Stage 7

The road

At the start

First mountains, over the Aspin

Greg Van Avermaet still holds five minutes over the entire general classification, which means Sky can afford to watch. Today is the first Pyrenean stage — 162 kilometres to the Lac de Payolle with the Col d'Aspin cresting only seven kilometres from the line, too late for a proper reckoning and too close for a breakaway to feel safe. Mark Cavendish, three wins in six days, has the green jersey back.

How it was won

1. 145 km to go

   Nibali stirs on the Capvern

   Vincenzo Nibali jumps clear for the mountain point on the day's first climb and is instantly reeled in by Tony Martin — but the move plants the idea that the break will not ride to the Aspin intact.

2. 236 km to go

   Cummings bridges alone

   Duchesne and Breschel force clear, Van Avermaet leaps onto the speeding train, and Steve Cummings hauls himself across on his own with 35.5km to go — no threat to the yellow jersey at more than 42 minutes down, and left to it.

3. 37 km to go

   Over the Aspin with a minute

   The Col d'Aspin crests just seven kilometres from the line and it bites hard: Navarro drops Nibali and Impey in the chase, but Cummings is already a minute up the road and climbing steadily.

4. 4At the line

   Cummings solos into Lac de Payolle

   Steve Cummings takes Dimension Data's fourth stage win of the race. Behind, the 1km inflatable arch collapses and holds up the peloton, letting Van Avermaet come home in his own time and keep yellow.

The result