Stage seven report
Summary
Remco Evenepoel overcame a late scare to win the stage seven time trial on and eat into Tadej Pogacar’s lead in yellow as the front two put time into their other rivals.
Evenepoel’s first Tour stage win on his race debut came on his preferred territory, with the world time trial champion having enough in the bank to take the victory by 12 seconds despite thinking he had suffered a late puncture, cutting the overall gap to Pogacar to 33 seconds.
“It’s crazy,” the Belgian said. “I was on a good day. The climb was pretty tough. Then the descent when you’re on the limit was pretty technical and fast. But I enjoyed every metre of this time trial and coming out with the win was simply amazing.”
The top two pulled further clear of Primoz Roglic and defending champion Jonas Vingegaard who finished third and fourth on the day respectively. Vingegaard is 75 seconds off yellow in third, with Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe’s Roglic another 21 seconds back. PA Media
As expected from the start, it was going to come down to the final few riders and the anticipation did not disappoint. Evenepoel was favourite, which is a big claim in a first Tour, but he was happy to live up to the hype and produced a fine ride, adding a little drama when he thought he had a puncture.
It takes a great performance to hold off someone like Pogacar who just did not have enough to match his Belgian colleague but maintains the overall GC lead.
Thank you very much for joining me.
GC
1. Pogacar 27:16:23
2. Evenepoel +33
3. Vingegaard +1:15
4. Roglic +1:36
5. Ayuso +2:16
Roglic: “I am really happy with the performance I put out there. It was so long since I did such a hard stage seven.”
Smooth Remco.
The result.
Stage 7 result #TDF2024 pic.twitter.com/qk0owRkmbe
— ITV Cycling (@itvcycling) July 5, 2024
Evenepoel: “Crazy. It wasn’t a good day, the climb was very tough. The descent was pretty techincal and fast, I enjoyed every metre. COming out with a win is simply amazing.
“I was pretty sure I had a puncture but I think someone dropped something that made the same sound. It turns out nothing was wrong but I had a bit of fear in my head because I thought it might be a slow puncture.
“It was a close one but I wanted to win today and that’s accomplished.
“We were not thinking about the time gaps in the GC, we just wanted to win the stage.”
Top three:
1. Evenepoel 28’52”
2. Pogacar 29’04”
3. Roglic 29’26”
Pogacar finishes 12 seconds behind Evenepoel, ensuring he maintains the lead at the top of the GC.
Evenepoel wins stage seven
Remco Evenepoel was the quickest in the time trial.
It is 28m52s for Evenepoel. Pogacar does not look like he will match it.
Evenepoel is pushing his bike as much as he can. He is going to be fastest. He is!
Vingegaard finishes three seconds behind Roglic.
Oh no! Evenepoel with 2.5km issues announces a gear issue. Has he sorted it? He pedals on.
Just 4km to go for Evenepoel. He’s on the flat and is given every he has to earn the stage win.
Updated
Roglic comes in at 29m26s. It’s good but it will not earn him the win.
Roglic is going to record the quickest time but it will be taken away from him very soon.
Pogacar is 10 seconds behind Evenepoel at the top of the hill. Pogacar will be flying down the hill now.
Pogacar will not give up easily and is giving it his all on the climb.
Evenepoel is 23 seconds up on Vingegaard at the top of the hill. Could he get his first ever stage win here?
Vingegaard is 14.6 seconds quicker than Roglic at the top of the hill. Evenepoel will be even quicker …
Roglic is trying to make up time by flying down the descent, taking risks as he go.
Pogacar is putting in the hard yards on the climb and is being roared on by a cracking crowd.
Evenepoel is speeding along, he will fancy his chances of finishing on top of the pile today.
The yellow of Pogacar is 30 seconds up with 17km to go. These seconds could be crucial at the top of the GC.
Roglic is another speeding along here but those behind him might chase him down. He is 28 seconds quicker than first with 13km to go.
Evenepoel is 30 seconds up on Campenaerts with 19km to go. It is a fine ride. We have all been waiting for the GC challengers to get on the road.
Vingegaard is 16 seconds up in the early the kms. The final three are all in the green at the moment.
Updated
Pogacar, the final rider, heads out with his lighter screws and the like. He flies down the road.
Remember 29m44s is the time to beat.
Updated
Evenepoel trundles down the ramp and his on his way. This is the business end of this time trial.
It’s not all business.
Healy: “I had good legs today and set an ambition pace from the start. I couldn’t quite hold it to the finish but I am pretty happy about the ride. I enjoy doing what I do and think being a GC contender is a pretty difficult job - the longer I can delay that the better.”
Campenaerts watched Healy a little nervous but was able to let out a smile when he finished seven seconds or so behind him. The Belgian can enjoy the chair for a little longer. We will get the top 10 from the GC out on the road very soon …
Oh no, Healy is rapidly losing time and will not be pushing for top spot.
