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Tour de France - Bourg-en-Bresse - Le Grand-Bornand

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  1. 16:16 - As riders continue to come in, we're concluding our LIVE coverage! Stay with us tomorrow though for stage eight, as thing continue to heat up with two more stages in the Alps!

  2. 16:14 - Paolo Savoldelli has lost a good seven minutes, as he crosses over at 10'14" behind Gerdemann and is nearly seven minutes behind his Astana team-mate Andreas Kloeden in the GC.

  3. 16:12 - Gerdemann is the yellow jersey at 1'24" in front of Landaluze, who is now second in the GC. Andreas Kloeden in sixth is still the best of the favourites at 3'39" off pace.

  4. 16:06 - De la Fuente crosses in third at 1'42" down. Laurent Lefevre is the first of the Frenchman in fifth, coming in right after Barloworld's Juan Mauricio Soler Hernandez.

  5. 0km - No French win on Bastille Day, as Linus Gerdemann takes a magnificent stage win a full 42 seconds in front of second-place Inigo Landaluze!

  6. 2km - Gerdemann does not turn 25-years-old until September 16, and the young-gun will certainly claim the young rider's classification with this win, as his lead over Landaluze is 36 seconds and his margin over the peloton is 3'25".

  7. 3km - Linus Gerdemann has even got the weather in his favour, as a slight tail-wind pushes him toward the finish line at Le Grand-Bornand. This will be the biggest day of the German's career.

  8. 6km - Caisse D'Epargne team leader Alejandro Valverde has moved to the front of the peloton, but Linus Gerdemann looks very much in control and very much headed to a surprise stage win and both the yellow and white jersey! Slyvain Chavanel will maintain his polka-dot jersey while Michael Rasmussen picks up some points to move into fifth in the mountains classification.

  9. 8km - Here are the points totals back from the summit of the COL DE LA COLOMBIERE: 1st. Gerdemann = 30pts; 2nd. Landaluze = 26pts. 3rd. De La Fuente 22pts.

  10. 10km - Blazing down the descent now, Linus Gerdemann has to try to hold off the chasing pack, but mainly Inigo Landaluze. This would be a big win for T-Mobile, who did not do much in the opening week.

  11. 13km - Michael Rasmussen goes off of the front of the main bunch, and leads the peloton over the summit at exactly 3'01" behind the leader Linus Gerdemann. The main group follows at about 20 seconds behind.

  12. 14km - Gerdemann is over the top of the summit! And Landaluze is just 18 seconds behind him.....

  13. 15km - Gerdemann almost ran into a parked motorbike! That was a close call, but the German still looks very likely to take the mountain points at the very least, and possibly even the stage! Landaluze receives a hefty shove from a heftier fan, dressed entirely in Euskaltel's orange colours. That man, shaped like an over-sized parking cone, needs to get on the bike himself, and not be shoving real cyclists around.

  14. 15km - Vladimir Karpets and Caisse D'Epargne are really pushing things up front now.... The main challengers for the GC all staying in contention though, as none of the really big names have cracked yet.

  15. 16 - De la Fuente, a polka-dot jersey at the beginning of last year's Tour, has been dropped by Landaluze, who is attacking the leader Gerdemann on his own. The Spaniard is 31 seconds off pace, and the peloton is just 4'20" back now.

  16. 16.7k - Alejandro Valverde's Caisse D'Epargne have just taken over the work at the front from Rabobank, but Michael Rasmussen stays at the front.

  17. 17km - We're still waiting for that move from Denis Menchov and Michael Rasmussen, as Rabobank continue to press at the front of main bunch, but have not launched a true attack just yet.

  18. 18km - Paolo Savoldelli, who rode in the lead group for much of the day, is really slipping now. The once-great climber has suffered this year, finishing a poor 12th in the Giro D'Italia, a race he won two times.

  19. 18.5k - Two kilometres to go for Linus Gerdemann, whose lead over the peloton is now 4'50". Fofonov is about to be caught by Landaluze and de la Fuente, and the duo will pass the Credit Agricole rider who is completely busted.

