Alexis Vuillermoz, AG2R La Mondiale, soloed to a stage 8 victory at Mûr-de-Bretagne. Dan Martin, Cannodale-Garmin, was second and Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) was third.
No change to the top of the overall classification with Chris Froome (Team Sky) remaining in the yellow jersey.
It is just incredible, I did not think it could be possible. I just wanted to do my best today. I thought there would be better riders than me today. I wanted to suprise everyone and finally it happened. It was all or nothing for me today.
The whole AG2R LA MONDIALE team made a big effort to get Jean-Christophe, Romain and I in a good position at the beginning of the climb. I thought of attacking in the harder part of the Mur, I knew the end would be flat. When Froome came back I followed him in order to rest. I attacked again but I did not think Il would be the winner.
I have a lot of thoughts about my dad. He passed away three years ago, I hope he is proud of me and saw me today. I also want to thank Daniel Germond who allowed me to join the AG2R LA MONDIALE team, Jean Baptiste Quiclet and Yves Clolus who is my trainer since 2005. If I am here today It isbecause of them.”
– Alexis Vuillermoz, AG2R La Mondiale
Tour de France 2015 Stage 8 Top 10
- Alexis Vuillermoz (FRA) #19
AG2R LA MONDIALE 04h 20’ 55” - Daniel Martin (IRL) #167
TEAM GARMIN-CANNONDALE 04h 21’ 00” + :05 - Alejandro Valverde (ESP) #59
MOVISTAR TEAM 04h 21’ 05” + :10 - Peter Sagan (SVK) #47
TINKOFF-SAXO 04h 21’ 05” + :10 - Tony Gallopin (FRA) #71
LOTTO-SOUDAL 04h 21’ 05” + :10 - Greg Van Avermaet (BEL) #68
BMC RACING TEAM 04h 21’ 05” + :10 - Adam Yates (GBR) #108
ORICA GREENEDGE 04h 21’ 05” + :10 - Christopher Froome (GBR) #31
TEAM SKY 04h 21’ 05” + :10 - Bauke Mollema (NED) #141
TREK FACTORY RACING 04h 21’ 05” + :10 - Tejay Van Garderen (USA) #61
BMC RACING TEAM 04h 21’ 05” + :10
Tour de France 2015 General Classification Top 10 after Stage 8
- Christopher Froome (GBR) #31
TEAM SKY 31h 01’ 56” - Peter Sagan (SVK) #47
TINKOFF-SAXO 31h 02’ 07′ + :11 - Tejay Van Garderen (USA) #61
BMC RACING TEAM 31h 02’ 9” + :13 - Tony Gallopin (FRA) #71
LOTTO-SOUDAL 31h 02’ 22” + :26 - Greg Van Avermaet (BEL) #68
BMC RACING TEAM 31h 02’ 24” +:28 - Rigoberto Uran (COL) #118
ETIXX-QUICK STEP 31h 02’ 30” + :34 - Alberto Contador (ESP)#41
TINKOFF-SAXO 31h 02’ 32” + :36 - Warren Barguil (FRA) #82
TEAM GIANT-ALPECIN 31h 03’ 03” + 1:07 - Zdenek Stybar (CZE) #116
ETIXX-QUICK STEP 31h 03’ 11” + 1:15 - Bauke Mollema (NED) #141
TREK FACTORY RACING 31h 03’ 28” + 1:32
This was a tough finish, tougher than I had hoped. I could hang on at the front of the bunch and take a nice fifth place, but I didn’t have energy left to attack. The team made sure I started the climb in a good position. The kilometres before the Mûr de Bretagne shouldn’t be underestimated either. At a high pace the peloton headed towards the climb and the bunch got reduced considerably.
The first kilometre of the climb was the steepest. I wanted to stay at the front and take my chance in the last kilometre if I could. It was a strong acceleration of Alexis, something that I couldn’t do. The past days I was happy with the two team victories, now I’m less happy. I had marked this stage, but after the rest day on Monday there are other stages that suit me as well and then I’ll try to join a breakaway.”
– Tony Gallopin, Lotto Soudal
Tour de France 2015 Jerseys after Stage 8
Yellow (Overall leader): Chris Froome, Team Sky
Green (Points):Peter Sagan, Tinkoff-Saxo
Polka-dot (KOM): Daniel Teklehaimanot, MTN Qhubeka
White (Best Young Rider): Peter Sagan, Tinkoff-Saxo
– Worn by Warren Barguil, Team Giant-Alpecin
It is good to keep the jersey and to go into the team time trial with it still in our team. I can’t believe the support I am getting, it is just more and more everyday and I am very thankful. It still feels like I am in a dream.”
– Daniel Teklehaimanot, MTN-Qhubeka
Stage 8
Date: 11 July, 2015
Start: Rennes
Finish: Mûr-de-Bretagne
Distance: 179 km
Tour de France 2015 Stage 8 route
Tour de France 2015 Stage 8 route map
Tour de France 2015 Stage 8 profile
Tour de France 2015 Stage 8 last km
Maps courtesy of Le Tour de France / © A.S.O.
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