Jasper Philipsen won the third bunch sprint of the 110th Tour de France, making it three out of three as he deprived Mark Cavendish from the record-breaking 35th stage victory of his career. It’s his fifth win in two years. The Belgian is definitely the current dominating sprinter. He also extended his lead in the points classification whereas Jonas Vingegaard retained the overall lead.
GUGLIELMI, POOR LONESOME COWBOY
The start of stage 7 was given to 172 riders at 13.23. Simon Guglielmi (Arkea-Samsic) was first on the attack right after flag off. Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X), Nelson Oliveira (Movistar) and Mathieu Burgaudeau (TotalEnergies) caught up with him but gave up one after each other, leaving the Frenchman alone in the lead at km 4. Guglielmi’s maximum advantage was 7’15’’ at km 18, after which Alpecin-Deceunink and Lotto-Dstny got organised at the helm of the peloton. Guglielmi won the intermediate sprint, followed in that order by Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty), Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Bryan Coquard (Cofidis).
LATOUR AND PETERS TAKE OVER
79km before the end, Pierre Latour (TotalEnergies) and Nans Peters (AG2R-Citroën) attacked from the bunch. Five kilometres further, they caught up with the lone leader. The time difference with the peloton was 50’’ with 50km to go. Guglielmi couldn’t hold the pace in the côte de Béguey (cat. 4) where Latour passed first with 39km remaining. Guglielmi was logically awarded the combativity prize. Latour and Peters forged on until they got reeled in the streets of Bordeaux, Peters with 6km to go and Latour 3.5km before the finish line.
PHILIPSEN PIPS CAVENDISH ON THE LINE
Alpecin-Deceuninck gave Philipsen a very good lead out in the last 2km. Mark Cavendish (Astana) tried his luck by launching from far out but the Belgian wasn’t impressed and had enough left in the tank for a last kick that makes him a triple stage winner this year. Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty) rounded out the podium as he reached the top 3 for the first time at the Tour de France.
