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Frenchman Vuillermoz wins TDF 8th stage

Mr-de-Bretagne - Alexis Vuillermoz gave the hosts their first victory at the Tour de France this year with success on the eighth stage on Saturday.

The 27-year-old former mountain biker took his chance with 800m left on the tough finish at the Mur de Bretagne to take a solo victory.

Ireland's Dan Martin timed his counter-attack a shade too late and finished second at 5sec, frustrated at having reacted too late to Vuillermoz's initial punch.

A shredded peloton arrived next at 10sec with Spaniard Alejandro Valverde winning the sprint ahead of Frenchman Peter Sagan of Slovakia and Frenchman Tony Gallopin.

Chris Froome finished eighth in the same group to maintain his overall lead by 11sec from Sagan, while American Tejay Van Garderen is third at 13sec.

But Briton Froome, the 2013 winner, did strike another blow to reigning champion Vincenzo Nibali who lost 10 seconds as he was dropped by the lead group on the 2km climb to the finish with its 6.9 percent gradient.

He is now 13th overall at 1min 48sec.

Froome admitted it was a shock to hear Nibali had struggled.

"I was very surprised to hear that actually, especially given that up the final climb it was predominately into a headwind up there, which made it relatively easy to stay on the wheels," he said.

"So I'm really surprised to hear that, especially with a relatively big group up front."

Two-time former winner Alberto Contador and Colombian Nairo Quintana stayed with the lead group, though, finishing 14th and 17th respectively to remain at 36sec and 1min 56sec of Froome.

Following Sunday's team time-trial and Monday's rest day, the true battle will commence on Tuesday's first mountain-top finish at La Pierre-Saint Martin with a final 15.3km, 7.4 percent climb to the summit.

Vuillermoz's victory went some way to glossing over what had been a disappointing Tour for the hosts so far.

Not only did they have to wait eight stages for a winner but overall hopes Thibaut Pinot and Romain Bardet had already lost 6min 18sec and 2min 54sec respectively, badly hurting their hopes of a podium finish.

Pinot finished 25sec behind the winner and Bardet, a AG2R teammate of Vuillermoz, was another six seconds behind that.

Earlier, a four man breakaway took off within 5km of the start but were never allowed more than a 3min lead over the pack.

But they were reeled in shortly after the intermediate sprint, 108km into the stage, after which a new three-man break formed, with Pole Bartosz Huzarski managing to get into both.

But that one was never given more than a minute's leeway and was brought back with 8km left as the favourites' teams cranked up the pace to set up their leaders for the final battle.

Results from the 8th stage of Tour de France a 181.5km ride from Rennes to Mr-de-Bretagne on Saturday:

1. Alexis Vuillermoz (FRA/ALM) 4hr 20min 55sec

2. Daniel Martin (IRL/CAN) at 0:05sec

3. Alejandro Valverde (ESP/MOV) 0:10.

4. Peter Sagan (SVK/TIN) 0:10.

5. Tony Gallopin (FRA/LOT) 0:10.

6. Greg Van Avermaet (BEL/BMC) 0:10.

7. Adam Yates (GBR/ORI) 0:10.

8. Chris Froome (GBR/SKY) 0:10.

9. Bauke Mollema (NED/TRE) 0:10.

10. Tejay Van Garderen (USA/BMC) 0:10.

11. Julian Arredondo (COL/TRE) 0:10.

12. Joaquin Rodriguez (ESP/KAT) 0:10.

13. Warren Barguil (FRA/GIA) 0:10.

14. Alberto Contador (ESP/TIN) 0:10.

15. Rigoberto Uran (COL/ETI) 0:10.

16. Roman Kreuziger (CZE/TIN) 0:10.

17. Nairo Quintana (COL/MOV) 0:10.

18. Julien Simon (FRA/COF) 0:10.

19. Robert Gesink (NED/LNL) 0:10.

20. Pierre Rolland (FRA/EUC) 0:10.

21. Gorka Izagirre (ESP/MOV) 0:10.

22. Samuel Sanchez (ESP/BMC) 0:10.

23. Simon Yates (GBR/ORI) 0:10.

24. Jean Christophe Peraud (FRA/ALM) 0:10.

25. Mathias Frank (SUI/IAM) 0:10.

26. Paul Martens (GER/LNL) 0:10.

27. Bob Jungels (LUX/TRE) 0:10.

28. Serge Pauwels (BEL/MTN) 0:20.

29. Haimar Zubeldia (ESP/TRE) 0:20.

30. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA/AST) 0:20.

