It Was Sanchez's Destiny

The Progress Report
The eighth stage of the 2009 Tour de France – from Andorra-la-Veille to St-Girons – began at 12.32pm. There were 176 riders at the start. The conditions were sunny with a temperature at the start of 25 degrees Celsius. The 176.5km stage featured three climbs: the category-one Port d’Envalira (2,408m high with the crest at 23.5km), the category-two col de Port (1,249m high at 102km) and the category-one col d’Agnes (1,570m high at 132.5km). The three intermediate sprints were in Luzenac (67km), Tarascon-sur-Ariege (84.5km) and Vic d’Oust (159.5km).

Evans Takes A Chance…
As soon as racing began, Calzati (AGR) attacked. He was joined briefly by Hupont (SKS) but then Txurruka, Martinez and Verdugo (EUS) took the lead. At 5km mark, Martinez went solo. He was caught by Paulinho (AST) and Uran (GCE) at 7km. Wegelius (SIL) joined the leading trio at the 11km mark. Casar (FDJ) caught the leader at the 15km mark and raced into the lead. Behind him a group of five formed: Evans (SIL), Martinez (EUS), Zabriskie (GRM), Efimkin (ALM) and Kern (COF).
Evans did all the work in this group until 200m before the summit. At the top Casar led Kern and Martinez by 52” and Evans by 55”.
The addition of 13pts to Kern’s climbing classification tally means he earns the polkad-dot jersey at the end of the stage.
The peloton was led by riders from the Astana team and crested the Port d’Envalira 1’50” behind Casar. Cancellara, Hushovd, Hincapie and Flecha caught the Evans quintet 38km. At 41km, the Evans group of nine was 45” behind Casar and the peloton (led by Astana) was at 1’35”. Casar was caught by the nine chasers at the 50km mark; the peloton was 48” behind. Evans, Martinez, Zabriskie and Kern eventually ceased their work in the lead and were caught at 63km.

Hushovd Into Green & Pereiro Out Of Tour
At the first intermediate sprint, Hushovd took first place and raced into the lead of the points classification. His group of six led by 30”. LL. Sanchez (GCE) and Ignatiev (KAT) caught the six escapees at 73km and Astaloza (EUS) and Rosseler (QSI) came across to the lead at 75km. At 76km, the 10 escapees were 40” ahead of the peloton. The 10 increased their advantage and, at the base of the Col de Port, were 1’40” ahead of the peloton. Pereiro (GCE) quit the Tour at the 90km mark.
Hushovd and Rosseler were dropped on the Col de Port. Casar led his escape group of eight over the summit. The peloton was 2’55” behind at the 102km mark. Hushovd was caught at the top but Rosseler later rejoined the lead group and led the nine-man break at the foot of the Col d’Agnes.

Col d’Agnes
In the first kilometer of the third climb, Cancellara stopped with his effort and waited for his colleagues. Andy Schleck made an acceleration with 9km to climb and thinned the group down to 18 riders which rode ahead of the yellow jersey. With 5km to climb the stage was led by Efimkin, Sanchez, Astarloza and Casar. They were 1’20” ahead of a group that included Sastre, Evans, Van den Broeck, Contador, Armstrong, Leipheimer, Kloden, A. Schleck, F. Schleck, Vande Velde, Wiggins, Kirchen, Martin, Nibali, Kreuziger and Karpets. Nocentini was 30” behind but he caught up with the elite pack 4km from the top.
Efimkin attacked 1,800m from the summit and was chased down by Sanchez and Astaloza. Casar was 30” behind with 1km to climb. Astarloza led over the top. Casar was at 18”, Hincapie at 1’28”, Rolland (BBO) at 2’05”… Zubeldia led the peloton over the top 2’45” behind. The Astana team led down the descent and then allowed AG2R to take charge of the peloton. They appeared content to allow the escape to remain clear – with Efimkin represented and the yellow jersey safe.

Sanchez Takes Another Win
The four leaders collaborated well and maintained a lead that hovered around two minutes for the final 40km. The least amount of work was done by Efimkin. Astarloza was the first to attack and his surge came with 4.5km to go but was reeled in by the other three then Efimkin surged ahead with 4km to go. He had a good lead but was caught in the final 1,200m. Sanchez bided his time and followed an aggressive and intent Casar all the way to the 100m to go mark when he pounced into the lead. It was the second stage victory in the Tour for the Spaniard in two years.
Nocentini finished 28th in the stage, in the peloton that was 1’54” behind Sanchez. He retains the yellow jersey.