Thomas is losing time and a minute off the lead now. Less than ideal for him.
Healy is two seconds up with 10km to go. Can he maintain this?
Bernard gets over the line with a huge smile on his face despite being a couple minutes or so down on the fastest time. He has enjoyed a great half hour.
🤩 @JulienBernard17 on home roads!
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 5, 2024
🤩 @JulienBernard17 à la maison !#TDF2024 pic.twitter.com/I42jlmEc7e
Ben Healy has come out firing. He is well up on Campenaerts with 12.5km to go.
Strong picnic game throughout the Tour.
Nick Gibson emails: “And as a few others have mentioned Cav’s win had a whiff of post tour crit about it; almost like there was an agreement to get him over the line…then everyone can get back to business….anyways whatever the result was wanted by all.”
Everyone wants the Cav record, that’s for sure.
Geraint Thomas is out there and has made an impressive start. He has 20km to go and will think he can put some pressure on Campenaerts.
Bernard has now been stopped mid-race to be hugged by a lot of fans. The police belatedly stepped in to get him back on his way. Very much good humoured.
I am not suggesting that Julien Bernard is not going for the win here but he is high fiving most of the crowd and urging them to make more noise. Very much a local hero. It must be a great ride for him.
Home favourite Bardet heads down the ramp to the loudest cheers I have heard today.
Van Aert went out strong but is a minute behind his fellow Belgian Campenaerts come the finish line.
JB is written all over the roads. Maybe it is a demand to get John Brewin back on the blog.
Wine region.
Kung is eight seconds behind Campenaerts, leaving him to rue that lost half minute on the climb caused by mechanical problems.
Van Aert is out on the course and is eight seconds quicker than Campenaerts in the early kilometres.
In other news … Kung could still take the lead despite giving up around 30 seconds earlier with his chain issue.
Campenaerts sprints for the line and he takes the fastest time by 0.76 seconds.
Campenaerts is going to challenge the fastest time. He is really pushing with around 1.5km to go to the finish.
Top speed means nothing.
🇨🇭 Stefan Bissegger went faster on flat and downhill sections… But 🇫🇷 @kevin_vauquelin went flying on the uphill!
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 5, 2024
The Frenchman didn’t come anywhere close Bissegger’s top speed but he was 2.5 km/h in the second sector, where he gained more than 30 seconds.
🇨🇭 @aka_muni s’est… pic.twitter.com/yA9A1OszJ0
Kung has had a problem with his chain and it has lost him around 30 seconds taking him out of contention.
Top spot … for now.
💨 The first sub-30 minutes! 🇫🇷 @kevin_vauquelin posts a new fastest time 29'44''
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 5, 2024
💨 🇫🇷 @kevin_vauquelin est le premier à passer sous la barre des 30 minutes ! ⚡️#TDF2024 | @TISSOT pic.twitter.com/SIfT6WhAYQ
The fan club.
Vauquelin will be in the hotseat after coming through with a final time of 29m44s thanks to an average speed over 51km. Over to the GC lads.
Vauquelin is still very much up to the tune of 23 seconds after 20km. He looks set for a spell sat in the fastest chair.
Kung rolls down the ramp. He could be a challenger today.
“Your readers following the Tour on Peacock were not privy to the glue discussion,” says Joe Pearson re glue in a bottle. “So please, spill the reason.”
The chat was a bit of a meander from the commentators and I am not sure we got an answer or maybe I just switched off.
I am starting to think it would be appropriate to open a bottle of Burgundy.
Vauquelin is 30 seconds up after 14.4km. He is really going for it. The Frenchman is certainly a very good time trialist.
Lazkano is in second but still 27 seconds down on Bissegger.
The man to beat.
🏁 🇨🇭@aka_muni sets the new fastest time: 30’06'’ (50,2 km/h)
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 5, 2024
🏁 🇨🇭@aka_muni signe le meilleur temps sur la ligne d’arrivée en 30’06'’ (50,2 km/h) #TDF2024 | @TISSOT pic.twitter.com/Jg2hMcvfM3
#ChateauWatch
Oier Lazkano is on his way. Always good to have a Basque in the field. Bring back Euskaltel Euskadi.
Bissegger: “I think it was a decent ride. I did my best, maybe a bit overpaced at the beginning. In the downhill, you can’t really pedal so I went all out on the climb. I had a few close calls, we did not do too much recon, we only did one lap before.”
Updated
Bissegger glides over the finish line in 30m06. That should keep him top of the pile for quite a while.
In the meantime, Politt has come home in 30m49s. It is the fastest time but he will be unseated very soon by Bissegger.
Bissegger at the 20km mark is around a minute quicker than the fastest time thus far. He will take the lead without doubt.
