Eigth stage
Pforzheim to Gorardmer
Distance: 231.5 km
Type of Stage: Flat to rolling
Stage winner
Pieter Weening (Holland)
Overall leader
Lance Armstrong (USA)
UPS AND DOWNs
The 24-year-old Weening edged out Andreas Kloeden by a whisker in a photo finish to win his first-ever Tour stage. Armstrong finished 27 seconds behind with a pack of riders that included most of his rivals for the title. He now leads German Jens Voigt by 1 minute, with Kazakh Alexandre Vinokourov another 2 seconds adrift.
THE NEXT STAGE
Although short this stage is the first with any real mountains. With summits too far from the finish lesser climbers have hope.