Froome takes yellow off Impey

Ax-Trois-Domaines - Britain's Chris Froome secured the Tour de France yellow jersey after a stunning stage eight win on the first day in the mountains as his rivals slumped on Saturday.

South Africa's Daryl Impey, who held the lead going into Saturday's eighth stage, finished 35th to slip to 31st overall.

Sky team leader Froome launched a solo attack 5km from the race's first summit finish at Ax-Trois-Domaines and crossed the finish line 51sec ahead of Australian team-mate Richie Porte to underline his overall victory credentials.

Spain's former two-time winner Alberto Contador finished over a minute behind while the victory hopes of 2011 champion Cadel Evans all but faded on an epic eighth stage.

Froome, last year's runner-up behind team-mate Bradley Wiggins, now tops the general classification with a 51sec lead over Porte, with Spain's Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) in third at 1min 25sec.

Contador (Saxo) is 1:51 off the pace while Australian Evans (BMC) is nearly five minutes adrift after finishing the stage 4:12 down on Froome.

After a first day of the race in the high mountains Froome, remarkably, now appears to have only one real rival for the race, which does not end until July 21, in Contador.

Even he was surprised at how he and Sky performed in comparison to his rivals.

"It's difficult to understand. It's the first real day for the general classification battle, but with a finish like that, we couldn't have done any better," said Froome.

"I wasn't expecting that much (in time gaps) today, but I can only thank my team for the opportunity today and for their hard work.

"We're in a really good position now, but we're going to have our work cut out for us over the next two weeks for sure.

"It's a long way from being decided."

Porte, the last rider in Sky's impressive line-up to set the pace on the 7.8 km climb to the Pyrenean ski station, said the order to hit full gas came from Froome after the Kenyan-born rider had realised Contador was in trouble.

"When Chris told me Alberto was no longer there, I just tried to give it everything I had," said Porte, who had taken over the pace-setting duties from Britain's Peter Kennaugh.

"I'm finished (exhausted), but it was an absolutely incredible ride."

Standings from the 8th stage of the Tour de France, a 195.0km ride from Castres to Ax Trois Domaines, on Saturday:

