Live Coverage – Stage 7 Tour de France, 2008

To VeloNews.com’s Live Coverage of the seventh stage of the 95th Tour de France, a 159 kilometer ride from Brioude to Aurillac.

There aren’t very many stretches of flat road on this short, tortuous trek across the hills and valleys of the Cantal region between the ancient towns of Brioude (population 7,200) and Aurillac (population 30,000). The two categorized climbs in the first half of the stage, along with many other short hills, will soften up the peloton before the rugged final 70km. This stretch opens with the Cat. 2 climbs of Entremont (6.5km at 4.7 percent) and Puy Mary (7.8km at 6.2 percent), which are followed by a long dangerous descent on very narrow roads before the short, winding Cat. 3 St. Jean de Donne hill (1.7km at 10 percent) that crests just 9km from the finish. A fast downhill takes the course right through the historic center of Aurillac to a flat finish in the south part of town on the Avenue des Tronquieres.

the peloton is working its way through the 3.3km neutral zone. We expect them to reach Km 0 at around 1:10.

A half dozen Tour stages have finished in Aurillac, but the most recent was 23 years ago, in 1985, when solo breakaway expert Eduardo Chozas of Spain pulled off the first of his four Tour career stage wins, finishing 10 minutes ahead of a disinterested peloton that took more than seven hours to race 273.5km. Other stages arriving in Aurillac have been far more competitive, especially when the weather has been extreme – sun-blasted 100-degree heat (1959) or cold rain (1968).

The peloton is close to the official starting line. We may see attacks develop early, since this is a relatively short stage.

The wind that has punctuated many of the past stages has finally eased off. There is a 5kph wind from the south, meaning that the slight breeze will act as a tailwind if anything. There are light clouds above and temperatures around 21c (70f).

The start flag has dropped. Let’s see how this develops.

Meanwhile, if you have a comment, question or observation, go ahead and hit the “Contact our editors” link below the Live Update Window and drop us a line. We’ll try to answer as many questions as possible and even post a few during today’s coverage – time permitting.

We can expect something of a fight for climbers’ points today. Given that today’s route favors a rider like Sylvain Chavanel, we’d have to put our money on his fending off any challenge from Thomas Voeckler, but the Bouyges Telecom rider is feisty. It should be good.

King of Mountains:
1. Sylvain Chavanel (FRA), Cofidis, 27pts
2. Thomas Voeckler (FRA), Bouygues Telecom, 27
3. Riccardo Ricco (ITA), Saunier Duval, 20
4. Alejandro Valverde (ESP), Caisse d’Epargne, 18
5. Cadel Evans (AUS), Silence-Lotto, 16
6. Frank Schleck (LUX), CSC, 14
7. Kim Kirchen (LUX), Team Columbia, 12
8. Freddy Bichot (FRA), Agritubel 12
9. Roman Kreuziger (CZE), Liquigas, 10
10. Bjoern Schroeder (GER), Milram, 9

We see two riders off the front, with five in pursuit. We still need time gaps and IDs. Stand by.

The pace is high and no one is really getting much of an advantage out there. The two guys in the front were Will Frischkorn and Christophe Moreau, but it looks klike they’ve been reeled back. The peloton is at 5km

the peloton is at seven kilometers and working its way up the Cat. 3 Cote de Fraisse, which summits at 11km.

and it’s something of a stretch to award a 4.4km climb with average grade of 4.4 percent a Cat. 3 designation.

We get a lot of questions about how the Tour classifies climbs for purposes of KOM points. It is somewhat arbitrary, but there is a general formula that applies:

CAT. 4 – Usually less than 3km inlength, an easy pitch that amounts to no more than a sustained rise inthe road
CAT. 3 – Slightly harder, up to 5kmin length
CAT. 2 – Between 5km and 10km, and steeper than a 4-percent grade
CAT. 1 – Long and steep. Between 10km and 20km, and steeper than a 5-percent grade.
HORS CATEGORIE (HC) OR ABOVE CATEGORY The longest, steepest mountain climbs. Extremely difficult climbs, sometimes 15km to 20km, with grades often exceeding 10 percent.

we se eight riders moving ahead of the field. We have yet to ID them, but we’d have to guess that Chavanel and Voeckler are up there.

