Zabriskie on the attack

After a rather disappointing performance in the TT, American David Zabriskie (Team CSC) showed some good form during stage 8. He went in the decisive break during the 181-kilometre stage from Saint-Méen-le-Grand to Lorient. Along the way, he was stung by a bee, requiring some treatment from the race doctor, but he was soon back in business driving the break.

30 kilometres before finish Sylvain Calzati (AG2R) attacked and after Zabriskie's hard work during the previous kilometres, he didn't have the legs to follow Calzati's move. In the overall standings Zabriskie moved up one spot to a ninth place, thanks to 10 bonus seconds he gained in the intermediate sprints.

"We tried everything today. Jens [Voigt] took it easy in the TT yesterday so he was very active in the beginning," said team director Kim Andersen to team-csc.com. "He wasn't allowed to stay away, so Dave tried his luck and made it in the decisive break. He couldn't keep up when Calzati attacked in the end, but at least he did advance in the overall standings, and he showed he's able to do well in a break"

"It was great racing today and it was nice for us to be part of the action. It was also good to see a break lasting all the way for a change."