Thibaut Pinot bagged his first victory of the season at the stage 8 of the Tour de France
Thibaut Pinot of Team FDJ-Big Mat opened his 2012 winning account after securing the eighth stage of the Tour de France.
The cyclist rode brilliantly during the 157.5 kilometre chase to Porrentruy in a quickest time of 3 hours, 56 minutes and 10 seconds and restricted the race opponents.
Reigning Tour de France champion, Cadel Evans was right behind his wheel in the final kilometres but the French did an exceptional job to manage the top spot.
Team FDJ-Big Mat Cyclist was unstoppable in the final ten kilometres and put 26 seconds on Evans with Tony Gallopin of Team RadioShack-Nissan, Bradley Wiggins of Team Sky and Vincenzo Nibali of Team Liquigas-Cannondale achieving the next three positions.
"Those were the longest ten kilometers of my life when I saw 10km to go and the peloton was coming back, I was really afraid," he said.
"When Jeremy [Roy] was away I wasn't really riding, and then he truly sacrificed himself for me. I'm really happy".
"Tomorrow my legs will really hurt so I have no real plans for the rest of the Tour, I will take it day by day".
"The boys were incredible again today and really marshalled the race. They set us up to be able to go with the others on that last climb”.
Jens Voigt of Team RadioShack-Nissan wins the first and the second mountain of the race while Blel Kadri and Jeremy Roy succeeded during the third and the fourth climb of the race.
Fredrik Kessiakoff wins the fifth and the sixth ascends of the race with Thibaut Pinot of Team FDJ-Big Mat succeeded during the final seventh climb of the stage.
Thibaut Pinot, Tony Gallopin, Tejay Van Garderen, Rein Taaramae and Gorka Izaguirre Insausti were the top five young riders on the day.
Bradley Wiggins of Team Sky Procycling continued his overall dominance after the stage 8 classifications.
Cadel Evans of Team BMC is ten seconds behind at the second position with Vincenzo Nibali, Denis Menchov and Haimar Zubeldia Agirre holding the third, the fourth and the fifth positions respectively.
Team RadioShack-Nissan has jumped up to the first overall position after the stage 8 classifications with Team Sky Procycling holding the second position.
Team Liquigas-Cannondale, Team Katusha and Team Omega Pharma-Quickstep are at the third, the fourth and the fifth positions respectively.
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