Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
John Brewin and David Tindall (earlier)

Tour de France 2021: Matej Mohoric wins stage seven – as it happened

A tearful Matej Mohoric takes in his achievement.
A tearful Matej Mohoric takes in his achievement. Photograph: Gregory van Gansen/EPA

Here’s Jeremy Whittle’s report from Le Creusot.

Green jersey standings:

1. Mark Cavendish (GBR) Deceuninck - Quick-Step 168
2. Mathieu van der Poel (NED) Alpecin - Fenix 103
3. Jasper Philipsen (BEL) Alpecin - Fenix 102
4. Nacer Bouhanni (FRA) Team Arkéa - Samsic 99
5. Michael Matthews (AUS) Team BikeExchange 96
6. Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) Deceuninck - Quick-Step 84
7. Peter Sagan (SVK) BORA - hansgrohe 72
8. Sonny Colbrelli (ITA) Bahrain Victorious 66
9. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates 64
10. Tim Merlier (BEL) Alpecin - Fenix 62

Mark Cavendish finished 20 minutes down but got the job done by going up in the breakaway for that intermediate sprint.

And the GC after the seventh stage

1. Mathieu van der Poel (NED) Alpecin - Fenix 25:39:17
2. Wout van Aert (BEL) Jumbo - Visma +30
3. Kasper Asgreen (DEN) Deceuninck - Quick-Step +1:49
4. Matej Mohoric (SLO) Bahrain Victorious +3:01
5. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates +3:43
6. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA) Trek - Segafredo +4:12
7. Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) Deceuninck - Quick-Step +4:23
8. Alexey Lutsenko (KAZ) Astana - Premier Tech +4:56
9. Pierre Latour (FRA) TotalEnergies +5:03
10. Rigoberto Urán (COL) EF Education - Nippo +5:04
11. Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) Jumbo - Visma +5:18
12. Richard Carapaz (ECU) INEOS Grenadiers +5:19
13. Geraint Thomas (GBR) INEOS Grenadiers +5:29
14. Wilco Kelderman (NED) BORA - hansgrohe +5:31
15. Enric Mas (ESP) Movistar Team +5:33
16. Toms Skujin* (LAT) Trek - Segafredo +5:34
17. Bauke Mollema (NED) Trek - Segafredo +5:43
18. Jakob Fuglsang (DEN) Astana - Premier Tech +5:51
19. David Gaudu (FRA) Groupama - FDJ +6:10
20. Søren Kragh (DEN) Team DSM +6:30

Updated

Here’s today’s result of the 249km stage from Vierzon to Le Creusot

1. Matej Mohoric (SLO) Bahrain Victorious 5:28:20
2. Jasper Stuyven (BEL) Trek - Segafredo +1:20
3. Magnus Cort (DEN) EF Education - Nippo +1:40
4. Mathieu van der Poel (NED) Alpecin - Fenix
5. Kasper Asgreen (DEN) Deceuninck - Quick-Step
6. Franck Bonnamour (FRA) B&B Hotels p/b KTM
7. Patrick Konrad (AUT) BORA - hansgrohe
8. Wout van Aert (BEL) Jumbo - Visma
9. Brent Van Moer (BEL) Lotto - Soudal +1:44
10. Dorian Godon (FRA) AG2R - Citroën Team +2:45
11. Toms Skujin* (LAT) Trek - Segafredo +2:46
12. Hugo Houle (CAN) Astana - Premier Tech +2:57
13. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA) Trek - Segafredo
14. Simon Yates (GBR) Team BikeExchange
15. Xandro Meurisse (BEL) Alpecin - Fenix +4:22
16. Philippe Gilbert (BEL) Lotto - Soudal
17. Jan Bakelants (BEL) Intermarché - Wanty - +4:25 Gobert Matériaux
18. Søren Kragh (DEN) Team DSM +4:32
19. Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) Deceuninck - Quick-Step +5:15
20. Enric Mas (ESP) Movistar Team

Matej Mohoric, the stage winner and who will wear the polka dot jersey and announced himself as a contender.

