FDJ's Thibalt Pinot won the eighth stage of the Tour De France today.
Stage eight saw the race leave France after departing the stage town of Belfort and finish 157.5kms later in the Swiss town of Porrentury in the canton of Jura.
Johannes Frohlinger did not start the race which was initially delayed due to a crash for Matt Lloyd in the neutral zone.
Radio Shack's Jens Voigt attacked from the start and took the first climb at Côte de Bondeval after twenty kilometres. Twelve kilometres later, Voigt took the points at the Côte du Passage de la Douleur.
Chasing groups started to form with Garmin's David Millar in one that was after Steven Krujswijk of Rabobank and Voigt who were caught by this big group which was 23 seconds ahead of the peloton led by race leader Bradley Wiggins.
Bel Kadri of AG2R took the next points on the Côte de Maison-Rouge. Twenty riders were now in the break with riders trying to get out of the peloton and bridge the gap.
With 97kms to go, Samuel Sanchez was involved in a crash and hit whilst he was lying on the road by another rider and was forced to retire with what looks like a broken collar bone.
FDJ's Jeremy Roy then went to the front and pulled out a ninety second lead on the second category Cote de Saignelegier as the race went over the border into Switzerland. Roy took the five points ahead of Fredrik Kessiakoff and Jonny Hoogerland.
Then it was on to the Cote de Saulcy with Roy and Kessiakoff ahead of a chase group containing Moinard (BMC), Gallopin (RNT), Kern (EUC), Marzano (LAM), Nerz (LIQ), Peraud (ALM), Cherel (ALM), Kadri (ALM), Moncoutie (COF), Jeandesboz (SAU), Hoogerland (VCD), Valls Ferri (VCD), Caruso (KAT), Pinot (FDJ), Kruiswijk (RAB), Mollema (RAB), Ten Dam (RAB), Kiriyenka (MOV), Sorensen (STB), Kisierlovski (AST), De Weert (OPQ), Weening (OGE).
Kevin de Weert and Vasily Kiryrienka, made the junction with the front two and it was Kessiakoff who went away to take the fifth climb of the day.
With 50kms to go, the race came to the day's intermediate sprint at Les Genevez, Fredrik Kessiakoff was first to take the maximum points ahead of Roy and Ten Dam and he was a minute ahead of the chasing group and 2.41 ahead of the peloton.
The stage nipped in and out of the Berne Canton and was in the Jura Canton for the second category climb on the Cote de la Caquerelle.
Riders were being brought back as Kessiakoff, who took that climb, led a minute ahead of Thibalt Pinot.and Tony Gallopin.
That completed, the final climb of the day was the biggest of the day at 9.2% and came on the Col de la Croix, which had large numbers of people camping out overnight.
Before the summit, Pinot caught Kessiakoff and took the points and started on the descent whilst Wiggins and Froome kept their eye on Cadel Evans in a group of riders, any of whom could be a possible general classification contender, who was fifth over the Croix.
Vincenzo Nibali tried to attack but was followed by Wiggins and Froome as Pinot went under the ten kilometres to go banner.
Pinot was still a minute clear of the Wiggins group and 35 seconds of Kessiakoff with six to go and was having his team manager in the car next him going mad shouting for him to keep going.
He was still on his own as the finish on the route de Courtedoux came in sight and the 22 year old Frenchman won in a time of 3.56.10 ahead of Evans,Tony Gallopin and Wiggins. Chris Froome was seventh.
Bradley Wiggins keeps his yellow jersey by ten seconds from Cadel Evans but Fredrik Kessiakoff takes over from Chris Froome as leader in the King Of The Mountains competition.
Stage nine tomorrow is an individual time trial from Arc et Senans to Besancon and is 41.5km long.
Col de la Croix picture courtesy of Burte Hoppe