"The sensations are good; it was a good test."

Those were the words of Astana's Lars Boom after stage eight of the Critérium du Dauphiné. Boom went on the attacked during the last stage of the French race to test his condition as part of the preparation program for the Tour.

The break was ultimately caught and in the final Vincenzo Nibali tried to set Michele Scarponi up for the win. The Italian veteran launched a strong attack but finished eleventh, 52s behind stage winner and race winner Christopher Froome of Great Britain.