Blel Kadri of France claimed victory in stage eight of the Tour de France in a breakaway as the race entered the Vosges mountains, while Vincenzo Nibali of Italy retained the yellow jersey.
Blel Kadri of France celebrates as he wins the eighth stage of the Tour de France between Tomblaine and Gerardmer. Photo: Reuters
The uphill finish of the 161-kilometer (100-mile) ride from Tomblaine to Gérardmer La Mauselaine ski resort shook up the overall standings, leaving mostly strong climbers on top.
Nibali gained time on all of his main rivals, except the most important, Alberto Contador of Spain, who gained three seconds on the Italian leader by winning their two-man race for second place. Contador was more than two minutes behind Kadri.
With his first Tour stage win and the first for a French rider this year, Kadri emerged from a five-man breakaway that chiseled out a lead of as many as 11 minutes.
The ride featured three mid-grade climbs in the first of three days in the mid-sized Vosges range near the German border.
None of the breakaway riders threatened Nibali’s yellow jersey: The highest-placed among them began the stage over 26 minutes behind. – AP
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