It was Garmin’s David Millar who led the group over the top, so he scored four points at the top of the climb. He led Sandy Casar (FDJ), who scored three points, David Moncoutie (Cofidis) – two points – and Bram Tankink (Rabobank) – one point.

The peloton is back together and under the control of Kim Kirchen’s Columbia team.

There are still efforts by riders to create a break. As of yet, none have managed a significant gap. We have a small group off the front, but we’re waiting for IDs. The escapees have about 10 seconds on the field.

group at the front has swelled to 15 riders. The gap is still small and the size of the group is probably too large to allow it to develop enough of an advantage to stay away. We’ll see.

The 15 escapees are hovering at the front of the peloton, with a lead of about 15 seconds. Not much and with the Columbia and Caisse d’Epargne teams leading the chase, we can expect this one to be reabsorbed. Putting his team up front may be a sign that Valverde is still in the hunt for a stage win today, eh?

This is one of those stages that could have an impact on overall and the rapid catch could be a sign that the GC players aren’t at all interested in handing this one off to a group of escapees.

Take a look at how the favorites currently rank in the overall standings:
OUR 11 FAVORITES (after six stages)
1. Kim Kirchen (Lux), Team Columbia 24:30:41
2. Cadel Evans (Aus), Silence-Lotto at 0:06
7. Denis Menchov (Rus), Rabobank at 1:03
8. Alejandro Valverde (Sp), Caisse d’Epargne at 1:12
9. Stijn Devolder (B), Quick Step at 1:21
11. Samuel Sanchez (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi at 1:27
12. Carlos Sastre (Sp), CSC at 1:34
14. Damiano Cunego (I), Lampre at 1:42
17. Frank Schleck (Lux), CSC at 1:56
18. Andy Schleck (Lux), CSC at 1:58
31. Riccardo Ricco (ITA), Saunier Duval at 3:52

We may see a break eventually develop, but if it does we would expect the leash to be relatively short today. They may let a small group go, simply to keep things a little calmer during middle portion of the stage, with a catch occuring before the last of the day’s two Cat. 2 climbs. We could then expect a small group to emerge on the final hill and fast descent into Aurillac. This could produce a sprint win for Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel), Valverde or Kirchen.

There are four riders off the front at the 24km mark. Again, the break only has about 15 seconds on the field. The smaller break may mean at least temporary success, since it’s much easier to monitor and to assess the riders’ impact on GC. Let’s wait and see.

our four escapees are still holding a slight 15-second lead. There appears to be no willingness on the part of the Columbia and Caisse d’Epargne teams to let this go… and if they do, we expect the gaps to stay relatively small.

is moving riders up into the chase. That would suggest that Voeckler is a) not in the break and b) that he wants to fight for KOM points, especially since he was shut-out on that last climb.

but the gap is small enough to have allowed a rider to bridge up to the group. So we now have five riders off the front.

The five riders off the front are about to be caught.

together at 37km.

The pack, now all back together, is headed down towards the day’s first sprint line at Saint-Flour.

After the sprint line, the road turns upward again to the day’s second KOM, the 958m Cote de Villedieu.

Columbia’s Kim Kirchen, wearing the yellow today, also leads the points competition. Since wearing two jerseys is just unfashionable in France, Kirchen has passed his green garment to Thor Hushovd (Crédit Agricole), who is second in the points competition.

Is 39kph for the first hour of racing.

1. Kim Kirchen (LUX), Team Columbia, 97pts
2. Thor Hushovd (NOR), Credit Agricole, 88
3. Oscar Freire (ESP), Rabobank, 85
4. Erik Zabel (GER), Milram, 72
5. Alejandro Valverde (ESP), Caisse d’Epargne, 71
6. Robert Hunter (RSA), Barloworld, 60
7. Cadel Evans (AUS), Silence-Lotto, 53
8. Mark Cavendish (IDM), Team Columbia, 51
9. Romain Feillu (FRA), Agritubel, 49
10. Robbie McEwen (AUS), Silence-Lotto 49

This town has twice hosted a finish of the Tour. David Etxebarria won here in 1999; Richard Virenque took the win in 2004.

Looks like Hushovd intends to keep that green shirt we spoke of, as we head to the first sprint.

At the first sprint by a rider from Barloworld. Waiting for an ID on that rider. Robbie Hunter, perhaps?

