Vuelta a Espana 2010 Photos; Stage 7: Murcia - Orihuela, 187 km
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The somber mode outside the Team Sky bus this morning. A virus has wreaked havoc on the team's riders this week, but the team denied that the death of their Spanish massage therapist, Txema González, in a Sevilla hospital today was related. A "bacterial infection" was the cause of death.		share this photo
A flat stage that avoided the mountains in the area except one cat 3. Here's the four man break.		share this photo
The peloton sticking together to avoid getting lost on today's meandering route through the Murica province ...		share this photo
... and in no hurry. That's Lampre's Alessandro Petacchi (right) taking in energy that he would use later.		share this photo
Lampre's Danilo Hondo leading the chase around Embalse de la Pedrera		share this photo
The main break formed just 2 km from the start and stayed away into the late afternoon.		share this photo
But, this stage was destined for a sprint finish. After a great leadout, Lampre's Alessandro Petacchi legitimately drifted across the narrow home stretch to box in Mark Cavendish.		share this photo
When a hole opened up there wasn't enough time for Mark Cavendish to come through it		share this photo
The faces of a good mass sprint finish less yesterday's winner Thor Hushovd (right background)		share this photo
Petacchi takes the win by more than a bike length		share this photo
Looking back, this was a narrow, twisty Giro-type sprint finish that suited Petacchi well. Cavendish crossed second while Saxo Bank's Juan-Jose Haedo nipped across for third.		share this photo
Petacchi celebrates his 20th career Vuelta win		share this photo
The sweet smell of victory		share this photo
Petacchi's arms got some more exercise on the podium		share this photo
Until this year's Vuelta, Philippe Gilbert, had never worn the leader's jersey at any of the three Grand Tours. Today he claimed his fifth red leader's jersey.		share this photo
PhilGil enjoying his time in red while it lasts because tomorrow's stage 8 is a tough mountain stage (preview) expected to produce a new leader		share this photo
We start and end today's collection of photos on a somber note. Here, the coffin of French cycling champion Laurent Fignon is carried into the crematorium during his funeral ceremony at the Pere Lachaise cemetery in Paris.		share this photo
Vuelta a Espana 2010 Photos; Stage 7: Murcia - Orihuela, 187 km
« Stage 06 photos	return to: Vuelta a Espana 2010 Dashboard  |  Vuelta a Espana 2010 photo gallery	Stage 08 photos »