2010 Tour de France, Prologue to Stage 10#Stage 8

The 8th stage of the Tour de France 2010 on July 11, led 189 km from Station des Rousses to the mountain top finish in Morzine-Avoriaz. On this mountain stage there were three intermediate sprints and two climbs of the 4th, a mountain stage of the 3rd and two 1st category. After Stijn Vandenbergh had timed the day before, yet 186 of the 198 registered participants were at the start.

Race course

The real launch took place at 12:40 clock after 3.6 kilometers neutralized ride. Like the day before, there was immediate attacks, among other things, again by Dimitri Champion, and Christophe Moreau, but all were repulsed. Vasil also Kiryjenka, Jérémy Roy and clean Taaramäe could not settle. After about six kilometers due to carelessness of Fabio Felline plunged several drivers. Among them, Cadel Evans, Jérôme Pineau and Simon Gerrans were, but all were able to continue. Felline but as Pineau and Evans had to be treated by the race doctor. But as it turned out only a day later, Evans retired while an elbow fracture. Shortly after, Lance Armstrong came to case. Taaramäe, who was again in a breakaway group, still picked up the first climb of the day, before he was caught. Due to the high pace tore apart the box.

Finally, a group of seven, in the next to Mario Aerts Benoît Vaugrenard, Christophe Riblon, Imanol Erviti, Sébastien Minard, Amaël Moinard and Koos Moerenhout were formed. This group was pulling from left field, even if the Quickstep team made ​​sure that the distance was not too great. In the breakaway group Riblon won the second mountain stage and Aerts, the first intermediate sprint. In the field John Fröhlinger crashed at a traffic island, which remained for him but without major consequences. The septet at the top now reached a maximum lead of about seven minutes. Moerenhout won the second intermediate sprint. In the field Armstrong came shortly after the second time to case.

On the ascent to the Col de la Ramaz, the first peak in the first category, Cadel Evans and the Sky Professional Cycling Team rode at the head of the field at high speed into it, which was quickly formed a Gruppetto. At the top Moerenhout left his former companion, only Aerts and Moinard could follow him. In the field, meanwhile, fell more and more drivers back, among them the yellow jersey Sylvain Chavanel and Pineau, finally Armstrong. At the top of the field now made ​​the team Astana the pace after it has since also quoted by Team Saxo Bank. Front Aerts went first over the hill, followed by his two companions and two minutes before the next group. When Armstrong reached the mountain classification, he was again stopped short when two riders of Euskaltel -Euskadi entangled in the absorption of food bags and came to case. Right in front Aerts won after departure the smaller mountain rating before the final climb, Moerenhout won the last sprint.

In the final climb accelerated at the top Aerts and Moinard who could solve so of Moerenhout. The Favorites group Joaquim Rodríguez attacked, which was, however, as Aerts obtained by the group of Contador again, only Moinard remained forward. Meanwhile, now also had to Andreas Klöden and Ryder Hesjedal drop back when the pace was kept high in the group of Daniel Navarro. The group of favorites was always smaller, Moinard was the fast pace eventually overtaken. Off the top group also Bradley Wiggins fell back. Two kilometers before the finish attacked Roman Kreuziger, gave his assault on but, as his team captain Ivan Basso could not follow. During the attack of Robert Gesink Michael Rogers could not follow. One kilometer before the finish finally attacked Andy Schleck just Samuel Sánchez could follow. This drew the final sprint to, but Schleck pulled over and secured the victory. Cadel Evans, who finished in the group of favorites, took over the yellow jersey. Chavanel and Armstrong came up with significantly more than eleven minutes behind the finish. So that all opportunities were destroyed on the overall and his eighth Tour victory for the Americans.

Sprint

• Second intermediate sprint in Viuz -en- Sallaz ( 129 km ) (612 m)

• Third intermediate sprint in Morzine ( 175 km ) ( 996 m)

• Target in Morzine- Avoriaz ( 189 km ) (1796 m)

Climbs

• Côte de la Petite Joux, Category 4 ( 24 km ) ( 1174 m, 2.3 km at 4.3%)

• Côte de Grésin, Category 4 ( 73 km ) ( 523 m; 4.3 km at 3.9 %)

• Col de la Ramaz, category 1 ( 154.5 km ) (1619 m; 14.3 km at 6.8 %)

• Les Gets, Category 3 ( 168 km ) ( 1163 m; 3.9 km at 4.8 %)

• Morzine -Avoriaz, Category 1 ( 189 km ) (1796 m; 13.6 km at 6.1 %)