31. Andrew Talansky (USA/CAN) 0:20.

32. Thibaut Pinot (FRA/FDJ) 0:25.

33. Jan Bakelants (BEL/ALM) 0:31.

34. Romain Bardet (FRA/ALM) 0:31.

35. Paul Voss (GER/BOA) 0:33.

36. Dominik Nerz (GER/BOA) 0:33.

37. Cyril Gautier (FRA/EUC) 0:33.

38. Zdenek Stybar (CZE/ETI) 0:33.

39. Marcel Wyss (SUI/IAM) 0:33.

40. Simon Geschke (GER/GIA) 0:33.

41. Jarlinson Pantano (COL/IAM) 0:41.

42. Thomas Voeckler (FRA/EUC) 0:41.

43. Luis ngel Mat (ESP/COF) 0:45.

44. Steven Kruijswijk (NED/LNL) 0:45.

45. Eduardo Sepulveda (ARG/BSE) 0:45.

46. Pierrick Fedrigo (FRA/BSE) 0:45.

47. Rui Costa (POR/LAM) 0:45.

48. Geraint Thomas (GBR/SKY) 0:59.

49. Tiago Machado (POR/KAT) 0:59.

50. Giampaolo Caruso (ITA/KAT) 0:59.

51. Alberto Losada (ESP/KAT) 0:59.

52. Tanel Kangert (EST/AST) 0:59.

53. Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR/MTN) 1:02.

54. Sylvain Chavanel (FRA/IAM) 1:02.

55. Anthony Delaplace (FRA/BSE) 1:02.

56. Jakob Diemer Fuglsang (DEN/AST) 1:09.

57. Georg Preidler (AUT/GIA) 1:09.

58. Laurens ten Dam (NED/LNL) 1:09.

59. Jacques Janse Van Rensburg (RSA/MTN) 1:09.

60. Mickal Cherel (FRA/ALM) 1:09.

61. Winner Anacona (COL/MOV) 1:09.

62. Rafael Valls (ESP/LAM) 1:13.

63. Daniel Teklehaimanot (ERI/MTN) 1:13.

64. Armindo Fonseca (FRA/BSE) 1:13.

65. Jan Brta (CZE/BOA) 1:40.

66. Brice Feillu (FRA/BSE) 1:40.

67. Jos Mendes (POR/BOA) 1:40.

68. Stef Clement (NED/IAM) 2:00.

69. Jrome Coppel (FRA/IAM) 2:00.

70. Koen de Kort (NED/GIA) 2:00.

71. Bram Tankink (NED/LNL) 2:00.

72. Rubn Plaza (ESP/LAM) 2:00.

73. Geoffrey Soupe (FRA/COF) 2:08.

74. Steve Morabito (SUI/FDJ) 2:08.

75. Andriy Grivko (UKR/AST) 2:26.

76. Markel Irizar (ESP/TRE) 2:26.

77. Roy Curvers (NED/GIA) 2:26.

78. Sep Vanmarcke (BEL/LNL) 2:36.

79. Jonathan Castroviejo (ESP/MOV) 2:49.

80. Kristjan Koren (SLO/CAN) 2:49.

81. Kristijan Durasek (CRO/LAM) 2:49.

82. Benot Vaugrenard (FRA/FDJ) 2:49.

83. Ben Gastauer (LUX/ALM) 2:49.

84. Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg (RSA/MTN) 2:49.

