Rasmussen makes climb to summit

DENMARK'S Michael Rasmussen won the eighth stage of the Tour de France by a comfortable margin and claimed the yellow jersey in the process.

Rasmussen breezed through the three category one climbs as if he were on a leisurely afternoon cycle before today's rest day.

He attacked on the Cormet de Roselend, strengthened his lead up the Montee d'Hauteville and was too far ahead to be caught by the time he'd reached the Montee de Tignes, crossing the line in Tignes in 4 hours, 49 minutes, 40 seconds.

"I'm a climber, and a pure climber," Rasmussen said. "If I have to go all the way, and take the yellow jersey all the way to Paris, I will have to climb faster than I have ever done in my life."

Rasmussen is top of the overall standings with a 43-second lead on German Linus Gerdermann and a 2mins 39secs advantage on Spain's Iban Mayo in third.