Britain’s Steve Cummings soloed to victory on stage seven of the 2016 Tour de France after holding off a small chase group, which included Giro d’Italia champion Vincenzo Nibali, on the Col d’Aspin today.
After cresting the day’s final climb, the Dimension Data rider maintained his advantage on the descend to win the 162.5km stage from L’Isle-Jourdain to Lac de Payolle in 3:51:58.
South Africa’s Daryl Impey (Orica-BikeExchange) finished second, 1:05 behind Cummings, followed by Spain’s Daniel Navarro (Cofidis).
Belgium’s Greg van Avermaet finished fifth, 3:04 behind, to increase his overall lead to 6:36 over France’s Julian Alaphilippe. Spain’s Alejandro Valverde remains in third, a further two seconds behind.
“I wasn’t confident with Nibali and Navarro in the break,” said Cummings of his decision to break clear. “At one point I thought I may have cooked myself.
“The climb, at five or six per cent, was good for my characteristics.”
Stage seven results
1. Stephen Cummings (Dimension Data) 3:51:58
2. Daryl Impey (Orica-BikeExchange) +1:05
3. Daniel Navarro (Cofidis/Solutions Credits)
4. Vincenzo Nibali (Astana Pro Team) +2:14
5. Greg van Avermaet (BMC Racing Team) +3:04
6. Luis Angel Mate (Cofidis/Solutions Credits) +4:29
7. Geraint Thomas (Sky)
8. Wouter Poels (Sky)
9. Gorka Izaguirre (Movistar)
10. Alejandro Valverde (Movistar)
Selected
23. Louis Meintjes (Lampre – Merida) +4:29
99. Reinardt Janse van Rensburg (Dimension Data) +14:11
General classification
1. Greg van Avermaet (BMC Racing) 34:13:40
2. Julian Alaphilippe (Etixx – Quick-Step) +6:36
3. Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) +6:38
4. Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha) +6:39
5. Christopher Froome (Sky) +6:42
6. Nairo Quintana (Movistar)
7. Warren Barguil (Giant-Alpecin)
8. Pierre Rolland (Cannondale-Drapac)
9. Daniel Martin (Etixx – Quick-Step)
10. Fabio Aru (Astana Pro)
Selected
18. Louis Meintjes (Lampre – Merida) +6:53
45. Daryl Impey (Orica-BikeExchange) +17:24
99. Reinardt Janse van Rensburg (Dimension Data) +40:24
Points classification
1. Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) 204 points
2. Marcel Kittel (Etixx – Quick-Step) 182
3. Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) 175
King of the Mountains
1. Thomas de Gendt (Lotto Soudal) 13 points
2. Greg van Avermaet (BMC Racing) 13
3. Stephen Cummings (Dimension Data) 10
See Tour de France for more news, results and photos.
