Stage 7: Millau>Lavaur
No time to rest for the riders as the first climb of the day started just 6km in. Benoit Cosnefroy went off immediately, trying to take the KOM point at the top of the category 3 climb. Schar joined him for a while, but dropped back as the peloton closed in. 13 riders were dropped off the back from the pace the Bora-Hansgrohe team was pushing. Their team leader, Peter Sagan, hoping to take back the green jersey today. Cosnefroy is caught, but gets the maximum two points for his KOM lead.
Downhill after the climb, the peloton split with the leaders in the polka dot and green jerseys getting left as Bora-Hansgrohe charges for the intermediate sprint point. Matteo Trentin challenges Peter Sagan at the line, beating him by a tires width. A 2 minute gap back to the now-former green jersey holder Sagan is now the virtual leader.
Still no rest as the riders start the next climb, 14.5km up the Col de Peyronnenc almost immediately after the sprint. Thomas De Gendt breaks away, taking a solo lead and the KOM points on offer at the top. Just a few seconds of a lead, the next group of riders are about 4 and a half minutes behind.
Downhill until the final climb of the day. Only a category 4, the Cote de Paulhe only 1.1 km, and average gradient of 7%, however it had a 14% maximum. De Gendt has a 30 second gap.
He’s caught with just under 35km left in the stage. Cross winds and attacks by the front group of riders split the peloton in three.
A group of 38 riders approach the finish line. Sagan tries to gain even more points but falls back to 13th as Wout Van Aert takes his second stage win.
Sagan does reclaim the green jersey and takes a nine point lead over Sam Bennett. Adam Yates retains yellow and Cosnefroy retains the KOM, but looks to lose it in the first true mountain stage tomorrow.
