Rasmussen: The Flying Chicken Strikes Again!

The 8th stage – a 165km ride from Le Grand-Bornand to Tignes – began at 12.52pm. There were 180 riders at the start, with no overnight retirements. _ There were six climbs in the stage: Cat-4 Col du Marais (3.8km long at 4.1%); Cat-3 Cote de Bouchet-Mont-Charvin (2km at 7.1%); Cat-2 Col de Temie (9.5km at 4.0%); Cat-1 Cormet de Roseland (19.9km at 6.0%); Cat-1 Montee d’Hauteville (15.3km at 4.7%) and the final ascent: the cat-1 Montee de Tignes (18.0km at 5.4%). The intermediate sprints were in Faverges (at 36km) and Albertville (60km). _ _ Rapid Start To Stage… _ Jegou (FDJ) attacked in the first kilometre and was quickly chased down by Schumacher (GST), Efimkin (BAR), Auge (COF) and Sieberg (MRM). At the first climb their advantage was 25”. It was over before the first climb. Schumacher insisted and ensured he was part of the next escape group but it was Voeckler who was the most aggressive. He attacked after the second summit and reached a lead of 30” before being caught by 17 others at 41km. The lead group formed on the 3rd climb and composed of: Gutierrez (GCE), Rogers (TMO), Voigt (CSC), Aerts (PRL), Goubert and Arrieta (A2R), Azanza and Verdugo (EUS), Kohl (GST), Le Mevel (C.A), Hincapie (DSC), Auge and Moreni (COF), Willems (LIQ), Vaugrenard (FDJ), Millar (SDV) and Voeckler (BTL). At the top of the Col de Tamie, Voeckler and Schumacher sprinted ahead to contest the sprint for points. _ The peloton was led by Weening (RAB) while four T-Mobile riders followed but didn’t contribute to the pacesetting as Rogers was the best-placed overall of those in the escape group. The average speed for the 1st hour was 42.4km/h. At the 46.5km mark, the peloton was 1’30” behind the 18 escapees. _ The maximum gain of the escape was 2’05” at the Albertville sprint. _ _ Cormet de Roseland _ As the leaders began the 4th ascent their advantage over the peloton was 1’45”. Kohl was the first to accelerate. Rasmussen attacked the peloton with 10km to climb. The Austrian stage leader was joined by Colom and Le Mevel at the 93km mark and Rogers, Rasmussen, Arroyo (GCE) and Goubert at the 94km mark. Rasmussen led the escape group over the top. There were five others with him: Kohl, Arroyo, Rogers, Goubert and Colom. Then came Le Mevel at 52” and Hincapie led the second group (of seven men) over the summit 1’25” later. Rogers became the virtual leader with 2km to climb… at the summit Gerdemann’s peloton – which included most of the favourites for the Tour – was at 5’10”. _ _ Rogers, Arroyo & O’Grady Crash On Descent _ The virtual leader, Rogers and Arroyo crashed at the 110km mark. Both quickly remounted and continued on with their attack. At the 115km mark they were 35” behind Colom, Rasmussen, Goubert and Kohl. The peloton was at 4’25”. The two fallen riders were back in the lead at the 118km mark. Other riders in crashes on the descent were: O’Grady and Niermann. At the 128km mark, Rogers was at 2’30”; Le Mevel, Gutierrez, Hincapie, Paulinho, Verdugo, Txurruka, Moreni and Voigt were at 3’20” and the yellow jersey’s peloton at 4’30”. Rogers consulted the team doctor but couldn’t continue. He stepped off and retired at the 138km mark. His compatriot O’Grady abandoned the Tour and was taken to hospital in Moutier in an ambulance after complaining of back pain. Rasmussen did all the work for the leading trio. He crested the summit with Colom and Arroyo on his wheel. The second group included: Paulinho, Hincapie, Gutierrez, Txurruka and Le Mevel – and was 4’55”. The yellow jersey’s peloton was led by the Astana team and was 6’15” behind Rasmussen at the summit. _ _ Rasmussen Flies Into The Lead _ With 20km to go, Rasmussen attacked again and disposed of Arroyo and Colom for the final time. He would not be seen again until the end of the stage. The main animator of the main pack was Moreau (A2R) and Mayo (SDV). Their efforts reduced the chase group to just seven: Moreau, Mayo, Evans (PRL), Kashechkin (AST), Schleck (CSC), Contador (DSC) and Valverde. None of the attacks stuck and these seven stayed together for most of the climb until Mayo launched ahead with 5km to go. He finished 2’47” behind Rasmussen. The Danish rider not only won the stage but claimed the lead in both the general and climbing classifications. _ Linus Gerdemann (TMO) finished 20th, 5’05” behind Rasmussen. The Danish Rabobank rider will wear the yellow jersey in stage nine on Tuesday 17 July.