Haimar Zubeldia

Haimar Zubeldia of Trek Factory Racing finished in the top 30 on the stage with a good enough time to pull him up into the fulcum spot of the 2015 Tour de France after Stage 8. His time is 26 minutes and 35 sconds behind the leader Christopher Froome and 45 minutes ahead of the Lanterne Rouge, Michael Matthews.

Luca Paolini of Team Katusha did not start Stage 8, putting the number of riders still in the race at 185.

The winner of the stage Alexis Vuillermoz of AG2R La Mondiale, who broke away from the lead group on the uphill finish. Daniel Martin of Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling Team reacted too slowly to catch Vuillermoz, and the leaders’ group had not reason to chase. Vincenzo Nibali, the 2014 Tour champion, was dropped on the final climb. Whether that showed a bad day or was indicative of general condition will get answered on the time trial and then the upcoming Pyrenees.