  20. 19km - Landaluze and de la Fuente are chasing Gerdemann, who is looking very good on his own.

  21. 19km - A strong climber Inigo Cuesta is being dropped as Rabobank continue to up the pace, led by Juan Antonio Flecha.

  22. 20km - Another Barloworld rider goes off of the main bunch as Kanstantsin Siutsou left on his own a couple of kilometres ago, and now one of his team-mate's is trying to join him up the road. A trio of Rabobank riders continue to up the pace, with some T-Mobile guys right behind them.

  23. 20km - Linus Gerdemann is not pleased with the Kazakh Fofonov's pace, and takes off on his own. The T-Mobile rider wants those 30 mountain points and perhaps more pertinently a possible stage victory.....

  24. 21km - The peloton is 4'49 back, while the two leaders Gerdemann and Fofonov have almost taken a minute off some of their former escape companions. About 6-km left in this climb.

  25. 23km - The lead has dropped to about four and a half minutes as we haven't seen any real attacks from the back.

  26. 24.5k - Four from Rabobank riding at the front of the peloton now, with Thomas Dekker and Michael Rasmussen right there. Neither of the Astana favourites, Andreas Kloeden and Alexandre Vinokourov, are near the front of that main bunch. Both Vino and Kloeden suffered crashes and injuries on Thursday's fifth stage in a rough day for the Kazakh team.

  27. 25.5k - Gerdemann and Fofonov have gone off on their own with 11 kilometres left in this climb. The German Gerdemann is another very dangerous rider.

  28. 26.5k - Fofofonov has joined the trio up front, and this is some strong riding by our leaders.... Up for grabs at the top of the Col de la Colombiere are 30 points in the mountain classifications.

  29. 27km - Sylvain Calzati attacks from the peloton, and the Frenchman will try to bridge the gap up to the leaders.

  30. 27km - Jose Ivan Gutierrez, Linus Gerdemann and David de la Fuente have taken the lead at the front of the escape group, while men like Fabian Cancellara, Tom Boonen, and Bradley Wiggins are all falling off of the back.......

  31. 28km - At the foot of the climb the lead has fallen to 4'09" and dropping......

  32. 32km - The lead group arrive at Scionzier, and will soon be at the foot of the day's climax and the first major climb of this year's Tour: the Cat. 1 Col de la Colombière, with an average gradient of 6,8% over a distance of 16km.

  33. 33km - The gap is down to 5'15" as the movement at the front of the lead group calms down with Tankink and Perez staying with their co-escapees. The peloton is not making any moves, and could be waiting until the climactic Col de la Colombiere before trying to break things up. With Michael Rasmussen and several other excellent climbers up front, this would be a mistake for anybody who is seeking a stage win.

  34. 37-km - Ruben Perez tries to up the pace at the front of the break-away, but nobody is really following his lead as the Spaniard is constantly checking to see if he's going to get any help on an escape attempt..... And finally Bram Tankink goes onto bridge the 15-metre gap between Perez and the leaders and things could start to get interesting....

  35. 41km - REMEMBER! You can watch the rest of this stage LIVE on British Eurosport or Eurosport International, or you can listen to LIVE AUDIO online by clicking on the "Live audio" link in the video-box on the right-hand side of the homepage.

  36. 45km - It's still Cancellara's CSC and Cadel Evans' Predictor at the front of the peloton. The main bunch arrives in the valley of Bonneville (literally good-town) in the Haute-Savoie region of France. The infamous Mont Blanc is also located in this department of France.

  37. 51km - While Robbie McEwen (Predictor) has again rejoined the peloton after a bit of climbing trouble, Cancellara (CSC) has not had any repeat worries of his own, instead moving to the front of the peloton to try to secure his yellow jersey. The Swiss rider has dropped his role as individual star and is starting to work for his CSC team now. It's very unlikely that Cancellara will be in the yellow jersey at the end of the day.

  38. 54km - Savoldelli (Astana) and his co-escapees will take advantage of this descent for a nice little "break." The Italian, known as the falcon for his downhill abilities, of course moves to the front of the lead-group.

