Rui Costas Breakaway Attack Wins Tour de France Stage Eight
Rui Alberto Costa of Movistar celebrates on the finish line as he wins Stage Eight of the 2011 Tour de France. (Pascal Pavani/AFP/Getty Images) Rui Costa of Movistar joined an attack at the starting line and stayed in the lead until the finish line 189 km later atop the climb to Super-Besse, winning Stage Eight of the 2011 Tour de France.
Costas win was the first breakaway victory of the 2011 Tour, and the first Tour stage win for the 24-year-old Portuguese rider.
Costa was part of the nine-rider attack which escaped at kilometer 9 and stuck it out up the Cat 2 climb up Col de la Croix Saint-Robert, when young American rider launched a series of attacks, splitting the lead group.
Costas win was the first breakaway victory of the 2011 Tour, and the first Tour stage win for the 24-year-old Portuguese rider.
Costa was part of the nine-rider attack which escaped at kilometer 9 and stuck it out up the Cat 2 climb up Col de la Croix Saint-Robert, when young American rider launched a series of attacks, splitting the lead group.
(L-R) Teejay Van Garderen, Rui Costa, Cyril Gauthier, and Christophe Riblon ride towards the final climb of the stage. (Pascal Pavani/AFP/Getty Images) Finally only four were left, Christophe Riblon (AG2R,) Tejay Van Garderen (HTC,) Cyril Gautier (Europcar,) and Costa. The four riders took turns attack and catching one another, wearing themselves out before the final climb.
Van Garderen and Costa dropped the other two on the lower slopes of the final Cat 3 climb to the finish. Costa attacked on a short, steep section and rode away from the HTC rider, who had made a valiant effort in his first Tour de France.
Van Garderen and Costa dropped the other two on the lower slopes of the final Cat 3 climb to the finish. Costa attacked on a short, steep section and rode away from the HTC rider, who had made a valiant effort in his first Tour de France.
Aggression in the Peloton
Alberto Contador (R) marks Andy Schleck (C) while Phillippe Gilbert (L) follows them up the climb to Super-Besse. (Joel Saget/AFP/Getty Images) Behind the leaders, the General Classificat! ion cont enders rode more cautiously, waiting for attacks.
Small groups of riders who presented no GC threat made moves early on the Cat 2 climb; first Astanas Paolo Tirolongo attacked, then Amets Txurruka of Euskatel, Johnny Hoogerlands of Movistar, and Juan Antonio Flecha of Sky.
Small groups of riders who presented no GC threat made moves early on the Cat 2 climb; first Astanas Paolo Tirolongo attacked, then Amets Txurruka of Euskatel, Johnny Hoogerlands of Movistar, and Juan Antonio Flecha of Sky.
Alexandre Vinokourov attacks the peloton on the steepest part of the climb up to Col de la Croix Saint-Robert. (Pascal Pavani/AFP/Getty Images) No one paid much attention until, with 26 km to go, Alexandre Vinokourov of Astana made the first serious move, streaking off up the climb and overtaking the four riders ahead. Vinokourov and teammates Tirolongo dropped Hoogerlands and Txurruka, but picked up straggling breakaway rider Xabier Zandio of Sky.
Vinokourov, only 20 seconds down in the GC, became the virtual race leader as none of the other GC contenders opted to pursue him. But Vino wanted not just the yellow jersey but also the stage win; he pressed at too high a pace for anyone to stay with him. He rode on alone, passing Van Garderen and pursuing Costa.
Vinokourov, only 20 seconds down in the GC, became the virtual race leader as none of the other GC contenders opted to pursue him. But Vino wanted not just the yellow jersey but also the stage win; he pressed at too high a pace for anyone to stay with him. He rode on alone, passing Van Garderen and pursuing Costa.
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