SUPER-BESSE, France, (Reuters) Portugal’s Rui Alberto Costa held the peloton at bay to win the first medium mountain stage of the Tour de France in the Super-Besse ski resort yesterday.
Even though the battle between the favourites raged in the last climb, the 24-year-old Movistar rider pulled away to win 12 seconds ahead of Belgian champion Philippe Gilbert, the winner of the first stage.
Australian Cadel Evans had been expected to snatch the yellow jersey following the 189 km race from Aigurande — the first stage in this year’s Tour with