Luis Leon Sanchez of Caisse d’Epargne won today’s stage by attacking the lead group several times on the run in to Aurillac, and finally breaking away solo with two kilometers to go. His 4 man breakaway group was quite aggressive in attacking, but efforts by Team Columbia to contain the breaks kept all breakaways in check. Thus, Kim Kirchen retains the yellow jersey for another day. Saunier Duval-Scott’s David De La Fuente moves into the climbers jersey.

Stage 7 Results
1 Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne -3.52.53
2 Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Gerolsteiner - 0.06
3 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Liquigas
4 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team Columbia
5 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne
6 Oscar Pereiro Sio (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne
7 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
8 Josep Jufre Pou (Spa) Saunier Duval - Scott
9 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30
10 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC - Saxo Bank

General classification after stage 7
1 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team Columbia - 28.23.40
2 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto - 0.06
3 Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Gerolsteiner - 0.16
4 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30 - 0.44
5 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank - 1.03
6 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne - 1.12
7 David Millar (GBr) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30 - 1.14
8 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Quick Step - 1.21
9 Oscar Pereiro Sio (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne
10 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Team Columbia

Full results here..

Jersey Standings:
Kim Kirchen
Kim Kirchen
David De La Fuente
Thomas Lövkvist

Tour de France / Pro Cycling Forum - Click Here

Links to news sites…

“Sanchez wins Tour de France seventh stage

AURILLAC, France (AFP) — Spanish rider Luis Leon Sanchez of the Caisse d’Epargne team won a dramatic 7th stage of the Tour de France, a 159 kilometres ride from Brioude on Friday.

Luxembourg’s Kim Kirchen retained the overall leader’s yellow jersey, six seconds ahead of Australian Cadel Evans” Read more from the AFP…

“Sanchez wins seventh stage of Tour

AURILLAC, France (AP) — Luis-Leon Sanchez of Spain won the seventh stage of the Tour de France Friday, moving ahead 2 1/2 miles from the end and then holding on for the victory.

Kim Kirchen of Luxembourg retained the yellow jersey as overall leader after Friday’s stage from Brioude to Aurillac in the Auvergne.” Read more from The Associated Press…

“Late escape gives Sanchez stage victory

(CNN) — Luis Leon Sanchez’s late enterprise paid off with a flying solo escape in the final 5km to win the hilly seventh stage of the Tour de France from Brioude to Aurillac.

The 24-year-old Caisse d’Epargne rider was part of a group of four which broke away before the major climb of the day but was caught towards the end of the stage.

However, the Spaniard slipped away again and this time was able to hold on from a reduced peloton that contained most of the race favorites.” Read more from CNN International…

“Luis Leon Sanchez escapes to take the stage

The Caisse d’Epargne team got revenge after being denied a stage win in Super Besse, with Spanish time trial champion Luis León Sanchéz escaping to a solo stage victory. The day’s final category three climb proved to be the launching pad which Sanchéz used to break free of an elite group of favourites, giving Caisse d’Epargne another stage victory. Team Columbia’s Kim Kirchen retained the leader’s yellow jersey, taking third in the sprint just six seconds behind the winner.” Read more from CyclingNews.com…

“Sanchez nabs stage 7 of the 2008 Tour de France
Columbia protects Kirchen’s jersey

Caisse d’Epargne’s punchy climber Luis Leon Sanchez won the seventh stage of the Tour de France on Friday, attacking the lead group several times on the run-in to Aurillac, before finally establishing a solo break in the final two kilometers.” Read more from VeloNews.com…

All Photos provided by CorVos