1. Chris Froome (GBR/SKY) 5h03min 18sec
(average: 38.6 km/h)
2. Richie Porte (AUS/SKY) at 0:51.
3. Alejandro Valverde (ESP/MOV) 1:08.
4. Bauke Mollema (NED/BKN) 1:10.
5. Laurens ten Dam (NED/BKN) 1:16.
6. Mikel Nieve (ESP/EUS) 1:34.
7. Roman Kreuziger (CZE/SAX) 1:45.
8. Alberto Contador (ESP/SAX) 1:45.
9. Nairo Quintana (COL/MOV) 1:45.
10. Igor Anton (ESP/EUS) 1:45.
11. Joaquin Rodriguez (ESP/KAT) 2:06.
12. Rui Costa (POR/MOV) 2:28.
13. Jean-Christophe Peraud (FRA/ALM) 2:28.
14. Romain Bardet (FRA/ALM) 2:35.
15. Daniel Martin (IRL/GRM) 2:35.
16. Andrew Talansky (USA/GRM) 2:35.
17. Jakob Diemer Fuglsang (DEN/AST) 2:35.
18. Michael Rogers (AUS/SAX) 2:35.
19. Haimar Zubeldia (ESP/RSH) 3:04.
20. Michal Kwiatkowski (POL/OPQ) 3:27.
21. Andy Schleck (LUX/RSH) 3:34.
22. Pierre Rolland (FRA/EUC) 3:47.
23. Nicolas Roche (IRL/SAX) 4:04.
24. John Gadret (FRA/ALM) 4:08.
25. Daniel Moreno (ESP/KAT) 4:11.
26. Cadel Evans (AUS/BMC) 4:13.
27. Jos Serpa Perez (COL/LAM) 4:54.
28. Andreas Kloden (GER/RSH) 5:00.
29. Jesus Hernandez (ESP/SAX) 5:00.
30. Thibaut Pinot (FRA/FDJ) 6:00.
31. Peter Velits (SVK/OPQ) 6:30.
32. Davide Malacarne (ITA/EUC) 6:30.
33. Hubert Dupont (FRA/ALM) 6:30.
34. Maxime Monfort (BEL/RSH) 7:29.
35. Daryl Impey (RSA/ORI) 7:50.
36. Sylvain Chavanel (FRA/OPQ) 7:50.
37. Robert Gesink (NED/BKN) 7:50.
38. Jan Bakelants (BEL/RSH) 7:50.
39. Ryder Hesjedal (CAN/GRM) 8:15.
40. Eduard Vorganov (RUS/KAT) 8:15.
41. Audrey Amador (CRC/MOV) 8:32.
42. Maxime Mederel (/SOJ) 8:32.
43. Arnold Jeannesson (FRA/FDJ) 8:32.
44. Mikel Astarloza (ESP/EUS) 8:32.
45. Przemyslaw Niemiec (POL/LAM) 8:57.
46. Daniel Navarro (ESP/COF) 9:13.
47. Rubn Plaza (ESP/MOV) 9:13.
48. Wout Poels (NED/VAC) 9:15.
49. Rein Taaramae (EST/COF) 9:20.
50. Alexandre Geniez (FRA/FDJ) 9:31.
51. Luis ngel Mat (ESP/COF) 9:54.
52. Laurent Didier (LUX/RSH) 11:05.
53. Peter Kennaugh (GBR/SKY) 11:09.
54. Alexis Vuillermoz (FRA/SOJ) 12:12.
55. Steve Morabito (SWI/BMC) 12:12.
56. Tejay Van Garderen (USA/BMC) 12:15.
57. Christophe Riblon (FRA/ALM) 14:19.
58. Amal Moinard (FRA/BMC) 14:27.
59. Damiano Cunego (ITA/LAM) 14:27.
60. Vasil Kiryienka (BLR/SKY) 15:35.
61. Bram Tankink (NED/BKN) 17:47.
62. Tom Danielson (USA/GRM) 17:47.
63. Tony Gallopin (FRA/RSH) 17:47.
64. Serguey Lagutin (UZB/VAC) 17:47.
65. Johnny Hoogerland (NED/VAC) 17:47.
66. Thomas De Gendt (BEL/VAC) 17:47.
67. Jrome Coppel (FRA/COF) 17:47.
68. Brent Bookwalter (USA/BMC) 17:47.
69. Julien El Fars (FRA/SOJ) 17:47.
70. Arthur Vichot (FRA/FDJ) 18:37.
71. Bart De Clercq (BEL/LTB) 18:37.
72. Tom Dumoulin (NED/ARG) 18:37.
73. Simon Geschke (GER/ARG) 18:37.
74. Cyril Gautier (FRA/EUC) 20:23.
75. Thomas Voeckler (FRA/EUC) 21:38.
76. Jonathan Castroviejo (ESP/MOV) 21:46.
77. Manuele Mori (ITA/LAM) 22:16.
78. Alberto Losada (ESP/KAT) 22:16.
79. Yury Trofimov (RUS/KAT) 22:16.
80. Jos Joaquin Rojas (ESP/MOV) 23:12.
81. David Lopez (ESP/SKY) 23:12.
82. Jens Voigt (GER/RSH) 23:12.
83. Marcus Burghardt (GER/BMC) 23:12.
84. Markel Irizar (ESP/RSH) 23:12.
85. David Millar (GBR/GRM) 23:12.
86. Guillaume Levarlet (FRA/COF) 23:12.
87. Gatis Smukulis (LAT/KAT) 23:12.
88. Lars Petter Nordhaug (NOR/BKN) 23:12.
89. Tony Martin (GER/OPQ) 23:12.
90. Christophe Le Mevel (FRA/COF) 23:12.
91. Francesco Gavazzi (ITA/AST) 23:12.
92. Kanstantsin Siutsou (BLR/SKY) 24:24.
93. Sergio Paulinho (POR/SAX) 25:39.
94. Ivan Gutierrez (ESP/MOV) 29:02.
95. Juan Jose Oroz (ESP/EUS) 29:02.
