Sport Forward: Sanchez secures stage eight win

TOUR DE FRANCE
Date: 4 July - 26 July
Coverage: BBC Sport website: text commentary of each stage and streamed BBC commentary of the last 90 minutes of each stage available; commentary on selected stages on BBC 5 Live sports extra

Sanchez was too strong for Casar in the closing stages

Spain's Luis Leon Sanchez timed his late burst to perfection to take the eighth stage of the Tour de France.

Sanchez was part of a breakaway group of four, and overhauled Vladimir Efimkin in the final 500m before outsprinting Sandy Cesar at the death.

Rinaldo Nocentini retained the yellow jersey and the other main contenders, including Alberto Contador and Lance Armstrong, all finished in the peloton.

But Mark Cavendish lost the green jersey with Thor Hushovd taking over.

There was also a change in the mountain standings with Christophe Kern taking the polka dot jersey from stage seven winner Brice Feillu.

Sanchez showed impressive instincts in the final few kilometres of the 176.5km stage as he kept out of trouble before powering into the lead to cross the line in a time of four hours 31 minutes and 50 seconds.

The quartet of Sanchez, Casar, Astarloza and Efimkin made a decisive break on the final climb, up the Col d'Agnes, and fought it out among themselves for the stage win.

The peloton, which contained Nocentini, Contador and Armstrong, was one minute and 54 seconds back.

Meanwhile, 2006 champion Oscar Pereiro pulled out of the race, citing severe fatigue.

"Since the start of the Tour he didn't have good sensations," said a Caisse d'Epargne spokesman.

"There was no point in continuing, because it wasn't doing any good."

More to follow.