Stage 7 takes us from La Charte to Puy de Dome - the first mountain stage of the race. It's not the hardest stage over the whole route, but the final climb is certainly one of the toughest of the race. Everyone will be desperate to get to the front, and with good reason - for Puy de Dome is not the widest of climbs.
Cunego is the obvious favourite along with Vuelta winner Madrazo. As recent winners of the Dauphine and Tour de Suisse, Spilak and Pluchkin must also be two to watch, while Dekker is one of many who also need a strong climbing start to the race.
We can't deny that the in form rider is Trofimov - but mountains are not his strength. He holds a lead of 1'32 on 2nd placed Popovych, and will at least be hopeful of keeping that.
The climb may not be until the end of the stage, but it is a fast pace from the start. A group of 14 tries to go clear, but the peloton are not willing to let them go.
But as the pace drops, a 4 man breakaway goes clear instead.
J. Tschopp
M. Sprick
FJ. Terciado
D. Holloway
Holloway is a sprinter, but the other 3 can all climb a little - so not a bad day for them to make the breakaway.
They roll through the first KoM, certainly not the hardest climb of the day.
1
M. Sprick
2
FJ. Terciado
3
J. Tschopp
They have a 5 minute lead with 82km to go, as Kritskiy attacks.
10km later, and three more climbers have attacked off the front of the peloton.
J. Rodriguez Oliver
D. Moreno
M. Samwel
We're still on flat roads, but they are all hopeful of taking a gap onto Puy de Dome, and holding on to it.
And then with 55km to go, Siutsou and van der Hugenhaben also make a move.
This is an interesting tactical ploy by Sony Ericsson considering they have the race lead - but they arent taking an active role in pacing the peloton anyway. B&O, Santander and Cafe de Colombia have taken that on - while Trofimov just keeps a watchful eye.
And of course, Siutsou knows all about breakaways - he very nearly won the Dauphine Libere thanks to one.
Up to the 2nd KoM, at 51km to go, and Kritskiy is within 30 seconds of the breakaway group.
M. Sprick
FJ. Terciado
D. Holloway
Kritskiy soons makes contact, after his strong ride across the gap. The other 5 attackers are now together in a group - 2 and a half minutes behind. Samwel, Rodriguez and Moreno have inparticular struggled to make an impact.
In the peloton, a group of 21 were already dropped by the 2nd KoM - it could be a long day for them, and perhaps a time limit battle. Embarassingly for Pendleton's, the so-called King of the Mountains Duret is amongst those dropped.
And some more attackers.
F. Marquez
P. Panayotov
In the approach to the final 20km, Rojas Villegas crashes.
And we soon hit 20km to go.
The lead group of 5 are now about 1'45 clear of the chasing group, but the peloton are little more than 3 minutes behind the leaders, and closing in.
But what a disastrous time for Dan Martin to crash! It's already his 2nd crash of the race, and the whole team (bar the already dropped Duret) drops back to help him. Even if they catch up with the peloton though, he is going to go into the climb in a very bad position.
And another crash - again not the first of the race for this rider - it's Kritskiy! Again, this is a bit of a disaster for him, he was set to start Puy de Dome with a very useful 3 minutes lead on the peloton, but instead finds himself back in that chasing group with not much more than 1 minute's advantage.
Onto the Puy de Dome!
Spoiler
10km to go and Sprick is already attacking, while Holloway has been dropped. The chasers are almost caught already, and Dan Martin is back in the peloton, albeit a long way down.
Spoiler
Sprick, Terciado and Tschopp are all together up front. The peloton are all back together, but Siutsou, Samwel and the other early attackers are trying to attack away again.
There's been a split!
48 are up front, but missing out are Taaramae, Suaza, Velits and Keizer. They are at least close to the front of the dropped group though - Dan Martin is waaay down still. All the following videos will show him, but its clearly damage limitation now.
Spoiler
As Kritskiy tries again to attack off the peloton, Velits is immediately trying to get himself back into the action - Taaramae and Keizer also starting to panic here.
Spoiler
Van der Hugenhaben is attacking the peloton now. Siutsou, Samwel and Kritskiy are still involved in the counters - but so is Trofimov now aswell!
And more split drama. The front peloton group is down to just 18. Those missing now include Dekker, Popovych, Karpets, Kashechkin, Uran, Spilak, Fothen, Phinney, Gadret, Henao and Ardila!
Spoiler
Kritskiy, Moreno, van der Hugenhaben and Trofimov are pushing clear - but Cunego and Pluchkin are very aware of the danger and both up near the front.
Spilak, Dekker and Fothen are all leading the chase back up to this group - but 2nd overall Popovych is being very laid back, still at the back of this group and not appearing to be making any effort to change this.
Velits is still battling to come back from that earlier split, with Keizer in the same group as him - but Taaramae is further back - and Dan Martin even more so, although the Irishman has now found clean air infront of him.
Spoiler
Cunego has attacked! Trofimov tried to follow, but couldnt keep it up, which has hindered Pluchkin a little as the Moldovan was on Trofimov's wheel.
Dekker, Spilak and co did make it back to that group, but now they have a number of slower climbers and domestiques blocking their path as Cunego surges clear.
Spoiler
Pluchkin links up with Cunego as they pass the breakaway - Tschopp attempting to stay with them.
Trofimov did get a gap on the peloton still, and as Kritskiy rides along just in front of them, Spilak launches his move - Madrazo and Uran following along with Gadret.
Velits thought he had finally made contact with this group but found himself slowed by domestiques before he could attack away again - Keizer and Taaramae also now being stuck in this group.
Further down, Dan Martin is still fighting away.
Spoiler
Just under 3km left to go with Cunego and Pluchkin clear - already with a 40 second lead on Trofimov.
Spilak and now Madrazo make it up to the day's breakaway, while Uran, Gadret, Henao and Fothen still have work to do.
Amador and Kashechkin now look set to make a move, while Dekker has joined Popovych in the poor positioning club - a lapse in concentration for the Dutchman, could be costly.
Spoiler
Cunego is really applying the pressure on Pluchkin, and the Moldovan is struggling to keep up.
Over a minute behind Pluchkin, Madrazo is now pushing clear aswell with Spilak looking to follow as other contenders make their way back to this group.
Dekker is trying to bring himself back up to the front, and finally Popovych springs to life.
Spoiler
Cunego has cracked Pluchkin and is riding away, but theyve got themselves a very nice gap.
Cunego began the day 2'31 down on Trofimov, while Pluchkin was at 1'50.
Madrazo and Spilak are clear in the battle for 3rd - with Fothen looking to join them.
Uran leads the next group, with Trofimov under pressure, and Dekker only now getting back up to the front.
Spoiler
Its the final kilometre, and Cunego is definately on the way to the stage. Could there be more?
Spoiler
Damiano Cunego wins the stage
Pluchkin is 2nd at around 30 seconds - he and Cunego will be very close on GC with time bonuses involved.
Madrazo takes 3rd at 1'38 - a big loss to Cunego - ahead of Spilak and then Fothen.
Uran takes 6th in the group with Trofimov and Dekker. To keep the race lead, Trofimov cant afford to be more than 2'10 behind Cunego. And it is mighty close.
Dan Martin eventually finished 58th, blocked in by Suaza and Di Gregorio for the final kilometre, losing 7 and a half minutes on Cunego - and about 4/5 minutes on where he would have expected to finish.
Spoiler
Infact - just 10 seconds now separates the Top 3 on GC
Even closer - 2nd place is on the SAME TIME as the race leader.
