Luis Sanchez: King of the Descending Finish!

The Progress Report _ The 159km seventh stage from Brioude to Aurillac began at 1.17pm with 176 riders still in the race. There were five climbs on the itinerary: the cat-3 cote de Fraisse (at 11km), cat-4 cote de Villedieu (52km), cat-2 col d’Entremont (101.5km), cat-2 pas de Puy Mary (117km) and the cat-3 cote de Saint-Jean-de-Donne (150km). The intermediate sprints were in Saint-Flour (46.5km), Paulhac (74km) and Saint-Simon (148km). _ _ Early Attacking Antics _ Early in the stage Moreau (AGR) and Frischkorn (GAR) attacked but were caught by a peloton led by Columbia at 4km. Five riders – Quinziato (LIQ), Arrieta (ALM), Pineau (BTL), Gutierrez (GCE) and Gerard (FDJ) – attacked at the 22km mark but never got to over 30” ahead of the peloton before being caught at the 32km mark. Credit Agricole led the peloton up to the sprint in St-Flour in the hope of helping Hushovd claim points for the green jersey; he did just that, but was beaten over the line by two Robbies: Hunter (BAR) and McEwen (SIL). On the approach to the second climb six riders established an escape, they were: Millar (GAR), Voigt (CSC), Scholz (GST), Barredo (QST), Florencio (BTL) and Vaugrenard (FDJ). The peloton was behind by 20”. _ _ Dramatic Escape Bid From GC Favorites _ At around the 55km mark, real drama began. A crash claimed Jegou who broke his wrist and split the pack. At that stage six CSC riders seized the opportunity and bolted into the lead of an elite pack of 25 riders. They obliterated the peloton and gained a maximum lead of 45”. The riders involved were: Evans, Cioni, Sastre, Cancellara, Gustov, Schleck, Schleck, Voigt, Valverde, Pereiro, Sanchez, Kirchen, Lovkvist, Pozatto, Kreuziger, Nibali, Kohl, Valjavec, Menchov, Freire, Cobo, Ricco, Vaugrenard, Vande Velde and Millar. They were caught by the second peloton with 66km to go. The team responsible for the reeling in the escape was Lampre as Cunego (who was involved in a crash earlier in the stage) was caught behind. _ _ Col d’Entremont _ At the base of the third climb, Jufre attacked and was chased down by Sanchez (GCE). With 5km to climb, the pair led Nibali and De La Fuente by 15” and the peloton by 45”. The Columbia team controlled the pace of the peloton and crested the summit 1’15” behind the four leaders. In between was Le Mevel who went over the top 45” behind. Before the fourth climb, two more riders – Moreau (AGR) and Gadret (ALM) – would quit the Tour de France. _ _ Puy Mary & Cote Saint-Jean-de-Donne _ The frantic pace of the second hour eased as the riders crested the fourth climb of the stage. The four escapees cooperated well, leading Le Mevel by 45” up the Puy Mary with the Columbia team in charge of the peloton 1’50” behind on the 7.8km long ascent. Le Mevel would be caught but Astaloza attacked with 4km to climb. At the top the four led by 52” to Astarloza while the peloton was led by Siutsou 1’30” behind the leading quartet. Astarloza was caught 25km from the finish when the peloton was at 1’12”. _ With 20km to go, Euskaltel came to the front of the bunch that was 1’05” behind Nibali’s quartet. De La Fuente attacked on the final climb and led over the summit to add another 10 points to his tally and take over the King of the Mountains classification. _ _ Sanchez Into The Lead & Onward To Victory _ With four kilometers to go, Luis Sanchez burst into the lead and, in much the same manner in which he has won two stages of Paris-Nice, opened up a gap that peaked at 20” on the yellow jersey peloton. He was voted the most aggressive rider in the stage and celebrated his first victory in the Tour de France with a salute to the heavens as he finished six seconds ahead of Schumacher, Pozzato, Kirchen and Valverde. Fourth place in the stage ensured that Kirchen will wear the yellow jersey again in stage eight.