I didn’t think I could make it into the last climb. I was just riding for the jersey and said why not? Kilometre by kilometre I was still feeling ok. I couldn’t believe it. [On Pogacar] We are good friends. We are super good friends. I won in the Giro and the Vuelta but this is something else. It’s the longest stage and I won the longest stage in the Giro and Vuelta. I am good one the long stages, not such a brutal effort, I can keep pace in these stages.

Updated

Van der Poel looks utterly knackered as he sits on the cement in utter exhaustion. Meanwhile, all eyes on Carapaz, as he skates home, the rest of that one-time breakaway now in pieces. But no, the main group catches him up, Movistar got the field up to him and he received no extra seconds at all. All that effort for nothing.

The provisional lead for Van der Poel over Pogacar is three minutes or so. What a race it’s been today, and the length of it only caused more problems.

Roglic is still not home. That looks to be that. His Tour may not last much longer as he crawls home. He’s lost over three minutes on Pogacar, but where were his Jumbo-Visma team?

Updated

Van Aert and Van der Poel come home together, and chase bonus seconds. There are four on offer but Van der Poel cannot get them in the sprint finish as Magnus Cort rides it out. Van Aert sat up.

Stage seven standings:

1. Matej Mohoric
2. Jasper Stuyven
3. Magnus Cort
4. Mathieu van der Poel
5. Kasper Asgreen

Matej Mohoric takes the seventh stage!

A fine ride, and he claims the proud record of winning a stage at all three grand tours. Now begins the count back. Jasper Stuyven saunters home, and looks very tired.

Updated

2km to go: Mohoric on a victory lap, this has been an amazing ride. Even Van Aert and Van der Poel cannot lay a glove on him, and are almost two minutes behind.

4km to go: Carapaz being hauled back to 30 seconds gap but it is now dwindling. Van der Poel and Van Aert in tandem. They will be first and second on GC whatever happens. Jasper Stuyven is in their sights and bonus seconds up for grabs.

5km to go: Van Aert and Van der Poel working together? The prize is Mohoric, who has 1’ 33’ on them, and barring an accident will claim this one. At least one Slovenian has enjoyed today. Carapaz continues to pick off rider after rider.

7km to go: Van Aert and Van der Poel - at last - go for it. Mohoric looks in pain as the powerful duo blast up the hill. They take 20 seconds off the group they were formerly part of in a matter of pedal strokes.

8km to go: Mohoric is making easy work of this climb, and it’s Konrad giving chase. Back in the field, Neilson Powless of the US ends up in a bush, but is fine to continue. It is chaotic down the field. Van Aert and Van der Poel are sat within inches of each other as Carapaz speeds down the field. He’s made 40 seconds on the Pogacar group.

Updated

10km to go: Carapaz, with his ride, is confirming himself as Ineos’s GC contender. He’s eating up the former breakaway group, and cruising on. The peloton is smashed to pieces and still Roglic can’t get back on.

12km to go: Van Aert and Van der Poel stay put, just as a couple go off the front of their group. The main action is in the peloton as Carapaz goes away and opens a big gap on Pogacar. Roglic is pedalling backwards. It’s all happening. Mohoric is riding to the stage win, with just that final climb to come.

The end for Primoz Roglic's GC hopes?

15km to go: Roglic is off the back of the peloton and Ineos are putting the hammer down to make sure he will be losing more time. Last year’s second place seems to have cracked. This is hugely significant. Pogacar and Richie Porte making sure Roglic can stay there and lose more time.

Updated

17km to go: Konrad is the fourth over the top, as Van der Poel et al get themselves together for the descent and the end of the stage.

18km to go: Simon Yates drops off Van der Poel/Van Aert group, so his chance of a stage win looks to be gone. Mohoric, a very capable rider, may have this in his grasp, as he grimaces and reached the summit with a minute on the rest.