1. Robbie Hunter (Barloworld)
2. Robbie McEwen (Silence-Lotto)
3. Thor Hushovd (Credit Agricole)

After kicking off the 2007 Tour (after the prologue, of course) with a win, McEwen has been lower profile this year, not yet making it onto the podium.

While McEwen may have been low profile, his Aussie teammate at Silence, Cadel Evans, seems to be breaking out of his mild-mannered persona. Yesterday, while chasing back to the pack from a flat, he yelled and gestured at a policeman on a motorbike on course.

Evans explained this morning that he had spoken with the moto cop, and that all was understood.
“He nearly caused an accident,” Evans said. “When the motorbikes brake in the wet, they can slow down. Bicycles can’t slow down. When my Tour gets threatened like that, I get a little scared.”

Five riders attack the peloton.

David Millar (Garmin) and Jens Voigt (CSC) are among the five going clear of the pack on the run-up to the KOM at Cote de Villedieu.

With one more coming up.

1. Jens Voigt (CSC) 3 points
2. Ronny Scholz (Gerolsteiner) 2 points
3. David Millar (Garmin) 1 point

Six riders have 20 seconds on the pack over the top.

Voigt (CSC)
Barredo (Quick Step)
Scholz (Gerolsteiner)
Florencio (Bouygues Telecom)
Vaugrenard (Francaise des Jeux)
Millar (Garmin)

Of the men in the break, David Millar is the best on GC. He sits fifth overall, 47 seconds behind Kim Kirchen.

The six now have a 30-second lead on the pack at 54km into the race.

Kirchen’s Columbia teammates, in their blue jerseys and old school black bib shorts, are patrolling the front.

David Millar may have announced “I can’t do this,” regarding a push for the overall win at the Tour, but he’s certainly still in it for a stage win. And Columbia is not about to hand him one.

The break and the chasing bunch are now on rolling roads for the next 40km or so. The day’s second sprint comes at 74km in Paulhac. The day’s third KOM, a Cat. 2 atop Col d’Entremont, comes at 101.5km.

Columbia has blown the pack apart.

In its pursuit of the six-man break, Columbia has drilled the front of the pack so hard that the back blew out.

Columbia is still on the front, with CSC behind.

Aside from the break up the road, there is now three main groups: the Columbia-driven front end, a middle pack chasing desperately to regain contact, and a rear group in a similarly uncomfortable situation.

There may very likely have been a crash that contributed to the pack breaking up.

The second and third groups are guttered, just praying for a draft.

No rest for the wicked.

He is chasing in the second group, his shorts torn up.

Voigt, Barredo, Vaugrenard, Florencio and Scholz have the lead as Millar flats.

That was a fast wheel change. Millar is back in the group.

The break has 18 seconds on the first group, which in turn has about 40 seconds on the group behind it.

At least by the very front group.

Luis Leon Sanchez takes a solo dig just as the others are caught.

The CSC boys are going full stick.

The front group is maybe 20 riders. It includes yellow jersey Kim Kirchen, and seemingly the entire CSC squad, but there are a lot of big names who have missed out.

The back of the race is coming together.

CSC’s Sastre and Schleck are up there. Kirchen is there. No sign of Rabobank’s Denis Menchov.

The Quick Step rider is the fifth rider to quit the 95th Tour de France.

A new rule for the 2008 Tour: Rider IDs on splits in the group are not announced until the gap(s) reaches 30 seconds.
Which makes it, um, hard to ID some of these riders.

Unless we are mistaken, race leader Kim Kirchen is alone without Columbia teammates in that full-gas front group.

We’ll get the full group IDs as soon as we can.

He has a couple of teammates, too.

Riders are trying to bridge across, but Jens Voigt is on the front. And that ain’t good for your chances when you’re trying to catch.

Overall, after Stage 6
1. Kim Kirchen (LUX), Team Columbia 24h30min 41sec
2. Cadel Evans (AUS), Silence-Lotto at 0:06.
3. Stefan Schumacher (GER), Gerolsteiner at 0:16.
4. Christian Vande Velde (USA), Garmin-Chipotle at 0:44.
5. David Millar (GBR), Garmin-Chipotle at 0:47.
6. Thomas Lovkvist (SWE), Team Columbia at 0:54.
7. Denis Menchov (RUS), Rabobank at 1:03.
8. Alejandro Valverde (ESP), Caisse d’Epargne at 1:12.
9. Stijn Devolder (BEL), Quick Step at 1:21.
10. Oscar Pereiro (ESP), Caisse d’Epargne 1:21.
11. Samuel Sanchez (ESP), Euskaltel-Euskadi at 1:27.
12. Carlos Sastre (ESP), CSC at 1:34.
13. Maxime Monfort (BEL), Cofidis at 1:40.
14. Damiano Cunego (ITA), Lampre at 1:42.
15. George Hincapie (USA), Team Columbia at 1:45.

