″
8 Van Garderen Tejay Bmc Racing Team @ 02′ 40″
9 Bardet Romain Ag2r La Mondiale @ 02′ 48″
10 Chavanel Sylvain Iam Cycling @ 02′ 54″
11 Mollema Bauke Belkin Pro Cycling @ 02′ 55″
12 Costa Rui Alberto Lampre – Merida @ 03′ 01″
13 Nieve Iturralde Mikel Team Sky @ 03′ 01″
14 Terpstra Niki Omega Pharma-Quick Step @ 03′ 28″
15 Feillu Brice Bretagne – Seche Environnement @ 03′ 33″
16 Roche Nicolas Tinkoff-Saxo @ 03′ 33″
17 Gadret John Movistar Team @ 03′ 35″
18 Van Den Broeck Jurgen Lotto-Belisol @ 03′ 37″
19 Rolland Pierre Team Europcar @ 03′ 37″
20 Jeannesson Arnold Fdj.Fr @ 03′ 37″
21 Navarro Garcia Daniel Cofidis, Solutions Credits @ 03′ 44″
22 Thomas Geraint Team Sky @ 03′ 44″
23 Scarponi Michele Astana Pro Team @ 03′ 47″
24 Ten Dam Laurens Belkin Pro Cycling @ 03′ 51″
25 Schleck Frank Trek Factory Racing @ 03′ 51″
26 Gautier Cyril Team Europcar @ 03′ 55″
27 Kwiatkowski Michal Omega Pharma-Quick Step @ 03′ 56″
28 Kangert Tanel Astana Pro Team @ 04′ 02″
29 Fuglsang Jakob Astana Pro Team @ 04′ 02″
30 Gallopin Tony Lotto-Belisol @ 04′ 02″
31 Horner Christopher Lampre – Merida @ 04′ 19″
32 Trofimov Yury Team Katusha @ 04′ 19″
33 Kruijswijk Steven Belkin Pro Cycling @ 04′ 28″
34 Machado Tiago Team Netapp-Endura @ 04′ 28″
35 Talansky Andrew Garmin – Sharp @ 04′ 37″
36 Rogers Michael Tinkoff-Saxo @ 04′ 56″
37 Slagter Tom Jelte Garmin – Sharp @ 05′ 04″
38 Konig Leopold Team Netapp-Endura @ 05′ 10″
39 Intxausti Benat Movistar Team @ 05′ 14″
40 Zubeldia Agirre Haimar Trek Factory Racing @ 05′ 14″
41 Martin Tony Omega Pharma-Quick Step @ 05′ 26″
42 Mate Mardones Luis Angel Cofidis, Solutions Credits @ 05′ 39″
43 Yates Simon Orica Greenedge @ 05′ 59″
44 Visconti Giovanni Movistar Team @ 06′ 49″
45 Voeckler Thomas Team Europcar @ 07′ 49″
46 Vichot Arthur Fdj.Fr @ 07′ 49″
47 Bakelants Jan Omega Pharma-Quick Step @ 08′ 07″
48 Lopez Garcia David Team Sky @ 10′ 34″
49 King Benjamin Garmin – Sharp @ 10′ 34″
50 Kiryienka Vasili Team Sky @ 10′ 34″
51 Majka Rafal Tinkoff-Saxo @ 10′ 34″
52 Cherel Mikael Ag2r La Mondiale @ 10′ 34″
53 Gastauer Ben Ag2r La Mondiale @ 10′ 34″
54 Izaguirre Insausti Jon Movistar Team @ 10′ 34″
55 Velits Peter Bmc Racing Team @ 10′ 34″
56 Moinard Amaël Bmc Racing Team @ 10′ 34″
57 Petit Adrien Cofidis, Solutions Credits @ 10′ 43″
58 Westra Lieuwe Astana Pro Team @ 10′ 54″
59 Dumoulin Tom Team Giant-Shimano @ 11′ 30″
60 Guillou Florian Bretagne – Seche Environnement @ 11′ 30″
61 Durasek Kristijan Lampre – Merida @ 11′ 30″
62 Serpa José Lampre – Merida @ 11′ 30″
63 Tankink Bram Belkin Pro Cycling @ 11′ 30″
64 Pineau Jérôme Iam Cycling @ 12′ 57″
