Result: PETER SAGAN CLINCHED his first stage win of this year’s Tour and cemented his hold on the green jersey thanks to a tactical masterclass from his Cannondale team.
Daryl Impey (Orica-GreenEdge) remains the overall race leader for a second successive day.
How it happened: Cannondale judged their tactics to perfection on today’s seventh stage, a 205-kilometre ride from Montepellier to Albi. The Tour hits its first real mountainous stage tomorrow but today’s route featured the tricky ascent up the Category 2 Col de la Croix de Mounis.
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It was here that Sagan and his team-mates blew the stage wide open, upping the pace at the front of the peloton and forcing Mark Cavendish and Andrei Greipel to crack. After claiming the intermediate sprint points at the 135km mark, Cannondale briefly eased off but when their sprint rivals threatened to close the gap and force their way back into the picture, Sagan rallied his troops and moved up another gear.
The chasing pack gave up the ghost with 40 kilometres remaining and both Cavendish and Greipel finished in a group almost 15 minutes back. At the business end, Germany’s John Degenkolb tried to spoil the party but Sagan and his green army were not to be denied.
The big winner: Sagan and Cannondale. Not only did they design and deliver their tactics to perfection, they increased Sagan’s lead in the green jersey standings to a huge 94 points over Greipel in second and 105 over Cavendish in third.
The big loser: Greipel and Cavendish. With only a handful of flat stages remaining, today may well be crucial in deciding this year’s points race.
Who is wearing what jersey?
Yellow (Overall): Daryl Impey
Green (Points): Peter Sagan
Polka-Dot (Mountains): Blel Kadri
White (Young Rider): Michal Kwiatkowski
What about the Irish? No major change for Nicolas Roche (33rd) and Dan Martin (56th) who both finished in the leading bunch. Roche remains ninth in the GC standings while Martin moves up to 15th.
What happens tomorrow then? You ready for mountains? Tomorrow’s 195-kilometre stage from Castres to Ax 3 Domaines features the highest point on this year’s Tour, the HC climb up the Port de Pailhères (6,565 feet). Ouch.
Sprint finish: Sagan treats rivals to a tactical masterclass
Result: PETER SAGAN CLINCHED his first stage win of this year’s Tour and cemented his hold on the green jersey thanks to a tactical masterclass from his Cannondale team.
Daryl Impey (Orica-GreenEdge) remains the overall race leader for a second successive day.
How it happened: Cannondale judged their tactics to perfection on today’s seventh stage, a 205-kilometre ride from Montepellier to Albi. The Tour hits its first real mountainous stage tomorrow but today’s route featured the tricky ascent up the Category 2 Col de la Croix de Mounis.
It was here that Sagan and his team-mates blew the stage wide open, upping the pace at the front of the peloton and forcing Mark Cavendish and Andrei Greipel to crack. After claiming the intermediate sprint points at the 135km mark, Cannondale briefly eased off but when their sprint rivals threatened to close the gap and force their way back into the picture, Sagan rallied his troops and moved up another gear.
The chasing pack gave up the ghost with 40 kilometres remaining and both Cavendish and Greipel finished in a group almost 15 minutes back. At the business end, Germany’s John Degenkolb tried to spoil the party but Sagan and his green army were not to be denied.
The big winner: Sagan and Cannondale. Not only did they design and deliver their tactics to perfection, they increased Sagan’s lead in the green jersey standings to a huge 94 points over Greipel in second and 105 over Cavendish in third.
The big loser: Greipel and Cavendish. With only a handful of flat stages remaining, today may well be crucial in deciding this year’s points race.
Who is wearing what jersey?
What about the Irish? No major change for Nicolas Roche (33rd) and Dan Martin (56th) who both finished in the leading bunch. Roche remains ninth in the GC standings while Martin moves up to 15th.
What happens tomorrow then? You ready for mountains? Tomorrow’s 195-kilometre stage from Castres to Ax 3 Domaines features the highest point on this year’s Tour, the HC climb up the Port de Pailhères (6,565 feet). Ouch.
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Le Tour Peter Sagan Sprint Finish TDF Tour de France 2013