Tour's 8th Stage Holds Surprises

Stage 8 of this year's Tour de France (from Aigurande to Super-Besse Sancy) was without a doubt the most difficult stage so far. It had a category 4 climb, a category 3 climb, and finished with a category 2 climb and a category 3 climb to the finish. It was expected to be a stage for the strong climbers, not the sprinters. And that generally was this case, with most of the sprinters finishing about 20 minutes behind the stage winner.

But Norwegian Thor Hushovd (Garmin-Cervelo) surprised everyone. He has mostly been known as a sprinter (and has actually won the sprinter's green jersey in the past). But today he hung with the top climbers and finished with them in the peloton. Although he didn't win the stage, he finished close enough to the winners that he will retain the yellow jersey for another day. I don't think anyone expected that to happen.

A second surprise in this stage was the performance of young American rider Tejay Van Garderen (HTC-Highroad). He went with an early breakaway and was able to win all the points for the category 2 climb. That means he will get to wear the climber's polka-dot jersey tomorrow -- the first time I can remember an American wearing that jersey. If he continues to develop, he could be a real contender in future Tours.

But the day really belonged to Portugal's Rui Alberto Costa (Movistar). He joined the breakaway early in the race and held off all challenges to win the stage. Second place went to  Belgian Philippe Gilbert (Omega-Lotto) and third was captured by Australian Cadel Evans (BMC Racing). Gilbert and Evans are having a great Tour so far.

Tomorrow's stage 9 will be an even more difficult ride. It is a 208 kilometer ride from Issoire to Saint-Flour and has several climbs -- including one category 4 climb, three category 3 climbs, and three category 2 climbs (the smaller the number the more difficult the climb is). It will undoubtably be a stage dominated by the strongest climbers, and could be won in a breakaway.

Here are the current standings:

YELLOW JERSEY (INDIVIDUAL LEADER)
1. Thor Hushovd, Norway (Garmin-Cervelo)
2. Cadel Evans, Australia (BMC Racing)..........01"
3. Frank Schleck, Luxembourg (Leopard-Trek)..........04"
4. Andreas Kloden, Germany (Radio Shack)..........10"
5. Jakob Fuglsang, Denmark (Leopard-Trek)..........12"
6. Andy Schleck, Luxembourg (Leopard-Trek)..........12"
7. Tony Martin, Germany (HTC-Highroad)..........13"
8. Peter Velits, Slovakia (HTC-Highroad)..........13"
9. David Millar, Great Britain (Garmin-Cervelo)..........19"
10. Philippe Gilbert, Belgium (Omega-Lotto)..........30"
20. Alberto Contador, Spain (Saxo Bank)..........1' 42"
21. Tom Danielson, USA (Garmin-Cervelo)..........1' 57"
22. Christian Vande Velde, USA (Garmin-Cervelo)...........1' 57"


GREEN JERSEY (SPRINTERS)
1. Philippe Gilbert, Belgium (Omega-Lotto)..........187 pts
2. Jose Joaquin Rojas, Spain (Movistar)..........172 pts
3. Mark Cavendish, Great Britain (HTC-Highroad)..........153 pts
4. Thor Hushovd, Norway (Garmin-Cervelo)..........130 pts
5. Cadel Evans, Australia (BMC Racing)..........120 pts


POLKA DOT JERSEY (CLIMBERS)
1. Tejay Van Garderen, USA (HTC-Highroad)..........5 pts
2. Rui Alberto Costa, Portugal (Movistar)..........5 pts
3. Johnny Hoogerland, Netherlands (Vacansoleil)..........4 pts
4. Anthony Roux, France (FDJ)..........3 pts
5. Cadel Evans, Australia (BMC Racing)..........2 pts
6. Philippe Gilbert, Belgium (Omega-Lotto)..........2 pts
7. Christophe Riblon, France (AG2R)..........2 pts


TEAM STANDINGS
1. Garmin-Cervelo (USA)
2. Leopard-Trek (Luxembourg)..........4"
3. Radio Shack (USA)..........35"
4. HTC-Highroad (USA)..........2' 10"
5. Katusha (Russia)..........2' 56"