96. Aliaksandr Kuschynski (BLR/KAT) 29:02.
97. Imanol Erviti (ESP/MOV) 29:02.
98. Simon Gerrans (AUS/ORI) 29:02.
99. Michael Albasini (SWI/ORI) 29:02.
100. Simon Clarke (AUS/ORI) 29:02.
101. David Veilleux (CAN/EUC) 29:02.
102. Enrico Gasparotto (ITA/AST) 29:02.
103. Pierrick Fedrigo (FRA/FDJ) 29:02.
104. Anthony Delaplace (FRA/SOJ) 29:02.
105. Pavel Brutt (RUS/KAT) 29:02.
106. Lars Boom (NED/BKN) 29:02.
107. Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR/SKY) 29:02.
108. Lieuwe Westra (NED/VAC) 29:02.
109. Ruben Perez Moreno (ESP/EUS) 29:02.
110. Romain Sicard (FRA/EUS) 29:02.
111. Jean-Marc Marino (FRA/SOJ) 29:02.
112. Julien Simon (FRA/SOJ) 29:02.
113. Sbastien Minard (FRA/ALM) 29:02.
114. Juan Antonio Flecha (ESP/VAC) 29:02.
115. Johannes Frhlinger (GER/ARG) 29:02.
116. Philippe Gilbert (BEL/BMC) 29:02.
117. Elia Favilli (ITA/LAM) 29:02.
118. Adam Hansen (AUS/LTB) 29:02.
119. Jeremy Roy (FRA/FDJ) 29:08.
120. Kristjan Koren (SLO/CAN) 29:12.
121. Fabio Sabatini (ITA/CAN) 29:12.
122. Manuel Quinziato (ITA/BMC) 29:12.
123. Peter Sagan (SVK/CAN) 29:12.
124. Egoitz Garca (ESP/COF) 29:12.
125. Maarten Wijnants (BEL/BKN) 29:12.
126. Sep Vanmarcke (BEL/BKN) 29:12.
127. Benjamin Noval (ESP/SAX) 29:12.
128. Roy Curvers (NED/ARG) 29:12.
129. Albert Timmer (NED/ARG) 29:12.
130. Jack Bauer (NZL/GRM) 29:12.
131. Gert Steegmans (BEL/OPQ) 29:12.
132. Alan Marangoni (ITA/CAN) 29:12.
133. Rudy Molard (FRA/COF) 29:12.
134. Moreno Moser (ITA/CAN) 29:12.
135. Cyril Lemoine (FRA/SOJ) 29:12.
136. Jonathan Hivert (FRA/SOJ) 29:12.
137. Samuel Dumoulin (FRA/ALM) 29:12.
138. Assan Bazayev (KAZ/AST) 29:12.
139. Alexey Lutsenko (KAZ/AST) 29:12.
140. Kvin Reza (FRA/EUC) 29:12.
141. Jrme Cousin (FRA/EUC) 29:12.
142. Tom Leezer (NED/BKN) 29:12.
143. Yukiya Arashiro (JPN/EUC) 29:12.
144. Yohann Gene (FRA/EUC) 29:12.
145. Matteo Tosatto (ITA/SAX) 29:12.
146. Alessandro De Marchi (ITA/CAN) 29:12.
147. Gorka Izagirre (ESP/EUS) 29:12.
148. William Bonnet (FRA/FDJ) 30:15.
149. Murilo Fischer (BRA/FDJ) 30:15.
150. Maciej Bodnar (POL/CAN) 30:15.
151. Jrme Pineau (FRA/OPQ) 31:15.
152. Kris Boeckmans (BEL/VAC) 31:15.
153. Koen de Kort (NED/ARG) 31:15.
154. Blel Kadri (FRA/ALM) 31:15.
155. Danny van Poppel (NED/VAC) 31:15.
156. Boy Van Poppel (NED/VAC) 31:15.
157. Andr Greipel (GER/LTB) 31:15.
158. Brett Lancaster (AUS/ORI) 31:15.
159. Stuart O'Grady (AUS/ORI) 31:15.
160. Matthew Goss (AUS/ORI) 31:15.
161. Daniele Bennati (ITA/SAX) 31:15.
162. John Degenkolb (GER/ARG) 31:15.
163. Frederik Willems (BEL/LTB) 31:15.
164. Michael Schr (SWI/BMC) 31:15.
165. Marcel Kittel (GER/ARG) 31:15.
166. Marcel Sieberg (GER/LTB) 31:15.
167. Tom Veelers (NED/ARG) 31:15.
168. Svein Tuft (CAN/ORI) 31:15.
169. Jon Izagirre (ESP/EUS) 31:15.
170. Juan Jos Lobato (ESP/EUS) 31:15.
171. Ian Stannard (ENG/SKY) 31:15.
172. Lars Ytting Bak (DEN/LTB) 31:15.
173. Mark Cavendish (GBR/OPQ) 31:15.
174. Cameron Meyer (AUS/ORI) 31:15.
175. Matteo Trentin (ITA/OPQ) 31:15.
176. Alexander Kristoff (NOR/KAT) 31:15.
177. Brian Vandborg (DEN/CAN) 31:15.
178. Greg Henderson (NZL/LTB) 31:15.
179. Jrgen Roelandts (BEL/LTB) 31:15.
180. Geraint Thomas (GBR/SKY) 31:15.
181. Ramunas Navardauskas (LTU/GRM) 31:15.
182. Dmitry Muravyev (KAZ/AST) 31:15.
183. Niki Terpstra (NED/OPQ) 31:15.
184. Davide Cimolai (ITA/LAM) 31:15.
185. Brice Feillu (FRA/SOJ) 31:37.
186. Roberto Ferrari (ITA/LAM) 31:37.
187. Rohan Dennis (AUS/GRM) 38:45.
. Matteo Bono (ITA/LAM) Retired