Tour de France - report stage 7

A heady mix of strong cross winds, a crash or two and the ambition of Team CSC/Saxo Bank saw the race spilt at 90 kilometres to go. Missing from the lead group were Damiano Cunego (Lampre) and Erik Zabel (Team Milram), otherwise the race front runners were up front.

Luis-Leon Sanchez holds off the pack, behind Kirchen and Schumacher are seen going for the line - Pic fotoreporter sirotti

A tired looking Cunego finishes - Pic fotoreporter sirotti

Cunego was forced to do much of the work before his team reacted him and they drove to make up the 30 second deficit, luckily for them, both Euskatel and Milram were willing to help and they rejoined the front of the race. Cunego could now turn off the alarm bells, at least for the time being.

A third group featuring Sylvain Chavanel (Cofidis) and a number of leading sprinters were at over two minutes.

At 64 kilometres to go and near the Col de Entrmont David De La Fuenta (Saunier Duval/Scott) and Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) went clear to be joined by Josep Jufre (Saunier Duval/Scott) and Luis Leon Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne) a few K's later. The four went over the climb with De La Fuenta claiming the top points, which placed him in the lead of the King of the Mountains competition.

On the descent De La Fuenta lost contact when he almost crashed but he was able to get back despite losing a huge chunk of time. Whilst Mikel Astarloza (Euskatel) attempt to bridge the gap to the leaders ended.

Kim Kirchen's Team Columbia squad were now on their mettle, and they worked to keep the leaders pegged, especially Nibali who had the most chance of stealing the race lead.

Approaching the Cote de Saint Jean de Donne, Stefan Schumacher (Gerolsteiner) put in a big dig to gain a little distance, quick to respond were a number of riders whilst up front De La Funte attacked as his companions were caught at nine kilometres left.

Caisse d'Epargne now went to the front and drove on the descent as they chased a small group that had escaped over the climb. With the team marking every move Leon Luis Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne) went clear to win from a now much reduced pack. A second split had occurred and once more left behind and losing time was Cunego.

Kirchen was able to protect his race lead and that of the green jersey, and De La Fuente now leads the mountain competition.

1 Luis-Leon Sanchez 39 Caisse D’Epargne 3h 52' 53"
2 Stefan Schumacher 111 Gerolsteiner @ 00' 06"
3 Filippo Pozzato 61 Liquigas @ 00' 06"
4 Kim Kirchen 41 Team Columbia @ 00' 06"
5 Alejandro Valverde 31 Caisse D’Epargne @ 00' 06"
6 Oscar Pereiro 37 Caisse D’Epargne @ 00' 06"
7 Samuel Sanchez 27 Euskaltel - Euskadi @ 00' 06"
8 Josep Jufre 177 Saunier Duval - Scott @ 00' 06"
9 Christian Vandevelde 191 Garmin Chipotle @ 00' 06"
10 Andy Schleck 16 Team CSC Saxo Bank @ 00' 06"
11 Jose Cobo 173 Saunier Duval - Scott @ 00' 06"
12 Cadel Evans 1 Silence - Lotto @ 00' 06"
13 Riccardo Ricco 171 Saunier Duval - Scott @ 00' 06"
14 Matteo Carrara 93 Quick Step @ 00' 06"
15 Denis Menchov 131 Rabobank @ 00' 06"
16 Frank Schleck 17 Team CSC Saxo Bank @ 00' 06"
17 Stijn Devolder 91 Quick Step @ 00' 06"
18 Carlos Sastre 11 Team CSC Saxo Bank @ 00' 06"
19 Tadej Valjavec 109 Ag2r-La Mondiale @ 00' 06"
20 Bernhard Kohl 115 Gerolsteiner @ 00' 06"
21 Roman Kreuziger 65 Liquigas @ 00' 06"
30 Christian Knees 153 Team Milram @ 00' 33"
41 Damiano Cunego 71 Lampre @ 00' 33"

General Classification (Yellow jersey)
1 Kim Kirchen 41 Team Columbia 28h 23' 40"
2 Cadel Evans 1 Silence - Lotto @ 00' 06"
3 Stefan Schumacher 111 Gerolsteiner @ 00' 16"
4 Christian Vandevelde 191 Garmin Chipotle @ 00' 44"
5 Denis Menchov 131 Rabobank @ 01' 03"
6 Alejandro Valverde 31 Caisse D’Epargne @ 01' 12"
7 David Millar 198 Garmin Chipotle @ 01' 14"
8 Stijn Devolder 91 Quick Step @ 01' 21"
9 Oscar Pereiro 37 Caisse D’Epargne @ 01' 21"
10 Thomas Lövkvist 48 Team Columbia @ 01' 21"
11 Samuel Sanchez 27 Euskaltel - Euskadi @ 01' 27"
12 Carlos Sastre 11 Team CSC Saxo Bank @ 01' 34"
13 Frank Schleck 17 Team CSC Saxo Bank @ 01' 56"
14 Andy Schleck 16 Team CSC Saxo Bank @ 01' 58"
15 Bernhard Kohl 115 Gerolsteiner @ 02' 03"
16 Maxime Monfort 189 Cofidis Credit Par Telephone @ 02' 07"
17 Damiano Cunego 71 Lampre @ 02' 09"
18 Mikel Astarloza 22 Euskaltel - Euskadi @ 02' 16"
19 Tadej Valjavec 109 Ag2r-La Mondiale @ 02' 19"
20 Roman Kreuziger 65 Liquigas @ 02' 20"
21 Christian Knees 153 Team Milram @ 02' 31"
28 Riccardo Ricco 171 Saunier Duval - Scott @ 03' 52"

Sprint (Green jersey)
1 Kim Kirchen 41 Team Columbia 119 Pts
2 Oscar Freire 133 Rabobank 91 Pts
3 Thor Hushovd 81 Credit Agricole 90 Pts
4 Alejandro Valverde 31 Caisse D’Epargne 87 Pts
5 Erik Zabel 151 Team Milram 72 Pts
6 Robert Hunter 58 Barloworld 66 Pts
7 Cadel Evans 1 Silence - Lotto 62 pts
8 Riccardo Ricco 171 Saunier Duval - Scott 55 pts
9 Mark Cavendish 43 Team Columbia 51 Pts
10 Romain Feillu 124 Agritubel 49 Pts

Mountains (Polka Dot jersey)
1 David De La Fuente 174 Saunier Duval - Scott 28 pts
2 Sylvain Chavanel 181 Cofidis Credit Par Telephone 27 pts
3 Thomas Voeckler 149 Bouygues Telecom 27 Pts
4 Luis-Leon Sanchez 39 Caisse D’Epargne 24 Pts
5 Riccardo Ricco 171 Saunier Duval - Scott 20 pts
6 Alejandro Valverde 31 Caisse D’Epargne 18 Pts
7 Josep Jufre 177 Saunier Duval - Scott 18 pts
8 Cadel Evans 1 Silence - Lotto 16 pts
9 Frank Schleck 17 Team CSC Saxo Bank 14 pts
10 Vincenzo Nibali 67 Liquigas 14 Pts