The oldest starts the attacking; the youngest wins- Bravo Thibaut!
On a day with seven climbs including a brutally steep final ascent in Switzerland, the short eighth stage was expected to be an animated one and the predictions came true. The attacks lasted from start to finish. It began with an impressive display from Jens Voigt who seemed like the bionic man as he punched the pedals on his own at the front while a myriad of riders tried to get on terms with him but failed. On he went for the first hour, like an automaton on a mission but eventually his battery ran out. Meanwhile, back in the peloton there were some who dared take on the might of the Sky...
Read more Key momentsThe stage in videos
Summary of the race
Interview - Stage Winner
Image of the day
Landscape of the day
Analysis of the stage
The day's route
Magazine
Jean-François Pescheux's analysis of the...
The towns 2012 : visit Porrentruy
The towns 2012 : visit Porrentruy
Visit Doubs
Visit territoire de Belfort
Through the geologist eyes
Tourist attractions
Belfort
Belfort benefits from a remarkable situation. Bordering Switzerland, it reaffirms, with the arrival of the TGV and access to the EuroAirport, its traditional role as an exchange point between the valleys of the Rhone and the Rhine, between Mediterranean Europe and the Rhineland. The city of the Lion, the famous sculpture by Frederic Auguste Bartholdi and the emblem of the city also boasts a dual heritage, historical and industrial. The citadel built by Vauban is one of the most beautiful heritage sites in French, while the presence of many industrial firms such as General Electric, Alstom, research laboratories on the fuel cell and hydrogen technology confirms the dynamism of a technological and innovative city. Belfort also enjoys artistic diversity and a richness in its festivals: the Eurockéennes rock festival, the International Festival of University Music, EntreVues, the International Film Festival and the Puppet Festival. The beauty of the architecture and elegance of the facades, the charm of parks and public gardens mean that Belfort is a colourful and harmonious town where life is good.
Population: 51,500
Prefecture of Territoire de Belfort (90)Economy : industry (Alsthom, General Electric, Usine à Gaz), high technologies (Techn’hom)
Specialties : blueberry, épaule du ballon (lamb), lion’s paddle (bread), belflore, pavé de Corbis (pastries), brimbul (aperitif).
Sport : ASM Belfort (volleyball)
Celebrities : Denfert-Rochereau, Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi, Jean-Pierre Chevenement.
Festivals : Eurockéennes, TGV Generiq
Porrentruy
Welcome to Porrentruy, the Swiss city nearest to Paris! Since the opening of the new TGV station Belfort-Montbéliard, a few kilometres from the Swiss border, Porrentruy is only 2 hours 40 minutes from the French capital. This happy fact reinforces the appeal of the city and the Swiss canton of Jura as a tourist destination and location of the first rate place to be for people and businesses. The Swiss canton of Jura, made of wide open spaces and unspoiled nature, is horse country, the cradle of the watch and of the famous Swiss Army knife. Second city of the Canton, Porrentruy, located in the heart of a region called the Ajoie, has a rich architectural heritage, one of the most beautiful botanical gardens in Switzerland and ongoing traditions like the Festival of Saint Martin, that every year in November, welcomes tens of thousands of visitors. During construction of the A16 motorway, deposits of dinosaur traces were discovered close to the city dating from the Jurassic period -150 million years ago - which makes Porrentruy one of the most important sites in the world.
Population: 6,700
Commune of the Jura canton (Switzerland)Economy : civil services, trade, cantonal bank of Jura.
Specialities : damassine (plum liquor). Ajoie sausage, totche (pie).
Sport : HC Ajoie (ice-hockey).
Celebrities : Robert Caze, Auguste Viatte, Jean-Paul Pellaton (writers).
Festivals : Rock’Air (August), World of colours (June).
Labels : Wakker prize 1988.
Jersey wearers after the stage 20
- yellow jerseyWIGGINS B.SKY
- polka-dot jerseyVOECKLER T.EUC
- white jerseyVAN GARDEREN T.BMC
- the day's winnerCAVENDISH M.SKY
- teamRADIOSHACK-.RNT
- super-combativeSORENSEN C.STB
Key moments
- 23:00Summary of the race
- 17:39Great Brit: Wiggins creates history
- 16:00Interview - Stage Winner
- 19:02Sagan: «I want to finish this season...
- 18:56Froome: «I couldn't be happier»
- 18:49Van Garderen: «It's been a huge three...
- 18:43Cavendish: «You've seen my sprint is...
- 18:31Wiggins: «It's very surreal»
- 11:45Analysis of the stage
- 10:30The day's route
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