Gerdemann: The Future Is Now

The 198.5km seventh stage, from Bourg-en-Bresse to Le Grand-Bornand, began at 12.10pm. There were 181 riders at the sign on. Freire (RAB) and . The sun shone on the Tour de France at the start of the second week; the temperature was a warm 26 degrees Celsius and it rose to over 30 degrees on the day that the race entered the mountains. The stage boasted four climbs, including the first category-one ‘col’ of the 94th edition. The mountains classification points were contested at the Cote de Corlier (cat-3 at 35.5km), Cote de Cruseilles (cat-3 at 122.5km), Cote de Peguin (cat-4 at 134.0km) and the 1,618m high cat-1 Col de la Colombiere (at 183.0km). _ There are now two intermediate sprints per stage. Points for the green jersey were on offer in Pont-d’Ain (at 16.5km) and Anglefort (86.0km). _ _ Establishing The Escape Group _ TQuickstep controlled the peloton until the first sprint when Boonen beat Zabel and Bennati. At the 22km mark 16 attacked including: Voeckler, Hincapie, Goubert, Vaugrenard, Gilbert, Garate and Cardenas. They were caught at 25km. On the first climb Rasmussen raced into the lead, passing Wegelius, Verdugo and Paulinho who had broken free at 30km. The only Dane in the race claimed first-place at the top of the Corlier climb. Cancellara, Boonen, McEwen were amongst the riders dropped early. The average speed for the first hour was 40.9km/h. Gutierrez (GCE), Gerdemann (TMO), Flecha (RAB), Landaluze and Perez (EUS), Fofonos (C.A), Martinez (DSC), Lefevre (BTL), Vaugrenard (FDJ), Tankink (QSI), Savoldelli (AST) and De la Fuente (SDV) formed the first true escape group. They were joined by Elmiger (A2R), Pineau (BTL) and Wegmann (GST) at 72km. _ Vaugrenard was the best-placed on GC at the start of the stage. Gerdemann raced ahead to claim first at the 2nd sprint. The peloton was behind by 8’30”. This was the maximum gain of the escape group. The average speed for the 2nd hour was 47.5km/h. _ _ Predictor-Lotto & CSC Control Chase _ At the 80km mark, both the Predictor-Lotto and CSC teams came to the front of the peloton. “Neither team has anyone in the escape,” said PRL’s Hendrik Redant. "The idea is to try and get the escape to within about four or five minutes before the start of the Col de la Colombiere.” At the feedzone, the deficit of the peloton was 6’00”. De la Fuente surged ahead to claim first place at the 2nd climb. The peloton was led over the summit by O’Grady, Cancellara and Hoste 6’45” behind the escapees. The average speed of the 3rd hour was 37.9km/h. CSC drove the peloton on the descent and up the 3rd climb. De la Fuente repeated his antics and led over the cote de Peguin, 6’40” ahead of the peloton _ _ Gerdemann Launches Into The Record Books On The Col de la Colombiere _ On the approach to the final ascent three from the Lampre team came to the front of the peloton which was 5’25” behind the escapees. The entire CSC then took charge of the bunch. Gutierrez attacked with 14km to climb. De la Fuente, then Gerdemann matched him. Fofonov bridge 1km later and then attacked. Only Gerdemann could follow the Kazakh. At Le Reposoir, the steepest section 7km from the summit the 24-yeard-old German launched the decisive attack. He would not be seen by any riders again until after they reached the finish. Over the summit, Gerdemann had a lead of 30” on a rejuvenated Landaluze and 1’00” ahead of De La Fuente. The young T-Mobile recruit proved he could climb and, with the whiff of victory, demonstrated his prowess on the descent as well. _ Gerdemann won not only the stage but claimed the yellow jersey, the white jersey and the most aggressive rider prize. He claims that, “today was my day, but tomorrow I’ll work for my team leader, Michael Rogers”. The Australian finished the day in 35th place but with the same time as most of the title contenders, 3’38” behind the new sensation of cycling.