Evans was quietly happy about his opening week. Sitting in second spot with no time to make up on his rivals, this was a good position to be in. With only three mountain top finishes in the Tour, the chance to gap your rivals and make up time on those that mattered was too good an opportunity to pass up. But a crash at 6km meant he was going to have an uncomfortable day. That day however was about to bring in the colour of the sun.

This stage was always going to have a break away early. The opportunists who were no threat to win the race overall would try to seize the day. Seven riders got away early and set the tempo for the day.

A crash involving Lance Armstrong showed the value of team work as virtually his whole team dropped back to get him back into the main field. With his jersey ripped, the Texan did not panic but Armstrong's team had to really motor to get back into the race - making Fabian Cancellara's fadeout at the end of the first road stage a bit of joke as part and parcel of the Tour is crashing.

But it was not to be for Armstrong who attracted the worst luck of his career and then imploded to lose 11 minutes. For Evans though it was a day to celebrate. It started with an early crash and ended with the Australian on the podium wearing yellow.

Who's Hot ...

Cadel Evans - Back in yellow and in a good place after riding well. Evans has bit of time to recover from his crashes and has form on his side as he looked comfortable during the climb. Whether he has the team to support him is the big question. But he does have a a bit of time up his sleeve to play with. It may only be a minute but that becomes very valuable in the mountains.

Andy Schleck - Schleck is the best climber in the field next to Contador. But he cannot time trial and with a 52 km beast looming he knows his best bet is to gain as much time in the mountains. Schleck is the best position though. His team does not have the weight of the yellow jersey and he is poised to take it when he wants.

Levi Lephheimer - He is now the man for Radio Shack. He climbed into the lead as Armstrong crashed out spectacularly. Lepheimer can time trial and is a real threat for the overall.

Who's Not ...

Lance Armstrong - Lost 11 minutes on the stage and any chance of number 8. He has crashed too many times and now must suck in the ego and see what he can do in his last two weeks of professional bike riding. He has been cursed this tour. Who would have thought he could have crashed on top of a mountain. Unheard of bad luck.

Sylvain Chavanel - In yellow for a day then out of yellow. Still, the Frenchman has had his moment in the leaders' jersey twice in this Tour and that is more than some riders get in a life time.

Results of Stage 8

1 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 4:54:11

2 Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi

3 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank 0:00:10

4 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas-Doimo

5 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana

6 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team

7 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto

8 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team Radioshack

9 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo

10 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank

General Classification after Stage 8

1 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 37:57:09

2 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 0:00:20

3 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 0:01:01

4 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:01:03 5 Denis

Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 0:01:10

6 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin - Transitions 0:01:11

7 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas-Doimo 0:01:45

8 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team Radioshack 0:02:14

9 Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 0:02:15

10 Michael Rogers (Aus) Team HTC - Columbia 0:02:31

Points Classification (Green Jersey)

1 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team 118 pts

2 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini 114

3 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Team Katusha 105

4 Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 92

5 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team HTC - Columbia 85

Mountains Classification (Polka Dot Jersey)

1 Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Quick Step 44 pts

2 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Quick Step 36

3 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 30

4 Mathieu Perget (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne 28

5 Rafael Valls Ferri (Spa) Footon-Servetto 27

The road ahead ...

A rest day ....