Portuguese Surprise: Costa Triumphs

The Progress Report
It was cool at the start of the eighth stage of the 2011 Tour de France with a temperature of 15 degrees at the sign on. One rider was absent from the start; Chris Horner (RSH) was forced to abandon because of injuries sustained in a crash in stage seven. There were 189 riders at the start of the stage from Aigurande to Super-Besse. The stage featured four categorized climbs including the first cat-2 ascent of the 98th Tour. The climbs were: at 65.5km (cat-4 at Evaux-les-Bains), 119.5km (cat-4 at Rocher des Trois Tourtes), 164km (cat-2 at col de la Croix St-Robert) and the finish (cat-2 at Super-Besse). The intermediate sprint was in Auzances at 83km.

Riblon Instigates Nine-Man Escape
After six kilometers of racing at a fast pace, Riblon (ALM) launched an attack and drew eight others with him: Costa (MOV), Zandio (SKY), Engels (QST), El Fares (COF), Zingle (COF), van Garderen (THR), Gautier (EUC) and Kolobnev (KAT). By the 25km they were 1’25” ahead of a BMC-led peloton. Costa was the highest ranked of the escape after seven stages and by the 45km mark, he was the virtual leader as the break had 4’30” on the peloton. The average speed for the first hour was a rapid 48.4km/h. El Fares took the first climbing point; the peloton was led by BMC for the opening stanza of the stage. At the It was 5’15” behind the escape. The leaders ambled to the line for the intermediate sprint and only Riblon was prepared to race ahead for points. He took 20 for first in Auzances. The peloton had been 6’10” behind (at 75km and this was the maximum gain of the escape) but Omega Pharma-Lotto set up a lead-out train and delivered Gilbert to the line to take 10th place. Cavendish started to sprint but sat up before the line and took 13th place. All nine BMC riders were at the front for much of the stage. At the second climb the peloton was at 4’55”. The average speed for the third hour was 37.9km/h.

BMC Control The Peloton
Cadel Evans’ BMC team spent 100 per cent of the second and third hours with riders at the front of the peloton. At the start of the fourth hour, Astana put two riders into the paceline at the front when the bunch was 4’40” behind the escapees. With 40km to go, Garmin-Cervélo joined Astana at the front of the bunch that was at 3’05”. On the descent before the third climb, three Omega Pharma riders set the tempo with Gilbert keeping a close eye on what others near the front were doing.

Col de la Croix Saint-Robert: ‘Vino’ Becomes Virtual Leader
At the base of the third climb, the peloton was 1’55” behind. Van Garderen launched at attack in the first 100m of the ascent and only Gautier and Costa could chase him down. In the first kilometer, Tiralongo (AST) attacked and was joined by Txurrka (EUS) and Rolland (EUC). Hoogerland (VCD) was next to speed ahead of the peloton after 2km on the climb, he was followed by Flecha (SKY). At the top, Van Garderen got maximum points he was just ahead of Costa. Vinokourov surged ahead of the peloton with 3km to climb. He joined forces with Tiralongo, Flecha and Zandio just after the summit.
With 20km to go, Vinokourov’s quaret was 1’25” behind Van Garderen, Riblon, Gautier and Costa. The peloton was at 1’55”.
With 15km to go Riblon attacked the lead group but couldn’t shake the three others. Van Garderen tried a similar move with a similar result and the four were all together again with 10km to climb.

Costa Holds On To Win The Stage…
Vinokourov go to within 20” of the stage leader (inside the final 2km) but he just couldn’t close the gap to the inspired Portuguese rider from the Movistar team. Rui Costa maintained his advantage all the way up the final climb and although the GC guys started to attack each other – with Contador trying a move on the last hill, followed by Cunego, and then Evans, it was only Gilbert who could break free of the peloton that swallowed up Vinokourov somewhere in the final 2km. The second place for the Belgian champion propelled him back into the lead of the points classification. Hushovd finished 16th and will keep the yellow jersey for another day at the Tour de France.