Stage 7
Le Mans – Chateauroux
Distance: 218.0 kilometers.
The last of the sprinter stages for a while and the climbers start to dominate. This a pure road race with no climbs worth a gear shift.
The good news is that Mark Cavendish is now tied for ninth overall with this, his 17th stage win.
OTOH:
At the 180km mark, just as the pace had increased to around 60km/h thanks to a tailwind, there was a crash near the middle of the peloton. Involved were a range of riders including the rider in sixth overall Bradley Wiggins (SKY). He was forced to abandon because of injuries sustained. Others caught in the crash were Horner (RSH), Pauriol (FDJ) who also had to abandon because of his injuries, Boasson Hagen (SKY), Farrar (GRM)… only about 60 men made the front group. With 20km to go, the escapees were 30” ahead of the yellow jersey’s peloton that was led by Leopard-Trek and BMC. There was 1’33” between the front peloton and the second one. The escape was over with 12km to go. Liquigas, HTC and Leopard-Trek led the peloton at that point.
Both Wiggins and Pauriol have broken collarbones. at a minimum.
Thor Hushovd ( Nor – GRM – 051 ) [Yellow] 28h 29′ 27″
Jose Joaquin Rojas ( Esp – MOV – 088 ) [Green] 167 points
Johnny Hoogerland ( Ned – VCD – 204 ) [Polka Dot] 4 points
Robert Gesink ( Ned – RAB – 041 ) 10 [White]
Team: Garmin-Cervelo ( 051-059 ) [Yellow numbers]
Stage winner: Mark Cavendish ( GBr – THR – 171 )
Combative: Yannick Talabardon ( Fra – SAU – 219 ) [Red numbers]
They’ve gone 1,194.0 kilometers [741.9 miles] at an average speed of 41.9 kph [26.0 mph] ↓.
OVERALL STANDINGS:
Thor Hushovd ( Nor – GRM – 051 ) [Yellow]
2 Cadel Evans ( Aus – BMC – 141 )
3 Frank Schleck ( Lux – LEO – 018 )
4 David Millar ( GBr – GRM – 056 )
5 Andréas Klöden ( Ger – RSH – 074 )
6 Jakob Fuglsang ( Den – LEO – 013 )
7 Andy Schleck ( Lux – LEO – 011 )
8 Tony Martin ( Ger – THR – 175 )
9 Peter Velits ( Svk – THR – 179 )
10 Robert Gesink ( Ned – RAB – 041 ) [White]
11 Alexandre Vinokourov ( Kaz – AST – 061 )
12 Philippe Gilbert ( Bel – OLO – 032 )
13 Jurgen Van Den Broeck ( Bel – OLO – 031 )
14 Carlos Barredo ( Esp – RAB – 042 )
15 Ivan Basso ( Ita – LIQ – 091 )
16 Kevin De Weert ( Bel – QST – 124 )
17 Linus Gerdemann ( Ger – LEO – 014 )
18 Nicolas Roche ( Irl – ALM – 101 )
19 Damiano Cunego ( Ita – LAM – 161 )
20 Jose Joaquin Rojas ( Esp – MOV – 088 ) [Green]
24 Alberto Contador ( Esp – SBS – 001 ) +1′ 42″
38 Geraint Thomas ( GBr – SKY – 117 )
39 Edvald Boasson Hagen ( Nor – SKY – 114 )
59 Mark Cavendish ( GBr – THR – 171 ) [Stage Winner]
90 Johnny Hoogerland ( Ned – VCD – 204 ) [Polka Dot]
83 Yannick Talabardon ( Fra – SAU – 219 ) [Red numbers]
Out of the race:
Bradley Wiggins ( GBr – SKY – 111 )
Tom Boonen ( Bel – QST – 122 )
Rémi Pauriol ( Fra – FDJ – 136 )
Go to the CATEGORIES drop-down box below the CALENDAR and select “Le Tour” for all of the posts related to the race on this site.
