How long did Luis Sanchez celebrate as he crossed the finish line in Aurillac? Was it 5 seconds; 15 seconds? It seemed like a full minute at he pointed toward the heavens and spread his arms to rejoice as a chase group closed down the gap.
But the 24-year-old Spaniard on Caisse d'Epargne won Stage 7 with 6 seconds to spare, as the chase group with most of the race leaders and favorites sprinted for the finish on the 99-mile Tour de France stage.
George Hincapie and Team Columbia rode at the front of the peloton much of the day as they protected the yellow jersey for Kim Kirchen, although the Luxembourg cyclist had to finish up the race on his own in the lead group.
Garmin-Chipotle's Christian Vande Velde finished in that lead group with race favorites Kirchen, Cadel Evans, Alejandro Valverde, Frank Schleck, Carlos Sastre and Denis Menchov. Stefan Schumacher, who lost the yellow jersey on Thursday, was leading that group as well. Vande Velde retained his fourth place position overall, 44 seconds behind Kirchen.
Breaking away
Sanchez was a member of a four-man break that developed with 40-some miles left in the race. Joining him on the scrapple to the top of Col d'Entremont (a category 2 climb) were Josep Jufre (Saunier Duval), Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) and David de la Fuente (Saunier Duval).
The four remained together over another Category 2 climb, Pas de Peyrol. Then followed a steep downhill and the flats as the race somewhat came together again.
Finish
De la Fuente attacked on the last of the day's five mountains but was caught as the peloton came together and Sanchez attacked again. This time he led all the way to the finish, followed by the yellow jersey group.
One of the losers of the day was a favorite, Damiano Cunego. Involved in a crash earlier in the stage, he and his team fought all the way back to the main peloton near the finish, only to be dropped again on the run-in to Aurillac. He lost about 27 seconds on the leaders today, which isn't bad considering his luck.
The top 10 overall:
1 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team Columbia
2 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence – Lotto, :06 behind
3 Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Gerolsteiner, :16
4 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30, :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, same
10 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Team Columbia, same
Dopage
Later in the evening, police picked up Liquigas pro cycling team member Manuel Beltran for questioning after he was accused of testing positive for EPO after Saturday's stage.
You'll remember Beltran as the cyclist who helped Lance Armstrong through the mountains toward the end of the US cyclist's career. More on this sad, developing tale at VeloNews.
Boulder Report tracks all the former Posties who have been linked to doping, either by getting caught or admission.
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