Tour de France: Stage 8 Aigurande > Super Besse Sancy, 189kms

Thor Hushovd has swapped his shiny Cervelo for an ancient telegraph bike today...

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Nine riders have been away right from the start - led by Tejay Van Garderen...

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Ben Swift gets a swift wheel change at the back of a dawdling peloton...

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Richie Porte is also getting serviced - but it's his Saxo Bank car that really needs seeing to..!

Garmin-Cervelo are starting to chase, they have Danielson and Vande Velde on the front...

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Xavier Zandio leads the escape that has about six minutes lead now...

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BMC has assumed control of the chasing now, led by Manuel Quinziato...

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Cofidis are in control of their team leader - Dumoulin pushes Buffaz who's pushing Rein Taaramae...

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Is Hushovd thinking of climbing with the climbers and keeping his Yellow Jersey today..?

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Jose Joachin Rojas is having fun with his fellow Murciano, Luis Leon Sanchez...

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Van Garderen seems the strongest in the escape - and they still have over four minutes lead...

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Michael Schar now leads an elegant BMC pursuit with about 40-kilometres to go...

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The peloton races towards the penultimate climb with Astana now leading the pursuit...

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Van Garderen has accelerated on the Col de la Croix St Robert - he's taken Rui Costa with him...

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The climbers mass near the front of the peloton - the Tour de France is in the hills of Massif Central..!

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Jonny Hoogerland has attacked in an effort to collect the last mountain points with the escape gobbling up the rest..

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Alexandre Vinokourov has attacked as well - he has teamate Tiralongo waiting for him up the climb...

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Vinokourov picks up Tiralongo with Zandio hanging on to their pace - they'll catch Van Garderen and Rui Costa on the wet descent...

Andy Schleck looks tense as he descends the penultimate climb...

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Alberto Rui Costa wins stage eight after attacking at the foot of the last climb...

Philippe Gilbert takes 2nd place at 12-seconds...

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Cadel Evans takes 3rd-place but not yet the Yellow Jersey..!

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A weary-looking Alberto Contador finishes the stage after trying and failing to attack his rivals..

SAXOFATIGUE

Hushovd is out of breathe after the finish but still in the Yellow Jersey for tomorrow's hilly stage...

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Tejay Van Garderen is the new climber's leader - what a future awaits this young American..!

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