HTC-Highroad’s Tejay Van Garderen is the Tour de France’s new leader of the King of the Mountains competition after taking part in a daylong break on stage eight.
Van Garderen claimed maximum points on the toughest single climb of the day, the Col de la Croix Saint-Robert. He now leads the classification, tied on points with the stage winner Alberto Rui Costa of Portugal.
The American rider was also given the Most Combative Rider of the stage award after he constantly attacked on the final two climbs of the day.
“It’s my first Tour de France so I’m very pleased with my performance,” Van Garderen said, “I was trying to go for the stage win, but the group was not working together so well and I maybe got a little too nervous.”
“I tried for the King of the Mountains jersey, got that, but I didn’t quite have the legs to chase Rui Costa down after he attacked.”
“Still, it’s great to have the polka-dot jersey.”
