TOUR DE FRANCE 2008: STAGE 8 PREVIEW
- Friday, 11 July 2008
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Figeac - Toulouse, 172.5km
What will happen?
It will be a sprint. Or not. We’ve been wrong so often this week we’re having doubts about what colour the sky is.
The sprinters have taken a bit of a beating during this Tour. The opening weekend was anything but straightforward for them, with uphill finishes, then the unthinkable happened on stage three, and the break stayed away. Stage four was a time trial, and the last two days have been mountainous. Only stage five ended in a pure bunch sprint. And from tomorrow, the Tour goes back into the mountains.
So in spite of the early hills, we’re anticipating that Crédit Agricole, Rabobank and Team Columbia will be in no mood to let a break contest the win.
What is the terrain like?
It’s extremely lumpy for the first 90 kilometres, with four categorised climbs, and innumerable drags and uphill sections. But after the feed zone at Blaye-les-Mines, it’s downhill or flat for the next 60 kilometres. Two shallow rises inside the final 25 kilometres won’t inconvenience the sprinters’ teams too much.
Will Kirchen stay in yellow?
Yes, barring accidents. This is not a stage for GC heroics.
Who's wearing the jerseys?
Yellow Kim Kirchen (Team Columbia)
Green Oscar Freire (Rabobank)
Kirchen is leading the points competition
Polka-dots David de la Fuente (Saunier Duval)
White Thomas Lövkvist (Team Columbia)
CW's tip for the win
After yesterday’s Moises Duenas debacle, we’re not going to bother trying to be clever. Instead, we are convinced that Mark Cavendish will confirm his superiority over the other sprinters with a second stage win. Thor Hushovd or Oscar Freire might also score enough points to steal the green jersey back from Kim Kirchen.
| TOUR DE FRANCE 2008: STAGE REPORTS |
Stage six: Ricco storms to win
Stage five: Cavendish takes first Tour win
Stage four: Schumacher wins TT and takes race lead
Stage three: Dumoulin wins stage from break
Stage two: Hushovd wins chaotic sprint
Stage one: Valverde wins
| TOUR DE FRANCE 2008: NEWS |
Team Columbia's reaction to Cavendish's win [stage five]
Cavendish talks about his Tour stage win
Tour comment: Why Evans should be happy [stage four]
Millar: Still aiming for Tour yellow jersey [stage 4]
Who is Romain Feillu?
Cavendish disappointed with stage two result
Millar too close to Tour yellow jersey
Stage 2 preview: A sprint finish for Cavendish?
Millar happy after gains precious seconds in Plumelec
Valverde delighted with opening Tour stage win
Comment: Is Valverde's win a good thing for the Tour?
| TOUR DE FRANCE 2008: PHOTOS |
Stage four
Stage three
Stage two
Stage one
| TOUR DE FRANCE 2008: GUIDE |
News and features>>
All the riders (start list, list of abandons)>>
Tour 2008: Day by day summary
Route & stages>>
Teams and riders>>
About the Tour>>
| TOUR DE FRANCE 2008: STAGE REPORTS |
Stage five: Cavendish takes first Tour win
Stage four: Schumacher wins TT and takes race lead
Stage three: Dumoulin wins stage from break
Stage two: Hushovd wins chaotic sprint
Stage one: Valverde wins
| TOUR DE FRANCE 2008: NEWS |
Doping back in Tour de France headlines
Millar: close but no cigar in Super-Besse [stage six]
Super-Besse shows form of main contenders [stage six]
Millar to go for yellow [stage six]
Team Columbia's reaction to Cavendish's win [stage five]
Cavendish talks about his Tour stage win
Tour comment: Why Evans should be happy [stage four]
Millar: Still aiming for Tour yellow jersey [stage 4]
Who is Romain Feillu?
Cavendish disappointed with stage two result
Millar too close to Tour yellow jersey
Stage 2 preview: A sprint finish for Cavendish?
Millar happy after gains precious seconds in Plumelec
Valverde delighted with opening Tour stage win
Comment: Is Valverde's win a good thing for the Tour?
| TOUR DE FRANCE 2008: PHOTOS |
Stage five
Stage four
Stage three
Stage two
Stage one
| TOUR DE FRANCE 2008: GUIDE |
News and features>>
All the riders (start list, list of abandons)>>
Tour 2008: Day by day summary
Route & stages>>
Teams and riders>>
About the Tour>>
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