Nocentini Still in Yellow

This must be the year for the successful breakaways. It's not unusual that a breakaway will succeed in one stage, but this year it has become all too common. The 42 km downhill finish would favor any riders with a 2 or 3 min edge, so I honestly thought that the race leaders would not allow that to happen. Oh well, tomorrow is another day and another mountain, but also another long downhill finish. A breakaway can win again depending on who is in the break. A rider too close to the overall leaders will be chased down. If Nocentini cannot be broke on the Col du Tourmalet, he will hold on to the yellow jersey for another week.

Stage 9 prediction: This time the peloton will finish together. If a sprint finish it's anybody's game.
I'll still go with Astana and Armstrong or Leipheimer. Watch out for Andy Schleck.

Stage 8 results:
1. Luis-Leon Sanchez, Spain, Caisee d'Epargne, 4 hours 31 minutes 50 seconds
2. Sandy Casar, France, FDJeux, same time
3. Mikel Astarloza, Spain, Euskaltel, st
4. Vladimir Efimkin, AG2R, Russia, 3 seconds behind
5. Jose Rojas, Spain, Caisee d'Epargne, 1:54
6. Christophe Riblon, France, AG2R, st
7. Peter Velits, Milram, Slovakia, st
8. Sebastien Minard, France, Cofidis, st
9. Jeremy Roy, France, FDJeux, st
10. Thomas Voeckler, France, Bouygues Telecom, st

Overall standings after eight stages:
1. Rinaldo Nocentini, Italy, AG2R, 30 hours 18 minutes 16 seconds
2. Alberto Contador, Spain, Astana, 6 seconds behind
3. Lance Armstrong, United States, Astana, 8
4. Levi Leipheimer, United States, Astana, 39
5. Bradley Wiggins, Britain, Garmin-Slipstream, 46
6. Andreas Kloeden, Germany, Astana, 54
7. Tony Martin, Germany, team Columbia, 1:00
8. Christian Vande Velde, United States, Garmin-Slipstream, 1:24
9. Andy Schleck, Luxembourg, Saxo Bank, 1:49
10. Vincenzo Nibali, Italy, Liquigas, 1:54