Lilian Calmejane rode fought off a bout of cramp to claim a dramatic solo win in the eighth stage of the Tour de France on Saturday, as the overall favourites stayed quiet on the eve of a punishing day in the Jura mountains.<br /><br />The 24-year-old Calmejane, in only his second year as a professional, dropped his breakaway companions in the last climb of the day and despite cramping up in the closing stages, held off Dutchman Robert Gesink for a second grand tour stage win.<br /><br />Another Frenchman, Guillaume Martin, took third place.<br /><br />Britain’s Chris Froome had a minor scare when he went off the road in a descent, but the Team Sky rider kept his cool in sweltering heat to retain the overall leader’s yellow jersey.<br /><br />Calmejane of Direct Energie kept his strategy close to his chest in the day’s breakaway, but barely looked back after pulling away in the 11.7-km climb to La Combe de Laisia.<br /><br />Gesink (LottoNL-Jumbo) chased hard but the Frenchman had too much power in the finale.<br /><br />Calmejane, almost came to a halt five kilometres from the line, however, due to cramp in his right thigh.<br /><br />“It’s huge. It was everything I was dreaming of,” said Calmejane, who won a stage in last year’s Vuelta.<br /><br />“When I had cramp in the finale, I decided to drop a gear so I could pedal softer,” he said.<br /><br />Team Sky were in control all day despite a hectic start to the stage, with almost 50 riders managing to break away from the main pack.<br /><br />They will be further tested on Sunday, when the ninth stage takes the peloton through the Jura mountains with three lung-busting climbs in prospect before a dangerous descent to Chambery.<br />
