Stage 8: Sunday, July 11 – Station des Rousses to Morzine-Avoriaz (189km)

The first Alpine stage proper. An initial 7-man breakaway rode off the front, but with no main contenders in it. The main field hung back, but there were some moments of drama. Both Cadel Evans (BMC) and Lance Armstrong (Radio Shack) were involved in minor crashes and ended up picking up some road rash.

The big sort-out started happening on the slopes of the first major climb, the Col de la Ramaz. The breakaway was now down to three riders, around 4 minutes ahead of the main field. Team Sky took up the pacemaking at the front of the pack and turned the pace up somewhat. Perhaps a slightly odd tactic, as the stage was far from over, and would still feature a major descent, a third-category bump, another minor descent, and the final climb up above Morzine – ample opportunities for catch-up by the riders being left behind. The tactic looked doubly odd when Sky’s own Juan Antonio Flecha ran out of energy, dropping off and making resigned gestures to the TV cameras.

One effect of Sky’s push was to start thinning out the pack. Yellow jersey Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step) got into trouble at this point and started dropping off the back of the main field. Saxo Bank then took over the pacemaking, further stringing out the pack and placing Lance Armstrong in difficulty. Word of Armstrong’s problems was relayed ahead, prompting Astana to throw in a bout of serious pacemaking, in an attempt to dispose of Armstrong completely. Odd tactics to use up riders’ resources on a climb which was not the final one of the stage. Alberto Contador (Astana), Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank), Cadel Evans (BMC), Ivan Basso (Liquigas), Levi Leipheimer (Radio Shack) and Bradley Wiggins (Sky) remained in this elite group, all looking comfortable.

At the feeding station on the valley floor, a screw-up by an Euskaltel rider caused a minor pile-up, which further delayed Armstrong. By now, the three-man break was just 1′37 ahead of the elite group, with Armstrong a further 2′30 behind. Astana, well aware of the gap back to Armstrong, continued dictating a fast pace through the valley. Sylvain Chavanel was long-gone by this stage.

The main field hit the final 14km climb up to Avoriaz with Astana continuing the quick tempo, and closing the gap to the three leaders, who were eventually overhauled. The scene was perfectly set for Astana’s team leader Alberto Contador to thrown down a trademark acceleration once his lieutenants were used up. The last of those, Daniel Navarro, tapped out a terrific rhythm which demanded everything from the rest of the group. About 3km from home, this proved too much for Bradley Wiggins, who fell off the back.

All remained dicey until the last kilometre, when Andy Schleck put on a spurt of acceleration which could only be matched by Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel). Navarro fell away, his job done. However, Contador appeared to have nothing left in his legs to counter, and Cadel Evans was nearly dropped off the back of the group. Schleck rolled over for the stage win, with Sanchez just behind. Contador/Evans/Basso came over 10 seconds later, with Bradley Wiggins 1′47 back. A dejected-looking Lance Armstrong rolled in a full 11:45 back, along with Sylvain Chavanel.

This all meant a major re-arrangement of the overall GC. Cadel Evans now wears yellow, with Andy Schleck 21 seconds behind, and Alberto Contador 1′01 in arrears. Wiggins is 14th (2′45). Armstrong drops to 39th (13′24) and now has three team-mates placed higher overall, led by Levi Leipheimer in 8th (2′14 back).

Leader board after this stage:

Overall GC
Cadel Evans (BMC)

Points
Thor Hushovd (Cervelo)

King of the Mountains
Jerome Pineau (Quick Step)

Young Rider
Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank)

Tomorrow is a rest day, and the riders will need it. Tuesday’s stage is 204.5km from Morzine-Avoriaz to Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, featuring 4 major climbs, the last of which is the 2,000m Col de la Madeleine. Tired legs in the Alps tonight.