  39. 59km - The peloton is pushing things too hard, but the lead of the 15-man-group is steady at 6'35".

  40. 63km - COTE PENGUIN: 1. De La Fuente (3pts) 2. Lefevre (2pts) 3. Fofonov (1pt)

  41. 64km - Danilo Napolitano, Robbie McEwen, Romain Feillu, an Sebastien (not Sylvain) Chavanel are struggling, but working together, at the back of the peloton.

  42. 66km - Two kilometres from the summit of the day's third climb, the Côte Penguin (Cat 4): an ascent of 4,1% for about 4km.

  43. 71km - Fabian Cancellara, who was dropped out of the peloton on that climb, has been brought back into the fold by his CSC team-mates. Predictor-Lotto still working at the front of the peloton.

  44. 75km - De La Fuente (Saunier Duval) attacks near the top, and takes the points at the summit of the Côte de Cruseilles. That's 4pts for the Spaniard in the mountain's classifications. He was followed by the two Frenchman Lefevre (3pts) and Vaugrenard (2pts), then the Spaniard Perez (1pt).

  45. 76km - The leaders on the last kilometre of the Côte de Cruseilles, as the lead goes back up to: 6'10".

  46. 77km - Puncture for Patix Vila (Lampre).

  47. 78km - Just three kilometres left in this climb. The sprinters are all being dropped again.

  48. 80km - Interestingly enough there are six Spaniards in this break-away group.

  49. 82km - The escapees are now at the foot of the Côte de Cruseilles, today's second climb. Their lead over the peloton has dropped to 5'30".

  50. 85km - COMPOSITION OF THE 15-MAN LEAD GROUP: Gerdemann (T-Mobile), Landaluze, Perez (Euskaltel), Fofonov (Crédit Agricole), Martinez (Discovery)), Pineau, Lefèvre (Bouygues), Vaugrenard (FDJeux), De la Fuente (Saunier Duval), Gutierrez (Caisse d'Epargne), Flecha (Rabobank),Tankink (Quickstep), Savoldelli (Astana), Wegmann (Gerolsteiner), and Elminger (A2R).

  51. 87km - Slowly but surely the lead drops: 6'30".

  52. 89km - The escapees about to reach the foot of the Côte de Cruseilles, Cat. 3, with a 7,1km at 4,4%. After that follows the Cat. 4 Côte Peguin.

  53. 92km - The gap drops to seven minutes as the leaders approach the feed zone at Les Bonnets.

  54. 97km - CSC join Predictor at the front of the peloton. The two teams are controlling this escape-group nicely, and have cut the lead down to (7'28").

  55. 98km - Australian sprinter Robbie McEwen (Predictor-Lotto) has had to changes bikes and is trying to find his way back into the peloton after apparently puncturing. McEwen, of course, is looking to defend the green jersey he won last year once we get a few more flat sprint stages starting again on Wednesday after three days in the Alps and a rest day. Right now McEwen lies a lowly sixth in the points race on 97 pts (despite a stage one win), a full 51 pts behind current green jersey Tom Boonen.

  56. 99km - The average speed in the second hour of racing was 47,5km/h. The tempo has picked up quite a bit from the opening hour's pace of 40,9km/h.

  57. 100km - The peloton has just crossed the Rhone, one of Europe's major rivers and of course one of the fine whine producing regions of France.

  58. 102km - Carlos Sastre (CSC), fourth-place in last year's GC, has just called for the medical car...

  59. 106km - The lead has stabalised between 8' and 8'30". Predictor is staying at the front of the peloton, refusing to let the margin get any bigger.

  60. 13:19 - Always lots of history at the Tour. Today's stage passed through Culoz, the home-town of Henry Dunant, the founder of the Red Cross. He created the world's most famous humanitarian organisation in response to the his experiences witnessing Italy's battle of Solferino when 38,000 injured, dead or dying men were left to lie on the battlefield after it was all over (1859).