Followed by Kirchen and Gustov.

Looks Hushovd will have to fight for it.

We just spotted the white jersey, which is worn today by Thomas Lovkvist, Kirchen’s young Swedish teammate.

Looks like the reason Millar got back into the earlier break from a flat was because he didn’t stop to change it. He just rode that bad boy flat. He’s got a fresh one on there now.

Millar, Evans, Popovych, Sastre, Cancellara, both Schlecks, Voigt, Valverde, Pereiro, Sanchez, Kirchen, Lovkvist, Pozzato, Nibali, Valjavec, Kohl, Menchov, Freire, Vaugrenard, Cobo, Vande Velde and Miller.

The front group has nearly a minute on the rest of the race. Cunego scrapped his way up there, too.

They’re single file at 80km. Some guy named Cancellara is pulling.

CSC has six guys up there.

Looks like Euskatel driving back there.

Agritubel’s Christoph Moreau just came off.

Lilian Jegou (FDJ) hit the deck, and boarded an ambulance, unfortunately. Make that sixth riders out of the Tour.

Wtih 85km covered, the front group contains:

Evans
Cioni
Sastre
Cancellara
Gustov
Schleck
Schleck
Voigt
Valverde
Pereiro
Sanchez
Kirchen
Lovkvist
Pozatto
Kreuziger
Nibali
Kohl
Valjavec
Menchov
Freire
Cobo
Ricco
Vaugrenard
Vande Velde
Millar

Echeloned across the road, the front group is starting to look back at the gaining group.

Evans and Cioni (Silence-Lotto), Sastre, Cancellara, Gustov, Schleck, Schleck and Voigt (Team CSC), Valverde, Pereiro and Sanchez (Caisse d’Eparnge), Kirchen and Lovkvist (Columbia), Pozatto, Kreuziger and Nibali (Liquigas), Kohl (Gerolsteiner), Valjavec (AG2R), Menchov and Freire (Rabobank), Cobo and Ricco (Saunier Duval), Vaugrenard (FDJ), Vande Velde and Millar (Garmin).

The front group is bombing downhill to the start of the Cat. 2 Col d’Entremont. The 1,210m climb is immediately followed by another Cat. 2 climb, teh Pas de Peyrol, at 1,588 meters. From there, it’s (almost) all downhill to the finish in Aurillac. There is one more climb, a Cat. 3, just 9km from the finish, that could really shake things up for whoever is still standing.

The second group has regained the first, and the pace has slowed.

Luis Leon Sanchez (Caisse d’Epargne) and Josep Jufre (Saunier Duval) take advantage of the much-anticipated lull to go clear.

Valverde’s teammate Sanchez is sitting on the his Spanish compatriot as riders behind attempt to bridge.

The 6.5km climb averages 4.7 percent.

With 63km to go, Jufre has a good gap on the road. Liquigas is leading the chase behind.

About 10 riders are giving it a go between the two-man break and the main field.

It rained here earlier, but the roads are drying now, with 5km to the summit.

Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) and a Saunier Duval rider jumping clear of 10-man group up towards Jufre and Sanchez.

The 10-man group has been reabsorbed by the peloton, which is across the road, left to right, in a thick echelon.

Jufre (Saunier Duval) and Sanchez (Caisse d’Epargne) have 15 seconds on Nibali and De la Fuente, who in turn have 45 seconds on the pack.

De la Fuente and Jufre (Saunier Duval) are riding with Sanchez (Caisse d’Epargne) and Nibali (Liquigas) with 60km to go.

Kirchen has three teammates in front of him setting pace up the climb. They’re not too worried about the four-man group up front, which has a 40-second lead. No one up there is a GC threat.

50 seconds is the gap.

De la Fuente leads over the top.

The peloton is in no hurry over the KOM. 57km of racing remain, and the big climb of the day awaits at the bottom of the hill.

We’ll get you the placing riders’ names as soon as we hear.

