Stage 8 of the Tour de France looked to be a real torture test as the riders faced four categorised climbs including the dreaded Col du Tourmalet, the Hourquette d’Ancizan, the Col de Val Louron-Azet, and finally the Col de Peyresourde. Many thought that last climb would make the difference in the GC battle but it was the descent where Chris Froome (Sky) took the race by the scruff of the neck to nab the yellow jersey and establish a 16-second lead over young Adam Yates (Orica-BikeExchange) and 23secs over his chief rival Nairo Quintana (Movistar).
