Welcome to live coverage of stage eight of the Tour de France, a hilly 189km ride through the Massif Central peaks from Aigurande to Super-Besse - a day which should see the GC riders finally come to the fore after a first frantic week on the race.

Tour de France

Stage 8 | Semi mountain | Men | 09.07.2011

Completed

AigurandeSuper-Besse

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17:15

Report: Rui Costa wins as Hushovd digs deep

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Stage eight top ten: 1. Costa, 2. Gilbert +13, 3. Evans +15, 4. S. Sanchez, 5. Velits, 6. Devenyns, 7. Cunego, 8. Contador, 9. A. Schleck, 10. F Schleck.

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Van Garderen is the new leader of the mountains classification and Gilbert, with that astonishing second place, moves back into the green jersey.

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Both Schlecks and Contador finished in the same Evans group, with Hushovd on the back, so the Norwegian should keep the jersey... and yes he does - remarkable.

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Vinokourov was caught by Gilbert and Evans before the line... all that effort for nothing. Still waiting on the time for Hushovd...

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Hushovd crossed soon after and he may get the same time as Evans, which would mean he keeps the yellow jersey...

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Gilbert takes second and Evans third.

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Yes, here's Costa - the stage is his. With Gilbert chasing...

0.2km

Now Contador kicks! Before Cunego pings off the front. Costa must be near the line now...

0.2km

Contador right on the front, with Schleck and Evans on his wheels. Gilbert attacks!

0.5km

Hushovd is still there so he could keep the yellow!

0.8km

Costa has passed the flamme rouge - the win looks to be his. But the peloton is closing on Vino. Neither the stage nor the yellow will be his...

1km

Vino may not get the stage, but he could get yellow... or it could be terrible for the Astana man and he may end totally empty handed.

1.5km

Vino has Costa in his sights in this long, straight climb.

2km

Costa is onto the final section of the climb. He has 17 seconds. It's a good advantage, but the Portuguese will be exhausted from riding off the front all day.

2.5km

The road is sweeping downhill and left before the final drag to the summit. The conditions are horrible, with rain lashing down.

3km

Costa is 1:07 ahead of the peloton. But Vino is now just 19 seconds back...

3.5km

The whole of the Rabobank team are trying to pace Gesink back into the peloton. The white jersey is in a bad position and could be the big loser of the day...

4km

Costa is holding off Van Garderen. Vino has caught Riblon and Gautier. He's looking good and has just two men in front. He's 23 seconds behind Costa, with the peloton almost a minute back. This could be a golden day for the Kazakh.

5km

Costa is looking good as he passes the five-to-go banner. Tejay Van Garderen is steadily returning onto his wheel. Back in the peloton, Hoogerland is suffering and is on the back. Flecha and Vino are catching Riblon.

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