This looks a decent gig.
Today’s set up 🇫🇷🍷@LeTour @itvcycling pic.twitter.com/uyjl5SOfrd
— Lewis Hurt (@HurtLewis) July 5, 2024
Politt and Bissegger look like they will beat Durbridge’s time when they come through. Both are well ahead of the Australian’s time midway through their rides.
Martinez is kicked out of the leader’s chair, which might be a relief. He can go relax.
Durbridge now has the best time clocking in it at 31m14s.
Biniam Girmay rides through the Burgundy fields.
I am not saying this is not the most exciting part of the stage but Eurosport are discussing why glue does not stick to the inside of a bottle.
Durbridge looks like he will surpass Martinez once he completes his run here. He is 19 seconds up on the Frenchman with 10km to go.
Bissegger is on his way and we all expect him to set the leading time. He is showing some early intent. We shall see in around half an hour if he has what it takes.
No one is challenging Martinez’s time at the moment. I am sure it will not be too long before someone goes close.
🏁 🇫🇷@lennymrtz1 set the fastest time at the finish line! ⏱
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 5, 2024
🏁 🇫🇷@lennymrtz1 signe le meilleur temps sur la ligne d’arrivée ! ⏱#TDF2024 | @TISSOT pic.twitter.com/51Bd4zpRd4
Updated
Jens Voigt says the climb is actually pretty tricky and that this is the a cracking TT route.
Cav is certainly happy to have finished.
This is a lovely area for Chateaus, that’s for sure. During my five years of working for ITV Sport on the Tour, the main excitement came when there was a lovely aerial shot of a rural house in France. #ChateauWatch
Lenny Martinez moves to the top time trial leaderboard after coming home in 31m40s.
No magazines available?
⏳ The ITT Waiting Room
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 5, 2024
⏳ La salle d'attente du contre-la-montre#TDF2024 pic.twitter.com/Who2OlEcpq
Now we’re talking! I am a huge fan of this BBQ vista.
We are getting plenty of riders finishing in times starting with 32.
Cav speaks: “It is about trying to get through today. The time trial used to be a rest day but now you have to go full gas to reach the time limit. It was a nice route, a beautiful place. It is nice to get the day over with. I am going to spend the afternoon with my wife and kids.”
“Still in my little post 35 bubble for Cav,” says Jeremy Lee. “I got a bit emosh in the office, I don’t mind admitting, so it was lucky my colleagues left early. Having seen how finickity Cav is with his “normal” bike I was wondering how he gets set up for a time trial? The mechanics must dread it!
“Oh, and anyone who claimed that Cav causes crashes – as was seen by responses to some posts on X recently – take a look at Sagan and the 2017 tour. The following riders obviously weren’t as good at bunny hopping back in the day.
“On to Colombey Les Deux Eglises for 36?”
I am sure Cav will be eager for that.
If you want a basic marker for everyone else, Cavendish comes through in 33 minutes and 21 seconds.
Is the lad in flip flops considering racing him?
Cav now on the descent and enjoying life a bit more.
Cavendish has hit the climb that is on today’s course. There is a healthy crowd in fancy dress and polka dot shirts willing him the hill.
The wind will be helpful today, it would seem. Cavendish is being pushed along by a strong breeze. Cav will be pleased that he does not need to push himself to the limits.
It will be quite a while until we get any real indication of a good time today.
In the meantime, read up on yesterday’s action.
Every start time for the riders today. All times are in CET.
⏱️ Here is the starting order and time for each of the riders in the first time trial of the #TDF2024 tomorrow.
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 4, 2024
⏱️ Voici l'ordre et l'horaire de départ de chacun des coureurs pour le contre-la-montre dedemain.#TDF2024 | @TISSOT pic.twitter.com/PhtZKtenMJ
Cav gets plenty of applause as he winds through the streets. There is not much on this for Cavendish so he will enjoy himself.
Mark Cavendish will be first down the ramp today. He looks incredibly happy with life.
The Ineos team have been spotted wearing face masks. Are they taking precautions because of Covid in the camp?
What’s the course? Check out the stage-by-stage guide.
Preamble
Welcome to the first time trial of the Tour. There is only a grand total of 59km time trialling to be done this year, so today’s 25.3km could be significant. We are likely to see a bit of a shake up in the leaders by the time everyone completes their run, so there is plenty to keep a watchful eye on.
Remco Evenepoel is the reigning world time trialling champion and will fancy his chances of catching up with leader Tadej Pogacar who is 45 seconds ahead of him. “I think the favourite is Remco, for sure,” Pogacar said after stage six. “He’s the world champion and he’s shown many times that he can beat everyone. I think he’s the one to look to, but I think I can also do a pretty solid time trial.”
Should be an intriguing day for all.
