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United States | Midwest | Ohio >> Cummings storms to stage seven success at the Tour De France as Flamme Rouge Collapses on the Peleton

Cummings storms to stage seven success at the Tour De France as Flamme Rouge Collapses on the Peleton

Britain's Steve Cummings left his big-name rivals trailing as he stormed to victory in stage seven of the Tour de France in the Pyrennes.

Hot on the heels of his solo win on stage 7 at the Dauphine, Steve Cummings burst clear prior to the ascent up the daunting Col d'Aspin and continued to extend his lead before easing over the finish line in Lac de Payolle. It was the second stage win of the Tour de France for the Team Dimension Data rider, who also claimed victory in stage 14 in July last year.

Belgian Greg Van Avarmeet was fifth on the stage, 3'04 behind Cummings to retain the leader's yellow jersey. Daryl Impey out-sprinted Daniel Navarro to take second place, while Belgium's Greg Van Avermaet extended his overall race lead to six minutes and 36 seconds over Julian Alaphilippe after sprinting clear of the peloton.

Flamme Rouge Attacks

But the race was marred by a bizarre incident when the inflatable banner marking one kilometre to go collapsed on top of a number of riders, leaving Team Orica's Adam Yates with a facial injury.

Cummings, a team-mate of Mark Cavendish who has already won two stages this year, said: "I'm ecstatic for the team - it's fantastic to race with Mark who is a such a legend and it was a brilliant day." "I managed to give it everything to the top of the Aspin and I knew the race had really finished before I got to there. Success breeds success and Cav's a winner. There's a really good atmosphere in the team - we're all winners and we know that anyone in the team is capable of winning stages." Cummings responded.

Cummings, who set off solo to catch the lead group and went on to take the intermediate sprint as he forged into the lead.

The initial 10-rider chase group, including the likes of Vincenzo Nibali, soon dwindled to five as the pace set by Cummings, who crested the top of the Col d'Aspin with a minute lead, began to bite. Navarro briefly dropped Nibali and Impey as he continued to give chase while Van Avermaet settled for sticking ahead of the peloton, which was to be further hampered by the unusual events close to the finish line.

Stage 7, Top 10

1. Stephen CUMMINGS, DIMENSION DATA, in 3:51:58
2. Daryl IMPEY, ORICA-BIKEEXCHANGE, at 1:05
3. Daniel NAVARRO GARCIA, COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS, at 1:05
4. Vincenzo NIBALI, ASTANA PRO TEAM, at 2:14
5. Greg VAN AVERMAET, BMC RACING TEAM, at 3:04
6. Luis Angel MATE MARDONES, COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS, at 4:29
7. Geraint THOMAS, TEAM SKY, at 4:29
8. Wout POELS, TEAM SKY, at 4:29
9. Gorka IZAGUIRRE INSAUSTI, MOVISTAR TEAM, at 4:29
10. Alejandro VALVERDE BELMONTE, MOVISTAR TEAM, at 4:29

Top-10 Overall

1. Greg VAN AVERMAET, BMC RACING TEAM, in 34:13:40
2. Julian ALAPHILIPPE, ETIXX – QUICK STEP, at 6:36
3. Alejandro VALVERDE BELMONTE, MOVISTAR TEAM, at 6:38
4. Joaquin RODRIGUEZ OLIVER, TEAM KATUSHA, at 6:39
5. Christopher FROOME, TEAM SKY, at 6:42
6. Nairo Alexander QUINTANA ROJAS, MOVISTAR TEAM, at 6:42
7. Warren BARGUIL, TEAM GIANT – ALPECIN, at 6:42
8. Pierre ROLLAND, CANNONDALE-DRAPAC, at 6:42
9. Daniel MARTIN, ETIXX – QUICK STEP, at 6:42
10. Fabio ARU, ASTANA PRO TEAM, at 6:42