stage7

Results from the second longest day of the Tour, stage 7, from Épernay to Nancy

Casey B. Gibson is in Denver as Vande Velde takes the victory and Hincapie rides his final race as a pro

Garmin veteran says he wasn't messing around after taking too many of these races for granted in his career

Vande Velde turns in a stellar ITT to ruin the hopes of Leipheimer and van Garderen both

Tech editor Nick Legan scouts around Denver for time trial tech at the finale to the USA Pro Challenge

Degenkolb out-sprints Viviani and Davis on the Motorland Aragón track

Freshly minted race leader Bradley Wiggins on being in yellow

Richie Porte and Michael Rogers break down stage 7, which put team leader Bradley Wiggins in yellow

Andrew Hood and Matthew Beaudin look back at stage 7 of the 2012 Tour de France

Casey B. Gibson's view of the action during stage 7 of the Tour de France

Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Cervélo) was transported to a local hospital via ambulance after a high-speed crash late in Friday's seventh stage at the Vuelta a España.

Graham Watson shoots stage 7 of the 2011 Vuelta a España.

Matthew Busche says he's riding the Vuelta for his future; Heinrich Haussler is hoping to rebuild his form.

Stage 7

• 1. Marcel Kittel, Skil-Shimano, 4:47:59
• 2. Peter Sagan, Liquigas-Cannondale, same time
• 3. Óscar Freire, Rabobank Cycling Team, s.t.
• 4. Daniele Bennati, Leopard-Trek, s.t.
• 5. Lloyd Mondory, Ag2r La Mondiale, s.t.

GC

• 1. Sylvain Chavanel, Quick Step, 27:29:12
• 2. Daniel Moreno, Team Katusha, at 0:15
• 3. Vincenzo Nibali, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 0:16
• 4. Joaquin Rodriguez, Team Katusha, at 0:23
• 5. Jakob Fuglsang, Leopard-Trek, at 0:25

Marcel Kittel (Skil-Shimano) escaped a massive pileup in the final kilometer to win stage 7 of the 2011 Vuelta a España on Friday.

Conventional wisdom has shifted among race organizers, who are under the gun to deliver exciting finales that capture the attention of fans and media alike.

The first week of the 2011 Tour de France has already been one giant rollercoaster of a ride. With the first chapter of the Tour closing in Chateauroux Friday, and the second chapter beginning in the Massif Central Saturday, we thought it appropriate to take a quick look back. And besides, who doesn’t love a good top-10 list?

Under pressure from sponsors accustomed to his now-aging squad’s dominating victories of the past, Radio Shack’s Johan Bruyneel adopted a novel approach to selecting the members of his 2011 TDF squad (average age: 53).

CHATEAUROUX, France (AFP) - Belgium's 2005 world road race champion Tom Boonen, injured after crashing on Wednesday, quit the Tour de France during Friday's seventh stage.

CHATEAUROUX, France - Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) says stricter anti-doping rules are making for a cleaner Tour de France this year.

CHATEAUROUX, France (VN) — Riders came across the line in dribs and drabs. The nerves and fatigue of nearly a week of racing showing clearly on the riders' faces. Some survived after dodging another bullet, but others were not so lucky.

CHATEAUROUX, France (VN) — Bradley Wiggins’s Tour de France dreams shattered Friday as he broke his collarbone in a crash on stage 7. A pileup with about 40km to go brought down Team Sky’s GC hope and many others. While most remounted, Wiggins retired from the race into an ambulance.

VIDEO: Stage 7 finish-line analysis — text book delivery for Cav; RadioShack gets dinged up

Tyler Farrar talks about Friday's big crash

Nick Legan pokes around Leopard-Trek's Tour de France support car.

• 1. Mark Cavendish, Htc - Highroad, in 5h 38' 53"
• 2. Alessandro Petacchi, Lampre - Isd, at
• 3. André Greipel, Omega Pharma - Lotto, at 00:00
• 4. Romain Feillu, Vacansoleil-Dcm, at s.t.
• 5. William Bonnet, Fdj, at s.t.

Mark Cavendish won Friday's marathon 218-kilometer race from Le Mans to Châteauroux, the last sprinter's stage before the race enters the Massif Central this weekend.

Ben Delaney chats with Bernie about his power numbers

CHATEAUROUX, France (AFP) — Australian Stuart O'Grady has admitted the tough first week of the Tour de France has left him feeling battered and bounced around like a character from a computer game.

LISIEUX, France (AFP) — Despite the temptation, Britain's Mark Cavendish is likely put nostalgia to one side when he saddles up for a pop at his second stage win of the Tour de France Friday.

July 8 Stage 7: Le Mans to Châteauroux, 218km (135.5 miles)