19km to go: We await the big move, and Van der Poel stay alert to anyone making the move. Konrad chases down the leaders who have just hit the mini descent that precedes the final, deadly climb. Simon Yates is looking relaxed amid the field. Then Nibali goes off the front as the descent begin. Mohoric climbs to the top, and will confirm his polka dot jersey by taking the points at the summit. Van Aert, Van der Poel, Nibali and Yates sat together in a group of favourites, and they are 1’ 20 off Mohoric.

21km to go: Konrad, who has looked strong, tries to chase down the leaders, and his dig has spat Philippe Gilbert off the back of the group.

22km to go: That trio of escapees are 1’ 30” ahead of that large chasing group, which Franck Bonnamour is trying to join. Are that chasing group of Van der Poel and Van Aert just going to settle for GC positions? Nibali will be dangerous too.

Here comes the Signal d’Uchon, described by the excellent Inner Ring website thus:

a climb in three parts, first the gentle road out of Mesvres, the steady climb out of La Chapelle before a sudden descent and then the nasty surprise of a steep 1.75km, a meaningless average of 11% because it’s 6% one moment then 20% the next.

Updated

25km to go: The race is said by the ITV comms team to be 20 minutes ahead of schedule. It’s been ridden hard from the start.

Oh Nairo. It seems a long time since he was a favourite for Le Tour.

30km to go: A very loud reception for the Pogacar group, and the defending champion looks a little lonesome, with only Rafał Majka of his UAE team for company. That does not bode well for the Alps that lie ahead this weekend.

33km to go: A small crash in the Pogacar group. Ide Schelling was one of those involved but they are going too slow for it to be too drastic. Cavendish is finally back with the main group, seemingly pedalling backwards.

35km to go: Here’s that category 4 climb and the breakaway four try their best to haul themselves up the hill as they exit the city of Autun. Those in the quartet do not look too strong; Campenaerts drops off the back. The large peloton chasing down the yellow jersey group of Van der Poel are within five minutes. Van Aert and Van der Poel’s domestiques are pacing their men up the hill but then Van Aert is left alone. Patrick Konrad, the Austrian for Bora–Hansgrohe, goes off the front, and he is followed by the big guns. Then off goes Nibali, who is really enjoying himself. The gap to the trio at the front is closing fast. There’s too manpower in the chasing group to hold off. Mohoric takes the mountain points at the top to go level in the polka dot standings. He should be wearing the jersey by the end of the day.

Updated

40km to go: The next climb approaches, and that second group starts revving up to try and close the gap on the breakaway four. Vincenzo Nibali, who was expected to go home early to be ready for the Olympics, is putting himself in a good GC position.

Higher land on stage seven.
Higher land on stage seven. Photograph: Rex/Shutterstock

Updated

45km to go: All eyes on Van Der Poel and Van Aert in that chasing group about a minute behind. No move from the Pogacar group? Seems not. They are around six minutes and 30 seconds off Van Der Poel. The GC could look very different come the finish line. Stuyvens and Campenaerts have joined the two breakaway riders. Will the winner come from that group? It’s entirely possible.

50km to go: Philippe Gilbert has gone from the main group to catch up the escaping pair. Mark Cavendish has dropped back. He has the Alps to come this weekend, and on his last Tour he missed the time limit to be disqualified so energy is being preserved.

55km to go: They fly downhill for a few moments, which may spell danger though the weather conditions have removed a tad of treachery. The Signal d’Uchon, a category 2, is where the main action lies, that’s 18.1km from the finish. It was described on the Cycling News Forum thus: “consisting of 4-5 kilometers of fairly straightforward climbing to soften up the legs, a brief descent, then the final 1.8 kilometers averaging 10.6% with [bonus] seconds up top. That section alone is somewhere between the hardest climbs in the Ardennes races and Murgil Tontorra in San Sebastian.”

