SUPER BESSE, France-Portuguese rider Rui Alberto Costa won the eighth stage of the tour de France a late attack by Philippe Gilbert withstand on Saturday, while Thor Hushovd kept the yellow leader Jersey.

Costa waved his hands in joy and the air is then stamped as he won the first tour victory of his career.

"I knew, that I in the fork today, the team has could get me in the best position", said Costa. "I was lucky, that I managed to hold on to the end." "I'm very happy with this victory."

The race entered the mountains for the first time in the 117-mile trek from Aigurande Super Besse, with a sharp category 2 climb Col de la Croix and a final climb one mile.

Hushovd has the wearing of the yellow jersey for a week.

Hushovd, who is not renowned mountaineers, was sure that he to lose the yellow jersey in front of the stage.

"I was a bit pessimistic," he said. "I don't think that I could do it."

Alexandre Vinokourov within 15 seconds of Costa in the last mile closed by, but the Kazakh rider ran from steam, as he had no teammates to help him.

Gilbert was fresh to sit with the main Pack increased for most of the day. He overtook Vinokourov links after the start of an attack with about 400 meters.

None of the main opponent lost all time tour.

Defending champion Alberto Contador of Spain tested Andy Schleck of Luxembourg and Cadel Evans of Australia - both two-time runners-up - each other with mini attacks.

As Gilbert is a total tour contender does not apply, need to hunt them, when he after Vinokourov down the Belgian went.

Evans is pleased to attempt another attack on the ninth stage on Sunday, the several climbs.

"I have a very good team, which works very hard every day," Evans said. "We wait and see what happens tomorrow."

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