Rasmussen on top after stage win

Michael Rasmussen took the overall leader's yellow jersey with a commanding victory in the eighth stage of the Tour de France yesterday. Rasmussen, winner of the polka-dot climbers' jersey in the last two Tours, beat Spaniard Iban Mayo, of the...

Michael Rasmussen took the overall leader's yellow jersey with a commanding victory in the eighth stage of the Tour de France yesterday.

Rasmussen, winner of the polka-dot climbers' jersey in the last two Tours, beat Spaniard Iban Mayo, of the Saunier-Duval team, on the arduous 165-km stage from Le Grand-Bornand to Tignes.

Mayo finished two minutes and 47 seconds behind the Rabobank rider with fellow Spaniard Alejandro Valverde taking third place for the Caisse d'Epargne team, 3:12 off the pace.

Pre-race favourite Alexander Vinokourov of the Astana team ended the stage 4:29 behind Rasmussen after suffering on the last ascent of the day.

The Kazakh was beaten by a group of top contenders including Australian Cadel Evans, Luxembourg's Frank Schleck and Frenchman Christophe Moreau.

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