The AG2R La Mondiale rider was part of an early breakaway group that formed about an hour into the 161 kilometre stage that included compatriots Sylvain Chavanel and Adrien Petit, Dutchman Niki Terpstra and Great Britain's Simon Yates.

IAM Cycling rider Chavanel made the first attack as the group began the category two Col de la Croix des Moinats climb inside the last 25km and it was Kadri who was the sole man to follow him.

Soon, the AG2R rider was out on his own, cresting the summit to assure himself of the polka dot climber's jersey soloing to the line for the final 23km as the crowds roared on the 27-year-old to his first ever stage win on the Tour.

"I am really happy," said Kadri, who had just enough energy to speak after his mammoth effort.

"It's an amazing feeling.

"I told my team I wanted to go for it.

"It's a day that suited me and I am delighted.

"I knew than Sylvain was going to try to attack so I tried to follow him.

"I took my time but I felt he was beginning to tire so I went on my own.

"It was tricky to take the chance so early, but I had to do it."

Kadri was part of a breakaway group who split from the peloton early into today's stage from Tomblaine to Gerardmer La Mauselaine ©Getty Images



The initial breakaway group were eventually swallowed up by the peloton as it snaked its way up the 1.8km ascent to the finish at Gerardmer La Mauselaine.

Kadri finished more than two minutes clear of the chasing pack which was led by two-time winner Alberto Contador of Spain, who got the better of race leader Vincenzo Nibali of Italy.

The Astana rider finished three seconds behind his Tinkoff-Saxo rival, who moves up to sixth overall, but is still in possession of the leader's yellow jersey, one minute and 44 seconds ahead of team mate Jakob Fuglsang of Denmark, while Team Sky's new main man Richie Porte moves up into third place on general classification.

"I'm happy with how that went, it is not really my bread and butter and I think that on the longer climbs I will be better," said Australian Porte, who finished fourth on today's stage.

"Tinkoff Saxo are riding very aggressively from a long way out, a bit like Team Sky used to do."

With defending champion Chris Froome out, Team Sky's main hope Richie Porte moved up to third in general classification after today's stage ©Getty Images



As expected, Slovakian Peter Sagan, who had registered seven consecutive top-five finishes so far on this year's Tour to sit third overall, struggled today and slipped well down the general classification standings.

Tomorrow's mountainous 170km stage nine from Gerardmer to Mulhouse features six categorised climbs - including the category one ascent of Le Markstein, the biggest so far in the 2014 Tour - before a fast downhill ride and a 20km run into the finish.

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