Sanchez storms to stage eight success

Spain's Luis-Leon Sanchez won a sprint finish among a four-man breakaway group to claim stage eight of the Tour de France on Saturday.

The Caisse d'Epargne rider timed his finish to perfection to cross the line just ahead of Frenchman Sandy Casar.

Sanchez, Casar and two others - Mikel Astarloza and Vladimir Efimkin - had made a decisive break on the final climb, up the Col d'Agnes, allowing the quartet to battle it out at the death at the end of a 176.5-kilometre hike from Andorra La Vella to St Girons.

Italy's Rinaldo Nocentini finished in the peloton, a minute and 54 seconds back, to retain the yellow jersey. The rest of the maillot jaune hopefuls, such as Alberto Contador and Lance Armstrong, were also in tow.

There was movement in the other standings, though, with Christophe Kern and Thor Hushovd taking possession of the polka dot and green jerseys respectively.

Britain's Mark Cavendish had been in green as the points classification leader.