Porrentruy, Switzerland • Thibaut Pinot gave France its first stage victory in the Tour de France on Sunday while Bradley Wiggins of Britain kept the overall lead as the race entered Switzerland.
Pinot broke away from the pack during a steep, final climb and captured the 98-mile, eighth stage from Belfort to the Swiss town of Porrentruy. The 22-year-old Frenchman, the youngest rider in the main pack, held on during a frenzied chase in the last 6 miles, a mostly flat stretch.
This was by far Pinot’s biggest achievement. His previous top performance was at the 2010 the Tour of Romandie, where he was honored as the best climber.
"I will remember this day my entire life," Pinot said as teammates embraced him. "I can’t yet get my mind around it."
Overall, Wiggins leads defending champion Cadel Evans by 10 seconds. The Australian mounted a late but unsuccessful attack on the Briton. Italy’s Vincenzo Nibali was third, 16 seconds off the pace
Defending Olympic champion Samuel Sanchez withdrew after a crash 35 miles into the stage. He broke his right hand and injured his left shoulder, and could miss the London Games.
Sanchez, who started the day in 12th place, fell on his side before two other riders landed on him. He sat on the ground in tears, clutching his left shoulder and arm as medical teams tended to him.
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