Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team managed to get two riders in the top 10 of the 205.5km Stage 7 of the Tour de France, despite the leadout of the sprint being just two riders against some well organized leadout trains.
Sylvain Chavanel played the role of the leadout for Michal Kwiatkowski in white, and Kwiatkowski launched a bit early as there were several sprinters in good position and multiple teammates leading them to the line.
Peter Sagan (Cannondale) went on to win the stage. John Degenkolb (Argos-Shimano) finished 2nd. Daniele Bennati (Team Saxo-Tinkoff) was 3rd.
Chavanel finished 10th. Yellow jersey wearer Daryl Impey (ORICA-GreenEDGE) finished in the top 10 and remains the race leader. Kwiatkowski keeps the white jersey, and remains 5th in the GC (+6"). Chavanel is 6th (+6").
"It was really tough today," Kwiatkowski said. "I didn't expect Cannondale to go so fast on the climbs. With 100km to go they went full gas on the climb and dropped many guys. I didn't realize they could handle that gap until the finish. I'd like to thank Chava and Peter Velits, who stayed with me so I could save my legs for tomorrow."
"It was a dream to wear the white jersey before the Tour de France, but now I have worn it for six days. It's an amazing feeling. I will try to keep this jersey as long as possible. There are so many hard stages in front of us. So, I don't know how it will go. For sure Nairo Quintana, Tejay van Garderen, Thibaut Pinot are good climbers, so in the second and third week they will gain some time."
A grupetto of several top sprinters formed, after initially being two chasing groups. Andre Greipel (Lotto-Belisol), Marcel Kittel (Argos-Shimano), and OPQS rider Mark Cavendish were in that group. Cavendish had several teammates with him.
