In short
| Stage winner | Robert HUNTER |
 (yellow jersey) |
Robert HUNTER |
 (green jersey) |
Robert HUNTER |
Starters' list | Time schedules
All classifications
| Stage |
|---|
 |
|
• Individual time • Individual points • Best team |
|
| Overall |
|
|
• Individual time • Individual points • Best team |
Prize for Combativeness
| Not yet available |  |
Stage by stage
| 1 | Friday 18 May | 176 km |
| Bohain-en-Vermandois > Albert | ||
| 2 | Saturday 19 May | 191 km |
| Airaines > Ribecourt-Dreslincourt | ||
| 3 | Sunday 20 May | 93.5 km |
| La Croix Saint Ouen > Soissons | ||
| 4 | Sunday 20 May | 91.5 km |
| Belleu > Laon | ||
| Total Length | 552 km | |
The race
Friday 18 May 2007| stage 1 | Bohain-en-Vermandois > Albert - 176 km |
|---|
Nice shot for Hunter
Bohain-en-Vermandois – Albert (176 km). Robert Hunter finally wins the stage ahead of his team mate Fabrizio Guidi. Earlier in the morning, Flickinger had launched a long break away.
The film of the stage
The bunch complete the first kilometres at a fast pace. At km 11, Flickinger breaks away and gets up to 15’’ advantage. At km 14 Roy, Proni and Bellin join him. Together, the four riders keep increasing their advantage: 1’ in Artemps (km 48), 5’20 in Malakoff (km 58), 7’ in Eppeville (km 61,5). But the gap remains 7’ at the first sprint of the day, won by Flickinger ahead of Bellin and Proni, in Esmery-Hallon (km 67).
Just before the feeding zone, the bunch speeds up. They are only 5’ behind the leaders at km 85. But then, the pack splits into small groups. And, in spite of this acceleration, the break away maintains its adavantage: 4’40 in Froissy (km 109), 3’30 in Neuville-les-Bray (km 110)
Then, the Cofidis riders take the lead of the bunch, speed up and get 2’ behind the leaders in Heilly (km 132). Then a group of 22 riders breaks away launches a counter-attack and catches the four leaders as they get in Albert (km 142). The second is still 15’’ behind. Meanwhile, the gap with the third group is 35’’. At the first passage on the line (km 144), Hunter passes ahead of Guidi and Van Aermaet. The second is 20’’ behind, the third 1’20.
The final lap around Albert is completed at a very fast pace. Roy tries and breaks away. But he can manage to get a real advantage. 10 kilometres to the finish. The rhythm is still fast. The 26 increase their advantage. In the last kilometres, the sprinters’team take the lead and try to put the leaders in the best position for the final battle. At this tricky game, the Barloworld’s riders are finally the best. Hunter comes first just ahead of his team mate Guidi. He also gets the yellow and green jerseys.
The winner interview
Robert Hunter (RSA, BAR), winner of the first stage and overall leader
“The finish was very hard, but I had seen when we first passed on the line, that it could be good for me. What’s more, I had six team mates with me. That’s I decided to attack 200 metres before the line. Guidi helped me and I managed to win. Now, the main goal is very clear: winning the overall classification next Sunday in Laon.â€