1. David De La Fuente (Saunier Duval) 10pts
2. Josep Jufre (Saunier Duval) 9pts
3. Luis Sanchez (Caisse d’Epargnge) 8pts
4. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) 7pts
5. Christophe Le Mevel (Credit Agricole) 6pts
6. Kanstantin Sivtsov (Columbia) 5pts

Just over race radio, Moreau is said to have abandoned. No word as to why just yet.

The four riders have 1:40 on the pack. A lone rider, Credit Agricole’s Christophe Le Mevel, is trying to get across.

This was the Frenchman’s 12 Tour de France.

Ag2r’s John Gadret has stepped off.

Nearly two minutes behind the four-man break, Columbia is leading the peloton on the 7.8km Cat. 2 climb. This one average 6.2 percent.

The Italian Tour rookie sits highest on GC of the four men in the break. He is 28th currently, 3:01 behind Kim Kirchen.

After topping out at 1588 meters some 117km into the race, the riders will bomb down to Saint-Simon, 31km away at an elevation of 657 meters. Saint-Simon will host the third and final sprint of the day.

The Credit Agricole rider has been reabsorbed by the Columbia-driven pack. Marcus Burghardt is on the front, riding tempo, two minutes behind the break.

Mikel Astarloza is giving it a go. Columbia ain’t sweatin’ it. They have four riders lined up in front of Kirchen.

All the GC favorites are in the pack. But there’s another big group just riding it in, currently at 7 minutes behind the breakaway, or 5 minutes behind the pack.

Coming up on the mountain’s crest, heavy fog is hanging in the air. Rain has been threatening, but the clouds have not yet opened up on the riders.

The man in the KOM jersey, Sylvain Chavanel, is some 9 minutes off the pace.

Into the final kilometer of the climb, the main group is unraveling as riders settle into their own pace. It will likely come back together on the descent, though.

Saunier Duval’s duo lead it down the mountain, with Astarloza still coming across, grabbing a newspaper from a fan to protect his chest.

Columbia leads the main front group over the top. It’s 42km to the finish from up here.

The four men — Nibali, De la Fuente, Sanchez and Jufre — are enjoying the benefits of descending the narrow, cliffside road in a small group. It’s a beautiful, green view off the mountainside, but no doubt the riders can’t afford to sightsee at 60kph.

1. De La Fuente (Saunier Duval) 10pts
2. Jufre (Saunier Duval) 9pts
3. Sanchez (Caisse d’Epargne) 8pts
4. Nibali (Liquigas) 7pts
5. Astarloza (Euskatel-Euskadi) 6pts – at 52″
6. Sivtsov (Columbia) 5pts – at 1’30″

The roads are very wet and slick going down off the Pas de Peyrol. De la Fuente has dropped off the back of the breakaway, having nearly lost control of his bike in a dicey corner.

With 35km to go, the main group has closed the gap to 1:15.

The lead break is lettin’ ‘er fly on the tight descent.

Silence-Lotto’s Johan Van Summeren has literally fallen victim to the slick conditions. But he’s back up and (slowly) riding again.

The main field is now being led by Alejandro Valverde’s Caisse d’Epargne boys.

Although the King of the Mountains competition is points-based, not time-based, it can’t be a good sign for Chavanel to be riding nine minutes back from the front of the race.

And his Saunier Duval car has made it up along the break to hand out bottles and give some encouragement. Gap is down to 1:20 to the field, with Astarloza dangling at 42 seconds.

Sanchez won a Paris-Nice stage this year by launching his winning move on the descent of the col du Tanneron.

Three of the men are ostensibly out here to take the pressure off their team leaders. Sanchez has Caisse d’Epargne teammate Valverde back in the group, and the Saunier Duval duo have Riccardo Ricco. Liquigas’ Nibali, however, may well be thinking about the stage win.

is Astarloza. Who has given up his fruitless chase and been reabsorbed by the pack.

The day’s final climb comes at 150km, just 9km from the finish. It’s not long – only 1.7km – but the 9.9-percent gradient won’t feel good after four-plus hours in the saddle.

Columbia and Caisse d’Epargne are winding it up going under the 20km to go balloon.

But the pack is still benefiting from a gentle downhill grade for the next few kilometers. Two Cat. 2 climbs later, McEwen, Zabel and Hushovd are still in the main pack. If they can stay in contact over the last climb, you know they’ll be thinking about the win.

