Portuguese rider wins in style after 180k breakaway in Super-Besse, takes first ever Movistar Team victory in cycling's most important event in the world, 18th success of the season for telephone squad Overcoming all possible difficulties in a season marked by disgrace, Movistar Team continue on their sensational season performance. The telephone squad keep shifting expectations and notched up today a stage victory in the biggest race of them all. Portuguese youngster Rui Costa took the win in the 8th stage of the 2011 Tour de France and gave the Blue team their 18th success of the year, his eighth in five years as pro rider.
The Iberian, aged 24, completed in style a nine man break started right at the depart in Aigurande and splitted into the final climb with Costa, Van Garderen (HTC), Riblon (ALM), and Gautier (EUC). The Movistar Team rider attacked with 4km from the finish and born the strong pace through Super-Besse as Vinokourov (AST), attacking behind, could not reach Costa as he went into an emotional win, his arms pointing to the sky in a homage to Xavi Tondo.
Rui Costa: “This is a dream come true; actually, I can’t still believe I have won a Tour stage. This morning, we had already talked at the team meeting about the stage offering options for the breakaway, and I could get into it. At the last climb I accelerated with Van Garderen, because we were the two strongest into the group and I thought we could make to the finish it we two went apart, but the two Frenchmen came to us at he descent and we didn’t set good cooperation. We started attacking each other and, with 4 kilometers to go, I saw some moment where they were into troubles, and I tried it because I was feeling with energy and saw that the guys behind were approaching. I saw Vinokourov really close behind and I knew that it would be difficult, but I took energy almost from nowhere to win the stage. This victory is dedicated to everyone at Movistar Team. It’s being a season full of hard moments of us, and this victory will surely makes us all a bit happier. This is for Xavi Tondo and also for Mauricio Soler, recovering at the hospital; also for all my family and all people supporting me during my career. I also want to thank Eusebio Unzué for the opportunity he gave to me in order to resume racing this season. I was convinced I would get to the tour in good condition and make some good result, but winning a stage is always hard. Even though you do things right, it’s difficult to get to success. Ultimately I took it and I’m happy, really happy.”
The negative news of the day went as Beñat Intxausti had to give up. The Basque climb could not stand pain after his fracture in the upper radius of his right arm, whom he competed for seven stages, and withdrew during the final part of the stage. Movistar Team has this way only seven riders on course, even though this will be the telephone squad’s happiest day in the Grande Boucle.