Chris Horner out of Tour de France as Rui Da Costa Wins Stage 8

RadioShack co-leader Chris Horner did not start Stage 8 of the Tour de France and is out of the race after crashing in the previous stage.

Horner had a concussion and a broken nose, briefly lost consciousness, before finishing yesterday's stage, then taking an ambulance to a hospital.

Last year, Horner was the top finishing American placing 10th and he was having a great year winning the Tour of California.

In the Tour de France, Team RadioShack has already been hit hard with the loss of Jani Brajkovic. Levi Leipheimer also lost 3 minutes in the crash with Horner, so the team announced that Andres Kloden will be the team leader now.

Stage 8, the first stage with major climbs, featured multiple attacks by contenders such as Alberto Contador and Cadel Evans. In the end, it was Movistar's Rui Da Costa who took stage victory over Philippe Gilbert and Evans.

Perhaps the most impressive performance was that of Garmin's Thor Hushovd. Supposedly a sprinter, Hushovd kept his slim one second lead over Evans for the yellow jersey by staying with Evans up the final climb.

Prior to the stage, Hushovd's team had declared an end to the yellow-jersey defense, but now Hushovd may keep the yellow jersey for a few more stages.

More Tour de France Coverage

READ: Chris Horner, Levi Leipheimer crash, Cavendish wins

READ: Boasson Hagen charges towards Team Sky's first Tour de France win

READ: Cavendish wins, Contador crashes, Brajkovic out