Tour de France 2017: Calmejane solos to victory in Station des Rousses, Froome retains in yellow

The 8th stage of the Tour de France takes in three intermediate climbs to finish in Station des Rousses. Lilian Calmejane attacks on the last climb and holds off the chasing Robert Gesink on the rolling plateau to the line. Chris Froome retains in the overall lead. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 8th stage 2017 Tour de France

1. Lilian Calmejane (fra)
2. Robert Gesink (nld) + 0.37
3. Guillaume Martin (fra) + 0.50
4. Nicolas Roche (irl) s.t.
5. Roman Kreuziger (cze) s.t.
6. Fabio Aru (ita) s.t.
7. Michael Valgren (den) s.t.
8. Rafal Majka (pol) s.t.
9. Nathan Brown (usa) s.t.
10. Romain Hardy (fra) s.t.

12. Louis Meintjes (rsa) s.t.
13. Daniel Martin (irl) s.t.
17. Richie Porte (aus) s.t.
18. Chris Froome (gbr) s.t.
20. Nairo Quintana (col) s.t.
21. Esteban Chaves (col) s.t.
25. Jakob Fuglsang (den) s.t.
27. Romain Bardet (fra)( s.t.
29. Simon Yates (gbr) s.t.
30. Alberto Contador (spa) s.t.
33. Geraint Thomas (gbr) s.t.

GC after the 8th stage
1. Chris Froome (gbr)
2. Geraint Thomas (gbr) + 0.12
3. Fabio Aru (ita) + 0.14
4. Daniel Martin (irl) + 0.25
5. Richie Porte (aus) + 0.39
6. Simon Yates (gbr) + 0.43
7. Romain Bardet (fra) + 0.47
8. Alberto Contador (spa) + 0.52
9. Nairo Quintana (col) + 0.54
10. Rafal Majka (pol) + 1.01

11. Rigoberto Uran (col) s.t.
12. Pierre Latour (fra) + 1.07
13. Louis Meintjes (rsa) + 1.24
14. Emanuel Buchmann (ger) + 1.29
15. Jakob Fuglsang (den) + 1.33

Race report
Once the flag is dropped attacks are everywhere for about 70 kms. Then the peloton breaks and 50 riders race to a lead of more than 3 minutes over the main group with GC contenders. A little later Pauwels, Buchmann, Frank, Calmejane, Bakelants, Ten Dam, Van Avermaet, Bettiol, Keukeleire, De Kort, Valgren, Schär and De Gendt jump off the front of the race, while Barguil, Burghardt and Trentin re-join them.

On the Col de la Joux Pauwels and Barguil head out together. Behind them the fifty riders re-group. Pauwels and Barguil crest the La Joux 1 minute ahead of the chasers.

In the descent Van Avermaet, Matthews, Bakelants, Burghardt, Ulissi and Trentin join the two leaders. When hitting the Côte de Viry they are half a minute ahead of their former companions, while the GC contenders are more than 2 minutes in arrears.

Matthews, Trentin and Burghardt can’t follow the pace on the Viry, while Talansky and Calmejane bridge across from the second group. The other chasers hook up, too, inspiring Van Avermaet to speed up with Pauwels, Bakelants and Barguil on his wheel. Calmejane, Clarke, Gesink, Roche and Valgren close the gap.

At the foot the last climb the GC contenders are 1’30” down on the front group. Van Avermaet, Clarke and Bakelants can’t follow the pace. Roche attacks with 20 kms remaining with Pauwels on his wheel. Calmejane re-joins the leaders, while Gesink hooks up a little later.

Calmejane goes solo with 17.5 kms left. Gesink tries to bridge across and is chasing for kms without coming closer. Atop he is half a minute down on the 24-year old Frenchman.

Calemejane suffers cramps on a small climb in the last 5 kms, but he pushes on to solo to victory.

No changes in the overall classification, which we can expect to be different after tomorrow’s stage to Chambéry.