Stage 7 of the 2022 Tour de France brings a familiar sight over recent years as Tadej Pogacar assumes the yellow jersey once more. The Slovenian produced a typically unstoppable assault on stage 6 to win in Longwy and jump to the top of the general classification, and barely a week into the race he already looks on course to win an historic third successive maillot jaune.
If Pogacar is feeling fresh then he could turn the screw again today on what is the first mountain stage of the Tour, finishing atop the now iconic La Planche des Belles Filles where Chris Froome won in 2012 and where Pogacar himself took control of the 2020 race. Key rivals like Geraint Thomas (Ineos) and Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) will hope Pogacar is still feeling the effects of his exertions yesterday as try to challenge his control.
‘The Plank’ gets steeper as it rises towards the finish line, ending on a 24% gradient which will sort the hardy climbers from the rest. It comes after two category three climbs: the Col de Grosse Pierre (3.1km at 6.4%) and Col des Croix (3.2km at 6.3%) and the stage winner will require sharp bike-handling on the descents as well as strong legs on the way up.
Follow all the latest from stage 7 of the Tour de France below.
Tour de France 2022 – stage 7
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177km to summit finish at La Planche des Belles Filles
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Tadej Pogacar in yellow jersey after stunning stage 6 win
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Steep gravel finish could be showdown for Pogacar vs Vingegaard
Tour de France 2022 – stage 7
12:36 , Lawrence Ostlere
A reminder of that stunning win yesterday by Tadej Pogacar, who has taken a firm grip on this race with barely a week gone and his favourite Alpine mountains not yet in sight:
Tadej Pogacar takes yellow jersey after peloton denies Wout Van Aert victory
Tour de France 2022 – stage 7
12:32 , Lawrence Ostlere
160km to go: No breakaway as yet, despite a few efforts, but one is bound to stick sooner or later and when it does it may well make it all the way home.
Tour de France 2022 – stage 7
12:23 , Lawrence Ostlere
And here is today’s race profile. The Col de Grosse Pierre (3.1km at 6.4%) and Col des Croix (3.2km at 6.3%) precede the final climb, which steepens to that brutal finishing stretch when the road turns into a gravel track.
Tour de France 2022 – stage 7
12:21 , Lawrence Ostlere
Here’s a look at today’s stage map, as the riders travel south towards the Vosges Mountains where La Super Planche des Belles Filles awaits.
Tour de France 2022 – stage 7
12:16 , Lawrence Ostlere
And we’re off! Stage 7 is under way. Glorious sunshine in Tomblaine, an area on the eastern side of Nancy, as a few riders attempt to escape quickly up the road to no avail.
Jumbo-Visma could ally with Ineos to bring down Pogacar
12:13 , Lawrence Ostlere
Jumbo-Visma sporting director Frans Maassen spoke to Eurosport this morning on a range of topics, and hinted they could work with Ineos later in the Tour to unseat Pogacar from the yellow jersey.
On today’s stage: “We think the break will go to the finish, and then a battle between the big stars. We have to follow the big guy in yellow and we’re going to try that. I hope [Jumbo leader Jonas Vingegaard can attack today ] but to be honest all the peloton suffered a lot yesterday. It suits him better today and I hope he has the legs to do something.”
On an anti-Pogacar alliance: “Too early to think about that. Maybe later on the Tour it can help to be an ally with Ineos, I don’t know, we’ll see.”
Overall standings (top 10 after 6 of 21 stages)
11:58 , Lawrence Ostlere
1. Tadej Pogacar, Slovenia, UAE Team Emirates, 20h 44m 44s.
2. Neilson Powless, United States, EF Education-EasyPost, 4s behind.
3. Jonas Vingegaard, Denmark, Jumbo-Visma, :31.
4. Adam Yates, Britain, Ineos Grenadiers, :39.
5. Thomas Pidcock, Britain, Ineos Grenadiers, :40.
6. Geraint Thomas, Britain, Ineos Grenadiers, :46.
7. Aleksandr Vlasov, Bora-Hansgrohe, :52.
8. Daniel Martinez, Colombia, Ineos Grenadiers, 1:00.
9. Romain Bardet, France, Team DSM, 1:01.
10. David Gaudu, France, Groupama-FDJ, 1:02
Stage 7 timings and TV guide
11:56 , Lawrence Ostlere
The stage is scheduled to begin at around 12.15pm BST with the expected arrival at 4.30pm BST.
How to watch on TV and online
Tour de France coverage can be found this year on ITV4, Eurosport, Discovery+ and GCN+ (Global Cycling Network).
Live racing each day will be shown on ITV4 before highlights typically at 7pm each day. ITV’s website lists timings here.
Eurosport and GCN+ will show every minute of every stage. More on Eurosport’s coverage here and the GCN+ coverage here.
It is also being shown on Eurosport’s Discovery+ streaming service, with broadcast info here.
Tour de France 2022 – stage 7
11:49 , Lawrence Ostlere
‘The Plank’ gets steeper as it rises towards the finish line, ending on a 24% gradient which will sort the hardy climbers from the rest. It comes after two category three climbs: the Col de Grosse Pierre (3.1km at 6.4%) and Col des Croix (3.2km at 6.3%) and the stage winner will require sharp bike-handling on the descents as well as strong legs on the way up.
Tour de France 2022 – stage 7
11:48 , Lawrence Ostlere
If Pogacar is feeling fresh then he could turn the screw again today on what is the first mountain stage of the Tour, finishing atop the now iconic La Planche des Belles Filles where Chris Froome won in 2012 and where Pogacar himself took control of the 2020 race. Key rivals like Geraint Thomas (Ineos) and Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) will hope Pogacar is still feeling the effects of his exertions yesterday as try to challenge his control.
Tour de France 2022 – stage 7
11:43 , Lawrence Ostlere
Stage 7 of the 2022 Tour de France brings a familiar sight over recent years as Tadej Pogacar assumes the yellow jersey once more. The Slovenian produced a typically unstoppable assault on stage 6 to win in Longwy and jump to the top of the general classification, and barely a week into the race he already looks on course to win an historic third successive maillot jaune.