60km to go: Thanks, Dave. Right, into the hilly bits we go, and the gap remains at six minutes or so. Van Moer and Mohoric at the front. Van Moer fancies a breakaway this Tour, doesn’t he? He almost pulled it off on Tuesday before he was caught by the Cav train.

65km to go: Before I hand over to John Brewin, the front two are being held at around 1’10” but it’s now 07’13” back to the peloton. John will ride you up the hilly bits.

70km to go: Are Mohoric and Van Moer skipping off into the sun? Their lead extends to 1’10” but a long way to go yet.

75km to go: Mohoric and Van Moer have used the sprint for KOM points as a slingshot to slip the field. They’ve opened up a 52-second gap as the stage enters its hilly section. UAE still on the front of the peloton which is 6’12” back.

Mohoric... deux points.

KOM update: Matej Mohoric takes two KOM points at the 3rd category côte de Château-Chinon. Brent Van Moer banks the other point on offer.

Just over 85km to go and things are about to hot up.

A couple of requests coming in for full details of the breakaway. Here we go:

Van Aert, Teunissen, Van Baarle, Nibali, Skujins, Stuyven, Asgreen, Cavendish, Erviti, Cortina, Konrad, Laporte, Meurisse, Van der Poel, Cort, Schar, Godon, Kragh Andersen, Gilbert, Sweeny, Van Moer, Mohoric, Yates, Houle, Campenaerts, Bakelants, Van Poppel, Bonnamour.

In order, Van der Poel, Van Aert, Yates, Asgreen, Cort and Mohoric are considered the six most likely winners from here.

Updated

90km to go: A reminder of today’s stage map as the gap extends to 6’40”. The word on the street is that UAE are happy enough to give away five or six minutes to Nibali, who keeps bowling along in that 28-man breakaway. A reminder that Nibali is 2’55” back on the GC.

Updated

100km to go: The 28-man breakaway pulls further clear, the gap extending to 6’06”. Average speed so far: 48.8km.

That’s 13:35 BST.

Updated

The breakaway is now 5’31” clear.

Mathieu Van Der Poel, the yellow jersey, continues to be part of the breakway group.
Mathieu Van Der Poel, the yellow jersey, continues to be part of the breakway group. Photograph: Daniel Cole/AP

Updated

115m to go: 29 became 24 but it’s back up to 28 as Cavendish, van Baarle, Skujins and Godon make it back into the lead group. Guerrerio is on his own 54 seconds back while the peloton are 5’14” adrift.

If you want to check William Fotheringham’s stage-by-stage guide, it’s here.

For today’s stage 7: “In the final 50km there are two climbs long and hard enough to dislodge the sprinters.” Currently 117km to go.

125km to go: It seems that UAE have accepted their fate today. Rather than the panicked push to bring the leaders back, they now seem content to control the gap. At the front, 29 have now become 24 with Cavendish, van Baarle, Skujins, Guerreiro and Godon dropped. Cavendish’s job for the day is done so no surprise there. The gap is is hovering either side of 4’30”.

Updated

Here’s Cavendish racking up more points. He now has 168, with Jasper Philipsen way back in second on 102.

Intermediate sprint at Saint-Benin-d’Azy (km 115.4)

1. Mark Cavendish, 20 pts
2. Boy Van Poppel, 17 pts
3. Mohoric, 15 pts
4. Asgreen, 13 pts
5. van Aert, 11 pts
6. Meurisse, 10 pts
7. Gilbert, 9 pts
8. Skujins, 8 pts
9. Campenaerts, 7 pts
10. van der Poel, 6 pts
11. Bakelants, 5 pts
12. Garcia Cortina, 4 pts
13. Van Moer, 3 pts
14. Schär, 2 pts
15. Nibali, 1 pt

Updated

Cavendish wins intermediate sprint. The Manx Missile banks 20 more points in the Green Jersey battle. There was no-one in the 29 breakaway group to seriously challenge him and his lead in the points classification is extended to 66.

