Danish biker Michael Rasmussen showed off his mountain-climbing skills yesterday by winning Stage 8 of the 2007 Tour de France, a grueling 102.5-mile trek through the Alps, by over three minutes. Rasmussen, who was not heavily favored to win, now holds a 43-second margin over German Linus Gerdemann.
There are still two weeks to go until the finish, however, and fortunes have changed quickly in the race. Australian Michael Rogers, initially considered a strong contender for the championship, was forced to retire after a wreck yesterday. In other news, an elderly spectator was hospitalized yesterday after a collision with a German rider, and is in very serious condition. (More Michael Rasmussen stories.)