It's the 2nd of the Puncheur favoured stages. Lopez is favourite to not only win the stage but to extend his GC lead but he will no doubt have to be attentive today.
100km to go and we have a large breakaway group of 16 riders. A mix of leaders who have lost time and domestiques. These 16 have a 1'24 gap back to Lastra who has a further 3'04 back to the Peloton.
HIL
Turgis
79
Nzeke
76
Masnada
76
Ndayisenga
75
Quita
75
Latour
75
Mosca
75
Scarponi
75
Thiery
74
Novikov
72
Veyhe
Rubio
Ngandamba
M.Mugisha
Froidevaux
Turgis wins the first KOM sprint of the day to go level on points with the current KOM leader. With 2 climbs remaining before the finish, he could be eyeing up a win in the Polka Dots. 73km to go and the gap to Lastra is 3'27 with a further 1'47 back to the Peloton.
50km to go now and the gap has extended out to 6'09. Ndayisenga is closest in the GC but at 10'16 so there's no threat to Evonik. A great chance for a stage win for one of these riders!
25km to go as Turgis does indeed win the 2nd KOM of the day to go into the lead by 6 points! The leading 15 have a gap of 5'15 back to the Peloton who have upped the pace now.
20km remaining for the Peloton as Alarcon drops down the Peloton following a poorly timed puncture. He's going to want to work back up the Peloton.
There's an attack within the breakaway with 14km to go as Quita, Latour and Ndayisenga leave their companions behind. The chase hasn't been given up though.
Quita is first over the next KOM with 7km to go. Turgis joins the leading trio over the line as Turgis ensures the KOM win.
Action in the Peloton with 7.5km to go as Areruya (8th @ + 2'07) tries his luck. Olivier accelerates as well as he leads the Peloton.
4km to the line for the leading group of 4. One of these 4 should be today's stage winner.
Latour leaves his former companions behind with 2.5km to go as he goes off in search of the stage win.
3.5km remaining for the Peloton. It's Preidler and Areruya who are only just off the front of the Peloton.
400m for Latour who has a 50 second gap back to a group of 6 who look like they'll be fighting for 2nd today.
Indeed it is the Frenchman who had an awful day yesterday who somewhat manages to make up for it today. Pierre Latour wins Stage 7.
Scarponi wins the battle for 2nd ahead of Novikov. Masnada is 4th ahead of Turgis. Ndayisenga is 6th with Quita 7th.
Under the kite and it's Lopez who leads the Peloton towards the line!
Thiery leads through the next group in 8th with Mosca and Nzeke rounding out the Top 10.
Unsurprisingly, it's Lopez who leads the Peloton over the line in 15th.
Or what we thought was the Peloton! There are actually gaps throughout which catch out riders throughout the GC, including in the Top 10!
Lopez benefits from these gaps as he actually increases his lead in the GC. Olivier and Roglic move up to 5th and 6th. Preidler jumps from 10th up to 7th. Alarcon loses out as he moves down from 5th to 9th. Arndt moves up to 10th at the expense of Berhane who drops to 13th.
Degenkolb holds onto his lead in the Points, that will be decided in the final stage tomorrow. Turgis will win the KOM following his efforts today.
No change in the U25s where it's still Areruya ahead of Min. Kraftwerk Man Machine easily hold onto the lead in the Teams.
Tour du Maroc - Stage 7 Report 