Intermediate sprint coming up. A nice history lesson from the official site:

Saint-Benin-d’Azy, where the intermediate sprint will be contested at km 115.4, is the municipality in which Richard Marillier grew up in the hamlet of La Ségoule. Colonel Marillier took a very active part in the Resistance in the Vercors during WW2. He became the first technical director of the French cycling federation in 1969 and headed the French national team, notably when Bernard Hinault was crowned the world champion in Sallanches in 1980. He organised two French championships in Saint-Saulge in the Nièvre department in 1990 and 1991. He remained very influential at the highest level of world cycling until he died aged 92 in Nevers in 2017.

If you like predictions...

145km to go: The gap has stabilised; in fact it’s been cut a few seconds to 4’28”. Van der Poel and Van Aert are the men most likely to win from here although Mohoric, Asgreen, Yates and Alaphilippe are all very much in the reckoning for the stage win.

155km to go: Very unusual, of course, to see the yellow jersey in a breakaway. But Van der Poel isn’t seen as a threat in the GC as he won’t last in the mountains. Tête de la course to peloton is now 4’32”.

Van der Poel and Van Aert seeing the funny side as they continue to punish the rest of the peloton. The gap: 3’54” and rising.

UAE wary of the growing gap.

The peloton on stage 7.
The peloton on stage 7. Photograph: Guillaume Horcajuelo/EPA

From a man who knows...

170km to go: UAE are having to do all the work at the front of the peloton. Eurosport commentator Sean Kelly says this is turning into a “complicated” day for them. The gap climbs over three minutes.

180km to go: Some anxiety maybe that the leading bunch (still 29 riders) contains Nibali. The 36-year-old Sicilian is made for a gruelling stage like this but, beyond today, he’s also only 2’55” down in the GC. The gap on the peloton is about to hit 2’40”.

Updated

Looks like the French weather forecasters haven’t got it quite right today. So far we’ve had headwinds or crosswinds. Meanwhile, this huge (in number) breakaway has a two-minute lead.

190km to go: The big news is that the UAE Team Emirates of Tadej Pogacar are without a rider in the front group. The gap is now around one minute 23 seconds. A long, long way to go but this is a concern.

195km to go: Tête de la course - peloton has increased to 57 seconds.

Updated

Given that temperatures are around 25 degrees, the riders will be pleased to know that there’s officially now less than 200km remaining! At the front, we have 29 escapees. They include Van der Poel, van Aert, Asgreen and Nibali.

Updated

I had a quick check of the stage 7 betting pre-race and van Aert was around 12/1 third favourite to take it. Mathieu van der Poel fronted the betting at 7/1, with Julian Alaphilippe 10/1. All three have been involved in the early skirmishes. For the record Cavendish was 400/1; that 33rd win will have to wait for now.

Updated

210km to go: The breakaway attempts continue but the peloton is reacting each time. Wout van Aert is lively but nothing doing so far.

Updated

On the subject of Cav, Andrew Benton writes: “It’s super to see Mark Cavendish back in roistering form - and aside from anything else, he’s probably the only Brit with any chance of a podium glory this year. Do you think he’ll reach or beat Merckx’s record of 34 tour stage wins this tour? It’s so brilliant that Intermarché has a team! I still remember the jingles in the supermarkets on hols with my parents in the ‘80s - vive le shopping.”

I remember too. And also the odd mix of thrill and crushing embarrassment at seeing porn videos brazenly on display near the checkout.

As for Cavendish beating Big Ed’s record, here’s the breakdown by year of his 32 stage wins so far:

2008 - 4
2009 - 6
2010 - 5
2011 - 5
2012 - 3
2013 - 2
2014 - 1
2016 - 4
2021 - 2 and counting

When he gets on a roll, Cavendish can certainly rack them up. He won’t be adding that tally today (not in the plans) but there are plenty of opportunities between now and July 18.

