Tour de France Stage 8: Direct Energie's Lilian Calmejane wins with solo attack

Lilian Calmejane of Direct Energie has won Stage 8 of the Tour de France at Station des Rousses as the race entred the Jura mountains, the second of the country's five mountain ranges it will tackle this year.

The 24-year-old had been a member of a 13-man breakaway group that finally git clear with around 100 kilometres remaining of the 187.5-kilometre stage from Dole.

BMC Racing;'s Nicolas Roche and Serge Pauwels of Dimension Data attacked first from the break on the final climb today, the Category 1 Combe de Laisia les Molunes.

But Calmejane, a stage winner at last year's Vuelta, countered and passed them, cresting the summit first and guanteeing himself the polka dot jersey by one point from Astana's Fabio Aru.

By now, LottoNL-Jumbo's Robert Gesink was his closest pursuer, going over the top of the climb around 20 seconds later, but would finish 37 seconds behind the French rider.

The group containing the overall contenders, led by Team Sky, rolled over the summit around a minute and a half after Calmejane ahead of a rolling final 12 kilometres to the line.

There was no change at the top of the General Classification, with defending champion Chris Froome of Team Sky  continuing to lead the race by 12 seconds from team mate Geraint Thomas.