Stage 7 Preview and Results

Stage 7: Tournus → Station des Rousses
Date: Saturday, July 10
Distance: 161 km

Stage 7 start time: Saturday 13:00 CEST (11:00:00 AM GMT+0000); Weather for Tournus
Earliest live video: 13:30 CEST (11:30:00 AM GMT+0000); Live video, audio and text options
Approximate finish: 17:22 CEST (3:22:00 PM GMT+0000); Weather for Station des Rousses

Stage 7 results: Sylvain Chavanel solos to his second stage win at this year's Tour and moves back into Yellow

Stage 7 results
1  CHAVANEL Sylvain (Quick Step)                 4:22:52
2  VALLS FERRI Rafael (Footon-Servetto)           + 0:57
3  GARATE Juan Manuel (Rabobank)                  + 1:27
4  VOECKLER Thomas (Bbox Bouygues Telecom)        + 1:40
5  PERGET Mathieu (Caisse d’Epargne)           
6  MORENO FERNANDEZ Daniel (Omega Pharma - Lotto)
7  FEDRIGO Pierrick (Bbox Bouygues Telecom)       + 1:47
8  HESJEDAL Ryder (Garmin - Transitions) 
9  PLAZA MOLINA Ruben (Caisse d'Epargne) 
10 CAPECCHI Eros (Footon-Servetto) 

General Classification after Stage 7
1  CHAVANEL Sylvain (Quick Step)                33:01:23
2  EVANS Cadel (BMC Racing Team)                  + 1:25
3  HESJEDAL Ryder (Garmin - Transitions)          + 1:32
4  SCHLECK Andy (Saxo Bank)                       + 1:55
5  VINOKOUROV Alexandre (Astana)                  + 2:17
6  CONTADOR Alberto (Astana)                      + 2:26
7  VAN DEN BROECK Jurgen (Omega Pharma - Lotto)   + 2:28
8  ROCHE Nicolas (Ag2r La Mondiale)               
9  VAN SUMMEREN Johan (Garmin - Transitions)      + 2:33
10 MENCHOV Denis (Rabobank)                       + 2:35

Stage 7 preview: Tournus → Station des Rousses, 161 km (hilly)

Cadel Evans in Yellow prior to the 2009 Criterium du Dauphine stage 3 start in Tournus. Tournus is also the start host for stage 7 of this year's Tour de France, a first for the Tour. Cadel is off to a great start at this year's Tour too sitting 3rd overall with a good shot at the Yellow Jersey in the upcoming hilly/mountainous stages. (photo: Colin Flockton, steephill.tv)

July 9 post: Surrounding the big famous Alps, in all directions, are smaller mountain ranges. Stage 7 is a medium mountain stage that finishes in one of these ranges to the north of the Alps. The Jura Mountains aren't visited very often by the Tour de France and the cat 2 finish climb to Station des Rousses ski resort has never been used before. The stage also starts with a new host, Tournus, in the Burgandy region, where stage 3 of the 2009 Criterium du Dauphine started.

"The Jura" is a great recreational cycling area with lots of narrow, quiet roads among lush forests and climbs that aren't too difficult.

Six categorized climbs including three cat 2 climbs in the second half will be featured in this 161 km stage. The last climb, Côte de Lamoura (14 km, avg grade 5%) summits just 3 km before a ski resort type flat finish so this stage favors a good climber who packs a decent sprint. Lance Armstrong thinks there will be 50 or so guys sprinting for the win. — Steve
First Mountain Stage Could Yield Yellow For Evans — versus
  Bernard Hinault Previews Stage 7 in english and en français (01:11) — letour.fr
  Bob Roll Previews Stage 7 (01:18) — versus
  New Lance Armstrong commericial filmed in the Jura (finishing climb) (01:02)

A video tour of the last two climbs, Col de la Croix de la Serra and Côte de Lamoura:
by cycling-challenge.com

Stage 7 climbs
Km 51.5 - Côte de l'Aubépin - 4.9 km of 5% - Category 3
Km 69.0 - Côte des Granges - 5.9 km of 3.5% - Category 4
Km 84.5 - Côte d'Arinthod - 8.5 km of 4.7% - Category 3
Km 104.0 - Côte du barrage de Vouglans - 6.6 km of 5.6% - Category 2
Km 134.5 - Col de la Croix de la Serra - 15.7 km of 4.3% - Category 2
Km 161.5 - Côte de Lamoura - 14.0 km of 5% - Category 2

Last Km Profile