Stage 7 Review
By Phil Liggett


The first day in the Pyrenees has left everyone scratching their heads! An Italian in his first Tour pulled on the yellow jersey of race leader, while a young Frenchman in his first Tour won the stage from Barcelona to the topof  Andorra-Arcalis. Something strange is going on.

Well not really because when you have obvious favourites to win this race then others who are seen to have little chance or, at best, can be considered outsiders, should and do take their chances when they can.

An early escape by nine riders on this longest stage of the race of 139 miles was allowed to head off into the Pyrenees to gain time in double figures. In the field, Lance Armstrong and Alberto Contador marshalled their Astana team to set a pace that others would only follow. The race leader, Fabian Cancellara was also content to watch and wait to see if he was good enough to match the climbers on the six-mile climb to the finish.

So, the stage was set and while Brice Feillu rode home alone to give France a second stage win, Rinaldo Nocentini finished fourth and became the first Italian for nine years to wear the yellow jersey tomorrow.

Approaching the finish Alberto Contador produced the attack that took him to ninth place on the stage, but crucially perhaps, he gained 21 seconds on all the Tour favourites. Should he have attacked his own team mate Lance Armstrong to move above him on the standings? I think so, as he was racing for the yellow jersey and he lost reaching his goal by just six seconds.

Two more days in the Pyrenees and a chance yet for Astana to play a few more cards. Leader since this race began, Fabian Cancellara cracked on the last climb and lost a massive 9min 16sec. His first week of the race now a dream as interest in his Saxo team will turn towards Andy Schleck who is now its leader after moving to ninth overall, but only 1min49sec behind Nocentini.