French joy as Alaphilippe takes Tour yellow for Bastille Day
AFP
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French duo Julian Alaphilippe and Thibaut Pinot worked together for a win-win result on Saturday behind stage eight victor Thomas De Gendt.(Photo: AFP)

Thomas De Gendt won Saturday's Tour de France eighth stage with a solo breakaway as home hero Julian Alaphilippe thrillingly won back the yellow jersey a day ahead of the Bastille Day national holiday.

In a breath-taking finish, defending champion Geraint Thomas survived a spectacular fall, but lost time to title rival Thibaut Pinot in the overall standings.

Former soldier Alaphilippe took the overall lead on stage three with a stunning solo break but lost it to Italy's Giulio Ciccone at the Planche des Belles Filles mountain slog on Thursday.

However, with 15km to go on Saturday, Alaphilippe and Pinot combined to drop the peloton in a desperate bid to get back the yellow jersey and for Pinot to take time in the overall on his title rivals.

They could not catch De Gendt, the Belgian who won by six seconds, but beat Ciccone by 20 seconds for Alaphilippe to regain the yellow and wear it on Sunday for the July 14 festivities.

The last French rider to be in yellow for Bastille Day fireworks was Tony Gallopin in 2014.

Saturday's stage was a notable success for FDJ captain Pinot, who was ecstatic after climbing to third in the overall standings behind Alaphilippe and Ciccone.