Tour de France 2011 - Stage eight in pictures

Today's stage starts in Aigurande where, according to the sign on the town hall, "Everybody's crazy about the Tour" Photograph: Christophe Ena/AP

A happy looking fan and his dog look on as Rui Alberto Costa of Portugal passes Photograph: Christophe Ena/AP

BMC Racing rider Marcus Burghardt adopts a more aerodynamic pose as he leads the peloton Photograph: Stefano Rellandini/Reuters

Fans in Evaux-les-Bains cheer on the speeding pack Photograph: Joel Saget/AFP/Getty Images

The peloton climbs towards Col de la Croix Saint-Robert Photograph: Michael Steele/Getty Images

Medieval attired fans cheer on the riders Photograph: Joel Saget/AFP/Getty Images

The pack climbs one of the hills Photograph: Stefano Rellandini/Reuters

... and come down another Photograph: Denis Balibouse/Reuters

Une bleue watches the breakaway group of Cyril Gautier, Tejay Van Garderen, Costa and Julien El Fares go by Photograph: Christophe Ena/AP

A jubilant Costa punches the air in joy as he crosses the line to win the stage Photograph: Peter Dejong/AP

Philippe Gilbert looks back to check on his competitors as he approaches the line to take second place Photograph: Lionel Bonaventure/AFP/Getty Images

Despite his pre-race assertion that he would lose the yellow jersey, at the end of the eighth stage Thor Hushovd is still the possessor of the maillot jaune by just one second Photograph: Denis Balibouse/Reuters