65 Wyss Marcel Iam Cycling @ 12′ 57″
66 Valls Rafael Lampre – Merida @ 12′ 57″
67 Quemeneur Perrig Team Europcar @ 13′ 34″
68 Taaramäe Rein Cofidis, Solutions Credits @ 14′ 48″
69 Roy Jérémy Fdj.Fr @ 14′ 48″
70 Stetina Peter Bmc Racing Team @ 14′ 48″
71 Golas Michal Omega Pharma-Quick Step @ 15′ 17″
72 Roelandts Jurgen Lotto-Belisol @ 16′ 13″
73 Hansen Adam Lotto-Belisol @ 16′ 13″
74 Ladagnous Matthieu Fdj.Fr @ 16′ 13″
75 Rodriguez Joaquim Team Katusha @ 16′ 22″
76 Rojas Gil José Joaquin Movistar Team @ 16′ 22″
77 Oliveira Nelson Lampre – Merida @ 16′ 22″
78 Schär Michael Bmc Racing Team @ 16′ 22″
79 Paulinho Sergio Miguel Moreira Tinkoff-Saxo @ 16′ 22″
80 De La Cruz Melgarejo David Team Netapp-Endura @ 17′ 06″
81 Van Summeren Johan Garmin – Sharp @ 17′ 51″
82 De Kort Koen Team Giant-Shimano @ 17′ 51″
83 Isaichev Vladimir Team Katusha @ 17′ 51″
84 Pineau Cedric Fdj.Fr @ 17′ 51″
85 Curvers Roy Team Giant-Shimano @ 17′ 51″
86 Edet Nicolas Cofidis, Solutions Credits @ 17′ 51″
87 Irizar Arranburu Markel Trek Factory Racing @ 17′ 51″
88 Lemoine Cyril Cofidis, Solutions Credits @ 17′ 51″
89 Delaplace Anthony Bretagne – Seche Environnement @ 17′ 51″
90 Meier Christian Orica Greenedge @ 17′ 51″
91 Gerrans Simon Orica Greenedge @ 17′ 51″
92 Jarrier Benoit Bretagne – Seche Environnement @ 17′ 51″
93 Clarke Simon Orica Greenedge @ 17′ 51″
94 Grivko Andriy Astana Pro Team @ 17′ 51″
95 Onseca Armindo Bretagne – Seche Environnement @ 17′ 51″
96 Keukeleire Jens Orica Greenedge @ 17′ 51″
97 Timmer Albert Team Giant-Shimano @ 17′ 51″
98 Van Avermaet Greg Bmc Racing Team @ 17′ 51″
99 Durbridge Luke Orica Greenedge @ 17′ 51″
100 Acevedo Calle Janier Alexis Garmin – Sharp @ 17′ 51″
101 Barta Jan Team Netapp-Endura @ 17′ 51″
102 Hollenstein Reto Iam Cycling @ 17′ 51″
103 Pimenta Costa Mendes José Team Netapp-Endura @ 17′ 51″
104 Rast Gregory Trek Factory Racing @ 17′ 51″
105 Cancellara Fabian Trek Factory Racing @ 17′ 51″
106 Porsev Alexander Team Katusha @ 17′ 51″
107 Erviti Ollo Imanol Movistar Team @ 17′ 51″
108 Ragerard Arnaud Bretagne – Seche Environnement @ 17′ 51″
109 Herrada Lopez Jesus Movistar Team @ 17′ 51″
110 Tuft Svein Orica Greenedge @ 17′ 51″
111 Vachon Florian Bretagne – Seche Environnement @ 17′ 51″
112 Bak Lars Lotto-Belisol @ 17′ 51″
113 Wynants Maarten Belkin Pro Cycling @ 17′ 51″
114 Morkov Michael Tinkoff-Saxo @ 17′ 51″
115 Pichot Alexandre Team Europcar @ 17′ 51″
116 Haussler Heinrich Iam Cycling @ 17′ 51″
117 Delage Mickaël Fdj.Fr @ 17′ 51″
118 Boom Lars Belkin Pro Cycling @ 17′ 51″
119 Voigt Jens Trek Factory Racing @ 17′ 51″
120 Tosatto Matteo Tinkoff-Saxo @ 17′ 51″
