Stage Seven Summary

The 228.5km seventh stage of the 92nd Tour de France began at 12.09pm. There were 187 riders at the sign on. There were three intermediate sprints each offering points and time bonuses for the first three riders. These primes were in Rambervillers (at 32.5km), Brumath (at 146.5km) and the German town of Ralstatt (at 197.5km). The stage featured two climbs, the cat-4 Col de la Chippotte (at 45km) and the cat-3 Col du Hantz (at 74km). _ _ Early Action _ The first successful escape came from a group of six in the first 10km. The riders involved were: Rodriguez (DVL), Cancellara (FAS), Quinziato (SDV), Vicioso (LWT), Backstedt (LIQ) and Rich (GST). They reached a maximum advantage of 10” before being caught at the 17.5km mark. There was a crash in the peloton at the 23.5km mark. It involved Boonen (QST) but he quickly remounted his bike. With 5km to go before the first sprint, McEwen (DVL) attacked but only momentarily. Boonen caught the peloton again at the 30km mark. Dekker (RAB) and Van Bon (DVL) attacked at 30km. The points at the 1st sprint were won by: 1. Van Bon 6pts; 2. Dekker 4pts; 3. Hushovd (C.A) 2pts. The escape was over at the 34km mark. _ _ Wegmann Goes On The Attack _ At the 39.5km mark Rodriguez attacked again. He was joined by Contador (LWT), Flecha (FAS), Chavanel (COF), Scholz (GST). Carlstrom (LIQ) and Petrov bridged the gap but this group was caught on the first climb. The points were won by: 1. Wegmann (GST) 3pts; 2. Voeckler (BTL) 2pts; 3. Auge (COF) 1pt. At the 46km mark, McEwen and Wegmann attacked the peloton. At 48km, they led the peloton by 20”. The average speed for the first hour was 48.8km/h. At the 53km mark, the pair led by 1’05”. McEwen stopped his effort at the 57km mark and waited for the peloton. Wegmann’s lead was 1’20”. The peloton allowed Wegmann plenty of leeway at the top of the Col du Hantz he had a lead of 7’05”. The points were won by: 1. Wegmann 4pts; 2. Scholz 3pts; 3. Zberg (GST) 2pts; 4. Bertogliati (SDV) 1pts. _ _ The Chase Begins _ Discovery Channel led the peloton and at 89km they were 6’50” behind Wegmann. The average speed for the 2nd hour was 45.8km/h. At the feedzone (103km) the peloton was 7’55” behind the lone escapee. At 109, Wegmann led by 8’35”. This was the maximum gain for the escapee. With 5km to go before the 2nd intermediate sprint, Credit Agricole and Quickstep came to the front of the peloton. The points in Brumath were won by: 1. Wegman 6pts; 2. Boonen 4pts – at 6’00”; 3. Hushovd (C.A). Davitamon-Lotto led the peloton after the sprint and the advantage of Wegmann dropped quickly – 5’10” at the 151km mark; 3’50” at 160km; 3’30” at 166km; 1’45” at 195km. Quickstep controlled the peloton in the race to the line for the 3rd intermediate sprint. At the 197.5km mark, the bunch was just 1’05” behind Wegmann. The points were won by: 1. Wegmann 6pts; 2. Boonen 4pts; 3. Hushovd 2pts. With 25km to go, Wegmann’s lead was 20”. He was caught with 24km to go after an escape that lasted 160km. _ _ McEwen Wins Again! _ After Wegmann’s capture the teams of the sprint specialists controlled the pace of the peloton. It was fast enough to stop any rider from attempting an escape in the last 23km. On the streets of Karlsruhe Quickstep, Davitamon-Lotto, Liquigas, Fassa Bortolo, Credit Agricole, Cofidis and Francaise des Jeux riders all spent some time in charge of the peloton. FDJ was the last team at the head of the bunch before the sprint truly began. Cooke was forced to lead it out but he was passed by McEwen with 150m to go. The Australian champion was on the right side of the road. An Illes Balears rider crashed with 200m to go after touching the rear wheel of a Davis (LWT). _ McEwen outsprinted Backstedt and Eisel to win his second stage this year. It is his seventh stage victory in the Tour de France. _ _ Armstrong (DSC) finished safely in the middle of the peloton (in 54th place). He will wear the yellow jersey in stage eight. There was no change to the top of the general classification.