Portuguese Alberto Rui Costa of the Movistar team hung on during a tense finish to win the Tour de France eighth stage, a 189km ride from Aiguirande to Super-Besse on Saturday.
Norwegian Thor Hushovd of Garmin-Cervelo upset predictions to retain the race leader’s yellow jersey on the first day in the mountains of the Massif Central. Hushovd, who took the lead last Sunday when Garmin-Cervelo won the team time trial in Les Essarts, was expected to lose it on the first of two consecutive hilly stages.