121 Oss Daniel Bmc Racing Team @ 17′ 51″
122 Hayman Mathew Orica Greenedge @ 18′ 24″
123 Langeveld Sebastian Garmin – Sharp @ 19′ 18″
124 Burghardt Marcus Bmc Racing Team @ 19′ 30″
125 Petacchi Alessandro Omega Pharma-Quick Step @ 19′ 45″
126 Coquard Bryan Team Europcar @ 19′ 48″
127 Reza Kévin Team Europcar @ 19′ 48″
128 Leezer Thomas Belkin Pro Cycling @ 19′ 48″
129 Sabatini Fabio Cannondale @ 19′ 53″
130 Sagan Peter Cannondale @ 19′ 53″
131 Marcato Marco Cannondale @ 19′ 53″
132 Renshaw Mark Omega Pharma-Quick Step @ 19′ 53″
133 Howes Alex Garmin – Sharp @ 19′ 53″
134 Vanotti Alessandro Astana Pro Team @ 20′ 05″
135 Koren Kristijan Cannondale @ 20′ 32″
136 Kluge Roger Iam Cycling @ 20′ 32″
137 King Edward Cannondale @ 20′ 32″
138 Greipel André Lotto-Belisol @ 20′ 32″
139 Sieberg Marcel Lotto-Belisol @ 20′ 32″
140 Reichenbach Sébastien Iam Cycling @ 20′ 32″
141 Spilak Simon Team Katusha @ 20′ 32″
142 Feillu Romain Bretagne – Seche Environnement @ 20′ 32″
143 Elmiger Martin Iam Cycling @ 20′ 32″
144 Smukulis Gatis Team Katusha @ 20′ 32″
145 Molard Rudy Cofidis, Solutions Credits @ 20′ 32″
146 Degenkolb John Team Giant-Shimano @ 20′ 32″
147 Huzarski Bartosz Team Netapp-Endura @ 20′ 32″
148 Voss Paul Team Netapp-Endura @ 20′ 32″
149 Dempster Zakkari Team Netapp-Endura @ 20′ 32″
150 Garcia Echeguibel Egoitz Cofidis, Solutions Credits @ 20′ 32″
151 Albasini Michael Orica Greenedge @ 20′ 32″
152 Kittel Marcel Team Giant-Shimano @ 20′ 32″
153 Busche Matthew Trek Factory Racing @ 20′ 32″
154 Schillinger Andreas Team Netapp-Endura @ 20′ 32″
155 Viviani Elia Cannondale @ 20′ 32″
156 De Marchi Alessandro Cannondale @ 20′ 32″
157 Gene Yohann Team Europcar @ 20′ 32″
158 Plaza Molina Ruben Movistar Team @ 20′ 32″
159 Riblon Christophe Ag2r La Mondiale @ 20′ 32″
160 Montaguti Matteo Ag2r La Mondiale @ 20′ 32″
161 Minard Sébastien Ag2r La Mondiale @ 20′ 32″
162 Dumoulin Samuel Ag2r La Mondiale @ 20′ 32″
163 Arashiro Yukiya Team Europcar @ 20′ 32″
164 Kristoff Alexander Team Katusha @ 20′ 32″
165 Marino Jean Marc Cannondale @ 20′ 32″
166 Bodnar Maciej Cannondale @ 20′ 32″
167 Trentin Matteo Omega Pharma-Quick Step @ 20′ 32″
168 Simon Julien Cofidis, Solutions Credits @ 20′ 32″
169 Demare Arnaud Fdj.Fr @ 20′ 32″
170 Bonnet William Fdj.Fr @ 20′ 32″
171 Bideau Jean-Marc Bretagne – Seche Environnement @ 20′ 32″
172 Pate Danny Team Sky @ 20′ 32″
173 Eisel Bernhard Team Sky @ 20′ 32″
174 Gruzdev Dmitriy Astana Pro Team @ 20′ 32″
175 Iglinskiy Maxim Astana Pro Team @ 20′ 32″
176 Veelers Tom Team Giant-Shimano @ 20′ 47″
177 Bennati Daniele Tinkoff-Saxo @ 20′ 47″
178 Vanmarcke Sep Belkin Pro Cycling @ 20′ 53″