85. Reto Hollenstein (SUI/IAM) 2:49.

86. Perrig Quemeneur (FRA/EUC) 3:05.

87. Bryan Naulleau (FRA/EUC) 3:05.

88. Jos van Emden (NED/LNL) 3:08.

89. Filippo Pozzato (ITA/LAM) 3:08.

90. Jos Herrada (ESP/MOV) 3:08.

91. Ramon Sinkeldam (NED/GIA) 3:08.

92. Luke Durbridge (AUS/ORI) 3:08.

93. Wilco Kelderman (NED/LNL) 3:08.

94. Tom Leezer (NED/LNL) 3:08.

95. Adam Hansen (AUS/LOT) 3:08.

96. Michal Kwiatkowski (POL/ETI) 3:08.

97. Richie Porte (AUS/SKY) 3:08.

98. Johan Van Summeren (BEL/ALM) 3:26.

99. Tim Wellens (BEL/LOT) 3:26.

100. Matthieu Ladagnous (FRA/FDJ) 3:34.

101. Matteo Bono (ITA/LAM) 3:59.

102. Jos Serpa Perez (COL/LAM) 3:59.

103. Arnaud Gerard (FRA/BSE) 4:02.

104. Florian Vachon (FRA/BSE) 4:02.

105. Christophe Laporte (FRA/COF) 4:02.

106. Leopold Knig (CZE/SKY) 4:07.

107. Alexandre Geniez (FRA/FDJ) 4:28.

108. Marco Haller (AUT/KAT) 4:39.

109. Thomas De Gendt (BEL/LOT) 4:52.

110. Bryan Coquard (FRA/EUC) 4:52.

111. Arnaud Dmare (FRA/FDJ) 4:55.

112. Angelo Tulik (FRA/EUC) 4:55.

113. Pieter Weening (NED/ORI) 5:14.

114. Daniele Bennati (ITA/TIN) 5:42.

115. Michael Rogers (AUS/TIN) 5:42.

116. Ryder Hesjedal (CAN/CAN) 5:42.

117. Damiano Caruso (ITA/BMC) 5:42.

118. Alexander Kristoff (NOR/KAT) 5:42.

119. Tyler Farrar (USA/MTN) 6:12.

120. Ivan Basso (ITA/TIN) 6:12.

121. Julien Vermote (BEL/ETI) 6:12.

122. Gregory Rast (SUI/TRE) 6:12.

123. Stijn Devolder (BEL/TRE) 6:12.

124. Florian Snchal (FRA/COF) 6:12.

125. Lars Ytting Bak (DEN/LOT) 6:12.

126. Michael Andersen (DEN/TIN) 6:12.

127. Daniel Navarro (ESP/COF) 6:12.

128. Rein Taaramae (EST/AST) 6:12.

129. Marcel Sieberg (GER/LOT) 6:12.

130. Andr Greipel (GER/LOT) 6:12.

131. Jacopo Guarnieri (ITA/KAT) 6:12.

132. Stephen Cummings (GBR/MTN) 6:12.

133. Imanol Erviti (ESP/MOV) 6:12.

134. Daniel Oss (ITA/BMC) 6:12.

135. Ian Stannard (GBR/SKY) 6:12.

136. Matteo Trentin (ITA/ETI) 7:58.

137. Matteo Tosatto (ITA/TIN) 7:58.

138. Christophe Riblon (FRA/ALM) 7:58.

139. Nicolas Roche (IRL/SKY) 7:58.

140. Michael Schr (SUI/BMC) 7:58.

141. Manuel Quinziato (ITA/BMC) 7:58.

142. Rohan Dennis (AUS/BMC) 7:58.

143. Sebastien Chavanel (FRA/FDJ) 7:58.

144. Jeremy Roy (FRA/FDJ) 7:58.

145. Lars Boom (NED/AST) 7:58.

146. Danilo Wyss (SUI/BMC) 7:58.

147. Martin Elmiger (SUI/IAM) 7:58.

148. Lieuwe Westra (NED/AST) 7:58.

149. Pierre-Luc Perichon (FRA/BSE) 7:58.

150. Matthias Brandle (AUT/IAM) 7:58.

151. Laurent Didier (LUX/TRE) 7:58.

152. Michal Golas (POL/ETI) 7:58.

153. Rafal Majka (POL/TIN) 7:58.

154. Bartosz Huzarski (POL/BOA) 7:58.

155. John Degenkolb (GER/GIA) 7:58.

156. Jens Debusschere (BEL/LOT) 7:58.

157. Yohann Gene (FRA/EUC) 7:58.

158. Sam Bennett (IRL/BOA) 7:58.

159. Svein Tuft (CAN/ORI) 7:58.

160. Zakkari Dempster (AUS/BOA) 7:58.

161. Peter Kennaugh (GBR/SKY) 9:09.

162. Michael Matthews (AUS/ORI) 9:09.

163. Mark Cavendish (GBR/ETI) 9:09.

164. Alex Dowsett (GBR/MOV) 9:09.

165. Luke Rowe (GBR/SKY) 9:09.

166. Merhawi Kudus (ERI/MTN) 9:09.

167. Mark Renshaw (AUS/ETI) 9:09.

168. Albert Timmer (NED/GIA) 9:09.

169. Nlson Oliveira (POR/LAM) 9:09.

170. Frdric Brun (FRA/BSE) 9:09.

171. Romain Sicard (FRA/EUC) 9:09.

172. Dmitriy Gruzdev (KAZ/AST) 9:09.

173. Adriano Malori (ITA/MOV) 9:09.

174. Louis Meintjies (RSA/MTN) 9:09.

175. Michele Scarponi (ITA/AST) 9:09.

176. Nicolas Edet (FRA/COF) 9:49.

177. Kenneth Vanbilsen (BEL/COF) 9:49.

178. Tylan van Baarle (NED/CAN) 10:58.

179. Davide Cimolai (ITA/LAM) 10:58.

180. Nathan Haas (AUS/CAN) 10:58.

181. Sbastian Langeveld (NED/CAN) 10:58.

182. Ramunas Navardauskas (LTU/CAN) 10:58.

183. Wout Poels (NED/SKY) 10:58.

184. Emanuel Buchmann (GER/BOA) 10:58.

185. Damien Gaudin (FRA/ALM) 10:58.

. Luca Paolini (ITA/KAT) Withdrawn

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