Tour de France 2015 Stage 8: Vuillermoz wins at steep Wall

Stage 8 leads form Rennes to the Mûr de Bretagne, a stage with a short and steep closing climb. Vuillermoz powers to the win, while Nibali loses precious time. Froome retails the yellow jersey. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 8th stage Tour de France

1. Alexis Vuillermoz (fra)
2. Daniel Martin (irl) + 0.05
3. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 0.10
4. Peter Sagan (svk) s.t.
5. Tony Gallopin (fra) s.t.
6. Greg Van Avermaet (bel) s.t.
7. Adam Yates (gbr) s.t.
8. Chris Froome (gbr) s.t.
9. Bauke Mollema (nld) s.t.
10. Tejay van Garderen (usa) s.t.

12. Joaquim Rodriguez (spa) s.t.
13. Warren Barguil (fra) s.t.
14. Alberto Contador (spa) s.t.
15. Rigoberto Uran (col) s.t.
17. Nairo Quintana (col) s.t.
19. Robert Gesink (nld) s.t.
24. Jean-Christophe Peraud (fra) s.t.
30. Vincenzo Nibali (ita) + 0.20
32. Thibaut Pinot (fra) + 0.25
34. Romain Bardet (fra) + 0.31

GC after stage 8
1. Chris Froome (gbr)
2. Peter Sagan (svk) + 0.11
3. Tejay van Garderen (usa) + 0.13
4. Tony Gallopin (fra) + 0.26
5. Greg Van Avermaet (bel) + 0.28
6. Rigoberto Uran (col) + 0.34
7. Alberto Contador (spa) + 0.36
8. Warren Barguil (fra) + 1.07
9. Zdenek Stybar (cze) + 1.15
10. Bauke Mollema (nld) + 1.32

11. Robert Gesink (nld) + 1.39
12. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 1.47
13. Vincenzo Nibali (ita) + 1.48
16. Nairo Quintana (col) + 1.56
17. Joaquim Rodriguez (spa) + 2.00
18. Jean-Christophe Peraud (fra) + 2.07
20. Romain Bardet (fra) + 3.15
29. Thibaut Pinot (fra) + 6.33

Race report
With 9 km’s done the break of the day is a fact. Bartosz Huzarski, Sylvain Chavanel, Romain Sicard and Pierre-Luc Périchon race to a maximum advantage of 4 minutes. Then Lotto Soudal takes control and keeps the escapees on a leash with the gap lingering at 2 to 3 minutes for a while.

But then, with 70 km’s left, the break is history when they are reeled in by a group of 17 riders. Golas, Bak and Huzarski jump off the front to form a new break, while the other riders are brought back by the pack.

The trio races to a 1 minute gain, but with 8 km’s left their party is over.

Alexis Vuillermoz attacks on the lower slopes. He is reeled in, but in the last km he escapes again, this time to solo to victory. Nibali is dropped in the group with GC men and finsihes 0’10” down on Froome, Contador, Quintana et al.