Tour de France 2016 Stage 8: Froome attacks in descent of Peyresourde to solo to yellow jersey

After a race over four passes, including the Tourmalet and the Peyresourde, the finish of stage 8 in the descent. Froome attacks just before cresting and solos to victory in a downhill. Always a poor descender, things have changed and Froome takes the stage win and yellow jersey in Bagneres-de-Luchon. Daniel Martin finishes in second, Joaquim Rodríguez in third. Froome puts 13 seconds into most opponents and 1'41" into Contador. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 8th stage Tour de France

1. Chris Froome (gbr)
2. Daniel Martin (irl) + 0.13
3. Joaquim Rodriguez (spa) s.t.
4. Romain Bardet (fra) s.t
5. Roman Kreuziger (cze) s.t.
6. Fabio Aru (ita) s.t.
7. Adam Yates (gbr) s.t.
8. Alejandro Valverde (spa) s.t.
9. Bauke Mollema (nld) s.t.
10. Richie Porte (aus) s.t.

11. Nairo Quintana (col) s.t.
12. Tejay van Garderen (usa) s.t.
16. Warren Barguil (fra) + 1.41
17. Alberto Contador (spa) s.t.
19. Geraint Thomas (gbr) s.t.
24. Pierre Rolland (fra) + 1.45
26. Wilco Kelderman (nld) s.t.

GC after stage 8
1. Chris Froome (gbr)
2. Adam Yates (gbr) + 0.16
3. Joaquim Rodriguez (spa) s.t.
4. Daniel Martin (irl) + 0.17
5. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 0.19
6. Nairo Quintana (col) + 0.23
7. Fabio Aru (ita) s.t.
8. Tejay van Garderen (usa) s.t.
9. Romain Bardet (fra) s.t.
10. Bauke Mollema (nld) s.t.

12. Roman Kreuziger (cze) + 0.34
14. Warren Barguil (fra) + 1.51
15. Pierre Rolland (fra) + 1.55
16. Wilco Kelderman (nld) s.t.
18. Richie Porte (aus) + 2.08
20. Alberto Contador (spa) + 3.12

Race report
After a fast opening with 51 kms done in the first hour it’s with 60 kms done Daniel Navarro, Tom Dumoulin and Mikael Chérel attack. They are accompanied by 10 more riders, among them Michael Matthews, who takes the intermediate sprint.

Poels, Dumoulin and Navarro forge on, while Alaphilippe and Bennett bridge over. Yet, when climbing up the Tourmalet Pinot and Majka are in the lead, while Tony Martin bridges over. Early on yellow jersey Van Avermaet gets dropped, same story for Nibali. Alaphilippe can’t follow the pace on the higher slopes.

Both at the Tourmalet and the Hourquette d’Ancizan Pinot is the first to crest, ahead of Majka and Martin.

While climbing the Col de Val Louron-Azet the leaders are reeled in one after the other. Pinot gets dropped from the pack without delay. Poels is the first to crest ahead of Froome and Majka. The Pole takes the lead in the KOM-classification.

At the Peyresourde Poels and Majka are dropped early on and after attacks by Henao, Valverde, Froome and Martin (Daniel) Contador has to let go. He crests half a minute down on the leaders.

Froome is the first at the top and he attacks in the descent to power to victory.