Sagan 1st after a 150km lead-out by Cannondale

The progress report
The official start of the seventh stage of the 100th Tour de France was at 12.19pm. There were 190 riders at the sign on with Janez Brajkovic (AST) the non-starter. The stage from Montpellier to Albi was 205.5km long and featured four categorised climbs. The intermediate sprint was in Viane Pierre-Ségade (at 135km). Vanmarcke (BEL) launched the first attack and was briefly joined by Kadri, Voigt, Perez, El Fares and Gasparotto. Voigt (RTL) surged again after the original move was caught and he was joined by Kadri (ALM) they had a lead of 1’10” when there was a crash in the peloton, at 11km, that involved Vande Velde (GRS), Moreno (KAT), Quintana (MOV), Boasson Hagen (SKY). The American Garmin-Sharp rider abandoned the race because of the injuries he sustained.

Kadri takes a virtual lead in climbing competition
The maximum gain of the two escapees was 6’40” at 27km. Cannondale, Omega, Orica, Lotto and Argos set the pace of the peloton and the advantage of Voigt and Kadri dropped to 5’30” by 34km. The average speed for the first hour was 43.9km/h; the second hour 34.2km/h. The peloton was paced along by the same five teams until the top of the first climb; Kadri led Voigt over the top and the bunch was behind by 4’15”. Kadri led over the second climb too and put himself in the lead of the climbing classification. Rolland (EUC) attacked the peloton in the final kilometre of the col de la Croix de Mounis but he was marked by Bardet (ALM) who took third place. Cannondale was the dominant team at the head of the peloton and at the 100km mark, they were 35” behind Kadri and Voigt while Greipel’s peloton was at 1’00” and Cavendish’s group was at 2’00”. Voigt attacked Kadri at 107km and at 108km Kadri was caught and one kilometre later so was Voigt. The bunch split into three groups on the second climb. The average speed for the third hour was 38.3km/h. Malori (LAM) abandoned the Tour at the 110km mark.

Phase two: Bakelants attacks
Once Sagan claimed the 20pts for first at the intermediate sprint, the Cannondale team ceased its efforts and Bakelants (RTL) attacked. He was caught by Oroz (EUS) and Gautier (EUC) at 141km and by 145km the winner of stage two was the virtual leader of GC as his trio was 40” ahead of Impey’s peloton that had an advantage of 2’00” on the second peloton. Bakelants led over the third climb and the yellow jersey’s peloton was at 50”. With 50km to go, Bakelants was the virtual leader of the Tour with a lead of 1’00” on Impey’s group. The average speed for the fourth hour was 46.1km/h! Cannondale did most of the chasing but Impey had support from Albasini, Clarke and Gerrans. With 10km to go, the leading trio were just 20” ahead, meaning Bakelant’s bid for another day in the yellow jersey was essentially over. The peloton caught the trio with 2.8km to go.

Sagan secures his first win: a true team effort for Cannondale
The Cannondale team had five men at the front going into the final kilometre but a few teams had the courage to take on the green machine that had dominated the stage. Argos-Shimano seemed like it might have been able to pull off a coup thanks to John Degenkolb who opened up the sprint on the left side of the road but Sagan had this move covered; the Slovakian champion came off the wheel of the German inside the final 200m and took the win by over a bike length. It is the first victory for Sagan in the 100th Tour and his fourth stage win in total.
Daryl Impey finished the stage in 12th place; he will ride stage eight in the yellow jersey.