The peloton was led by Pieter Weening (Rabobank) while four T-Mobile riders followed but didn’t contribute to the pacesetting as Rogers was the best-placed overall of those in the breakaway group. The average speed for the 1st hour was 42.4km/h. After 46.5 kilometers the bunch was 1’30” behind the 18 escapees.
The Rabobank Team was initially not able to join the lead group. This meant that the team was forced to pick up the pace behind the escapees. Therefore, the lead never increased to more than two minutes and ten seconds. 

As the breakaway group began the 4th ascent their advantage over the peloton was 1’45”. Kohl was the first to accelerate. Michael Rasmussen (Rabobank) attacked the bunch with 10km to climb. After 93 kilometers Kohl was joined by Antonio Colom (Astana) and Christophe Le Mevel (Credit Agricole)  a litlle later the three vecame company from Rogers, Rasmussen, David Arroyo (Caisse d'Epargne) and Goubert. Rasmussen led the new breakaway group over the top. There were five others with him: Kohl, Arroyo, Rogers, Goubert and Colom. Then came Le Mevel at 52” and Hincapie led the second group (with seven riders) over the summit 1’25” later. Rogers became the virtual leader with 2km to climb… at the summit the group with overall leader Gerdemann – which included most of the favourites for the Tour – was 5’10” behind.

The virtual leader, Rogers and Arroyo crashed after 110 kilometers. Both quickly remounted and continued on with their attack. After 115 kilometers they were 35” behind Colom, Rasmussen, Goubert and Kohl. The peloton was at 4’25”. The two fallen riders were back in the leading group after 118 kilometers. Other riders in crashes on the descent were: Stuart O’Grady (CSC) and Grischa Niermann (Rabobank). At the 128km mark, Rogers was at 2’30”; Le Mevel, Gutierrez, Hincapie, Paulinho, Verdugo, Txurruka, Moreni and Voigt were at 3’20” and the yellow jersey’s peloton at 4’30”. Rogers consulted the team doctor but couldn’t continue. He stepped off and abandoned after 138 kilometers. His compatriot O’Grady abandoned the Tour as well and was taken to hospital in Moutier in an ambulance after complaining of back pain. Rasmussen did all the work for the leading trio. He passed the summit with Colom and Arroyo on his wheel. The second group included: Paulinho, Hincapie, Gutierrez, Txurruka and Le Mevel – and was 4’55”. The yellow jersey’s peloton was led by the Astana team and was 6’15” behind Rasmussen at the summit.

With 20km to go, Rasmussen attacked again and got rid of Arroyo and Colom for the final time. He would not be seen again until the end of the stage. The main animator of the main pack were Christophe Moreau (AG2R) and Iban Mayo (Saunier Duval). Their efforts reduced the chase group to just seven: Moreau, Mayo, Cadel Evans (Predictor - Lotto), Andrey Kashechkin (Astana), Fränk Schleck (CSC), Alberto Contador (Discovery Channel) and Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne). None of the attacks stuck and these seven stayed together for most of the climb until Mayo launched another attack with 5km to go. He finished second, 2’47” behind Rasmussen. The Danish rider not only won the stage but claimed the lead in both the general and climbing classifications.
Linus Gerdemann (TMO) finished 20th, 5’05” behind Rasmussen. The Danish Rabobank rider will wear the yellow jersey in stage nine on Tuesday 17 July.