Are riders like CSC’s Stuart O’Grady, Fabian Cancellara and – our apologies – Silence sprinter McEwen. They are riding in a second group, about 3:30 back.

Columbia’s Sivtsov is on the front of the field, with a lot of orange with Euskatel-Euskadi right behind him.

Most likely for a certain Samuel Sanchez, who has quite the finishing kick, and should have no problem getting over that last climb.

Overall, after Stage 6
1. Kim Kirchen (LUX), Team Columbia 24h30min 41sec
2. Cadel Evans (AUS), Silence-Lotto at 0:06.
3. Stefan Schumacher (GER), Gerolsteiner at 0:16.
4. Christian Vande Velde (USA), Garmin-Chipotle at 0:44.
5. David Millar (GBR), Garmin-Chipotle at 0:47.
6. Thomas Lovkvist (SWE), Team Columbia at 0:54.
7. Denis Menchov (RUS), Rabobank at 1:03.
8. Alejandro Valverde (ESP), Caisse d’Epargne at 1:12.
9. Stijn Devolder (BEL), Quick Step at 1:21.
10. Oscar Pereiro (ESP), Caisse d’Epargne 1:21.

Unfortunately for them, it’s CSC’s Jens Voigt getting down to business on the front of the pack behind.

CSC and Liquigas are on the front. Tour officials have pulled the cars out of the gap, which has dipped under 30 seconds.

25 seconds is the gap for Nibali, De la Fuente, Sanchez and Jufre.

Under the 10km banner, Schumacher takes a dig with Oscar Pereiro tailing him.

After his untimely tumble yestserday, Stefan Schumacher (Gerolsteiner) went from yellow to 16 seconds behind new race leader Kirchen. He’s looking to get that back.

And ahead of the break, his Saunier Duval teammate De la Fuente attacks his breakaway companions.

De la Fuente still leads up front alone.

As they crest the KOM

De la Fuente is about to be caught by a small group that is now the front of the race.

Valverde is obviously there, but so are Ricco, Evans, Kirchen and about 25 others.

1. De La Fuente 4pts
2. Sanchez 3pts
3. Pereiro 2pts
4. Piepoli 1pt

The pack is bombing through the tight town roads now of Aurillac.

He’s clear with 3km to go

Sanchez was caught, but has now attacked again from the pack. 2.5km to go.

he just won Spain’s national time trial championship

Sanchez is holding his lead.
Liquigas is chasing.

Who of course are happy to sit on and cheer for their man

Sanchez is gasping for breath, but drilling it with a 10-second gap

It’s now or never for Sanchez, who can see the finish.

It’s Sanchez with the win.

The sprinters are still behind.

Sanchez is collapsed over his handlebars just past the finish.

1. Luis Leon Sanchez (Caisse d’Epargne)
2. Stefan Schumacher (Gerolsteiner)
3. Fillipo Pozzato (Liquigas)
4. Kim Kirchen (Columbia)
5. Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d’Epargne)

Small groups are continuing to dribble across the finish. There will be some big gaps in the GC tonight.

Evans, Valverde, Sastre and Frank Schleck were among those in the elite front group that finished right behind Sanchez.

Columbia has successfully defended its race lead.

1. Luis Leon Sanchez (Caisse d’Epargne)
2. Stefan Schumacher (Gerolsteiner)
3. Fillip Pozzato (Liquigas)
4. Kim Kirchen (Columbia)
5. Alejandro Valverede (Caisse d’Epargne)
6. Oscar Pereiro (Caisse d’Epargne)
7. Samuel Sanchez (Euskatel-Euskadi)
8. Josep Jufre (Saunier Duval)
9. Christian Vande Velde (Garmin-Chipotle)
10. Andy Schleck (CSC)
11. Juan Jose Cobo (Saunier Duval)
12. Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto)
13. Riccardo Ricco (Saunier Duval)
14. Mateo Carrara (Quick Step)
15. Denis Menchov (Rabobank)
16. Frank Schleck (CSC)
17. Stijn Devolder (Quick Step)
18. Carlos Sastre (CSC)
19. Tadej Valjavec (AG2R)

Thanks for following stage 7 live with VeloNews.com. We’ll have a complete report with full results and photos up shortly. Tune in tomorrow morning for another good day of action.