The green jersey, points classification:

1. Mark Cavendish (GBR) Deceuninck - Quick-Step 148
2. Jasper Philipsen (BEL) Alpecin - Fenix 102
3. Nacer Bouhanni (FRA) Team Arkéa - Samsic 99
4. Michael Matthews (AUS) Team BikeExchange 96
5. Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) Deceuninck - Quick-Step 84
6. Mathieu van der Poel (NED) Alpecin - Fenix 78
7. Peter Sagan (SVK) BORA - hansgrohe 72
8. Sonny Colbrelli (ITA) Bahrain Victorious 66
9. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates 64
10. Tim Merlier (BEL) Alpecin - Fenix 62
11. Arnaud Démare (FRA) Groupama - FDJ 51
12. Primoz Roglic (SLO) Jumbo - Visma 49
13. Michael Mørkøv (DEN) Deceuninck - Quick-Step 41
14. Cees Bol (NED) Team DSM 38
15. Wilco Kelderman (NED) BORA - hansgrohe 34
16. Ide Schelling (NED) BORA - hansgrohe 31
17. Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) Jumbo - Visma
18. Wout van Aert (BEL) Jumbo - Visma 25
19. Bauke Mollema (NED) Trek - Segafredo 22
20. Edward Theuns (BEL) Trek - Segafredo 20

A reminder of the GC standings:

1. Mathieu van der Poel (NED) Alpecin - Fenix 20:09:17
2. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates +8
3. Wout van Aert (BEL) Jumbo - Visma +30
4. Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) Deceuninck - Quick-Step +48
5. Alexey Lutsenko (KAZ) Astana - Premier Tech +1:21
6. Pierre Latour (FRA) TotalEnergies +1:28
7. Rigoberto Urán (COL) EF Education - Nippo +1:29
8. Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) Jumbo - Visma +1:43
9. Richard Carapaz (ECU) INEOS Grenadiers +1:44
10. Primoz Roglic (SLO) Jumbo - Visma +1:48
11. Kasper Asgreen (DEN) Deceuninck - Quick-Step +1:49
12. Geraint Thomas (GBR) INEOS Grenadiers +1:54
13. Wilco Kelderman (NED) BORA - hansgrohe +1:56
14. Enric Mas (ESP) Movistar Team +1:58
15. Bauke Mollema (NED) Trek - Segafredo +2:08
16. Jakob Fuglsang (DEN) Astana - Premier Tech +2:16
17. David Gaudu (FRA) Groupama - FDJ +2:35
18. Nairo Quintana (COL) Team Arkéa - Samsic +2:45
19. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA) Trek - Segafredo +2:55
20. Pello Bilbao (ESP) Bahrain Victorious +3:24

A good luck message to Tadej Pogacar from another member of Slovenian sporting royalty, Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak.

230km to go: Early attacks from Mads Pedersen, Magnus Cort, Victor Campenaerts and Harry Sweeny are quickly swept up. But Jonas Koch (Intermarché) has now gone clear.

It was another memorable afternoon for Mark Cavendish on Thursday. Here’s Jeremy Whittle’s report from stage 6 as the Manx Missile secured an incredible 32nd stage win - just two shy of Eddy Merckx’s record.

Details for stage 7. Flat for the first two thirds.

We’re away. Just those 249km to go.

Preamble

Good morning. Bonjour. Welcome to stage 7 of the Tour de France. Sport has gone into a mini time warp in recent days with Andy Murray lighting up Centre Court and Mark Cavendish winning not one but two stages of this year’s Tour de France. Hmmm, if this all seems a bit 2012 perhaps I should have a bet on Spain winning Euro 2020.

After endless fields of wheat footage yesterday and the stage 5 time-trial on Wednesday, we’re off into the hills for stage 7. Vierzon - Le Creushot measures in at a hefty 249.1km, the longest stage of this year’s race and, indeed, the longest in any TDF for 21 years. Relax, sit back and enjoy.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.