179 Devenyns Dries Team Giant-Shimano @ 20′ 53″
180 Paolini Luca Team Katusha @ 21′ 08″
181 Bauer Jack Garmin – Sharp @ 21′ 24″
182 Navardauskas Ramunas Garmin – Sharp @ 21′ 24″
183 Cimolai Davide Lampre – Merida @ 21′ 43″
184 Ji Cheng Team Giant-Shimano @ 22′ 04″

OVERALL AFTER 8 STAGES
1 NIBALI Vincenzo ASTANA PRO TEAM 33h 48′ 52″
2 FUGLSANG Jakob ASTANA PRO TEAM @ 01′ 44″
3 PORTE Richie TEAM SKY @ 01′ 58″
4 KWIATKOWSKI Michal OMEGA PHARMA-QUICK STEP @ 02′ 26″
5 VALVERDE BELMONTE Alejandro MOVISTAR TEAM @ 02′ 27″
6 CONTADOR Alberto TINKOFF-SAXO @ 02′ 34″
7 BARDET Romain AG2R LA MONDIALE @ 02′ 39″
8 COSTA Rui Alberto LAMPRE – MERIDA @ 02′ 52″
9 MOLLEMA Bauke BELKIN PRO CYCLING @ 03′ 02″
10 VAN DEN BROECK Jurgen LOTTO-BELISOL @ 03′ 02″
11 GALLOPIN Tony LOTTO-BELISOL @ 03′ 27″
12 PINOT Thibaut FDJ.FR @ 03′ 32″
13 VAN GARDEREN Tejay BMC RACING TEAM @ 03′ 34″
14 PÉRAUD Jean-Christophe AG2R LA MONDIALE @ 03′ 37″
15 THOMAS Geraint TEAM SKY @ 03′ 54″
16 TALANSKY Andrew GARMIN – SHARP @ 04′ 22″
17 TROFIMOV Yury TEAM KATUSHA @ 04′ 38″
18 NIEVE ITURRALDE Mikel TEAM SKY @ 05′ 09″
19 TEN DAM Laurens BELKIN PRO CYCLING @ 05′ 44″
20 MACHADO Tiago TEAM NETAPP-ENDURA @ 06′ 07″
21 HORNER Christopher LAMPRE – MERIDA @ 06′ 12″
22 ZUBELDIA AGIRRE Haimar TREK FACTORY RACING @ 06′ 53″
23 ROLLAND Pierre TEAM EUROPCAR @ 07′ 34″
24 KONIG Leopold TEAM NETAPP-ENDURA @ 07′ 35″
25 GAUTIER Cyril TEAM EUROPCAR @ 08′ 11″
26 KANGERT Tanel ASTANA PRO TEAM @ 08′ 13″
27 FEILLU Brice BRETAGNE – SECHE ENVIRONNEMENT @ 10′ 23″
28 SCHLECK Frank TREK FACTORY RACING @ 10′ 43″
29 KRUIJSWIJK Steven BELKIN PRO CYCLING @ 11′ 20″
30 DUMOULIN Tom TEAM GIANT-SHIMANO @ 11′ 35″
31 BAKELANTS Jan OMEGA PHARMA-QUICK STEP @ 12′ 50″
32 VICHOT Arthur FDJ.FR @ 14′ 54″
33 TANKINK Bram BELKIN PRO CYCLING @ 15′ 58″
34 ROCHE Nicolas TINKOFF-SAXO @ 16′ 49″
35 VELITS Peter BMC RACING TEAM @ 17′ 06″
36 ROGERS Michael TINKOFF-SAXO @ 17′ 22″
37 CANCELLARA Fabian TREK FACTORY RACING @ 17′ 51″
38 SAGAN Peter CANNONDALE @ 18′ 17″
39 MARTIN Tony OMEGA PHARMA-QUICK STEP @ 18′ 27″
40 GADRET John MOVISTAR TEAM @ 20′ 12″
41 ALBASINI Michael ORICA GREENEDGE @ 21′ 41″
42 GASTAUER Ben AG2R LA MONDIALE @ 21′ 41″
43 KEUKELEIRE Jens ORICA GREENEDGE @ 22′ 37″
44 MARCATO Marco CANNONDALE @ 23′ 07″
45 VOSS Paul TEAM NETAPP-ENDURA @ 23′ 19″
46 OSS Daniel BMC RACING TEAM @ 24′ 51″
47 CHAVANEL Sylvain IAM CYCLING @ 26′ 58″
48 DURASEK Kristijan LAMPRE – MERIDA @ 27′ 08″
49 TERPSTRA Niki OMEGA PHARMA-QUICK STEP @ 28′ 28″
50 VAN AVERMAET Greg BMC RACING TEAM @ 28′ 39′

 

 

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