  61. 111km - SPRINT - ANGLEFORT (KM 86): Linus Gerdemann accelerated at 500 metres from the line to pocket the 6 pts and 6" bonus. He takes it from Landaluze (4 pts/4") and Tankink (2 pts/2").

  62. 118km - The lead is steady at 8'23" as Predictor-Lotto continues to push the peloton. With the sprint coming very shortly, Predictor are more likely carrying the load for team leader Cadel Evans then for sprint-stud Robbie McEwen.

  63. 121km - As we approach the second intermediate sprint at Anglefort, the peloton finally starts to get their collective butts in gear. Predictor Lotto up the pace at the front, working hard for Robbie McEwen.

  64. 124km - With the peloton in a hesitant mood, the gap widens to 7'21".

  65. 128km - Jérôme Pineau (Bouygues), Fabian Wegmann (Gerolsteiner), and Martin Elminger (AG2R) have caught the leaders! The addition of this trio makes this an incredibly interesting escape group, and the lead is up to a full six minutes. Lots of climbers in this bunch, and lots of contenders for the polka-dot jersey, but the favourite Michael Rasmussen could very well dominate on the three approaching climbs as long as the escape bunch can stay away.

  66. 130km - Enrico Degano (Barloworld) has abandoned this race, leaving 180 riders left.

  67. 135km - Jose Ivan Gutierrez (Esp, Caisse D'Epargne) , Juan Antonio Flecha (Esp, Rabobank), and Bram Tankink (Ned, Quick Step) have all finally joined the leaders. A second chase group has developed though, as the trio of Martin Elminger, Fabian Wegmann, and Jerome Pineau, are all within 40 seconds of the leaders. The peloton is still a full 5'10" off pace.

  68. 139km - The yellow jersey Fabian Cancellara is really suffering, as his deficit on the leaders has reached a full five minutes. At the very least the prologue and stage three winner has rejoined the peloton, who are yielding tons of ground to the escapees.

  69. 141 - The leaders have gone through a series of non-categorised climbs including the Col de la Berche, and the Col de la Lebe. Tom Boonen had to really fight in order to get back near the main group along with fellow sprinter Robbie McEwen.

  70. 144km - Though race radio indicated that Jose Ivan Gutierrez, Juan Antonio Flecha, and Bram Tankink all bridged the gap, they are still chasing the leaders, though the trio are within striking distance.

  71. 147km - LEAD GROUP COMPOSITION: Linus Gerdemann (Ger, T-Mobile), Inigo Landaluze (Esp, Euskaltel), Ruben Perez (Esp, Euskaltel), Dmitriy Fofonov (Kaz, Credit Agricole), Egoi Martinez (Esp, Discovery), Laurent Lefevre (Fra, Bouygues Telecom), Benoit Vaugrenard (Fra, Francaise des Jeux),Paolo Savoldelli (Ita, Astana), David de la Fuente (Esp, Saunier Duval),

  72. 150km - Yellow jersey Fabian Cancellara already starting to suffer, is a full 1'30" behind the leaders and trails the peloton by about a minute.

  73. 153km - The front-group starting to build a bit of a gap, actually, take about a 30-second advantage, with a second chase group of Jose Ivan Gutierrez, Juan Antonion, Flecha, and Bram Tankink developing at 18 seconds back.

  74. 157km - David De La Fuente, who held the polka-dot jersey for a couple of early stages last year, does not want to miss out on the chance for some more mountain points, and he bridges the gap to the escape group.

  75. 158km - Fofonov (Crédit Agricole), Vaugrenard (FDJeux), and Savoldelli (Astana) have joined the escape. With the danger-man Savoldelli joining the attack, the chances of the peloton allowing a successful escape have become even slimmer.

  76. 160km - A small group is trying to parlay that the end of that last Cat. 3 climb into an escape. Laurent Lefevre (Bouygues) takes the lead with Rasmussen. The peloton is not going to let this group get anywhere.

  77. 162km - SUMMIT of the COTE DE CORLIER: 1st. Rasmussen (Rabobank) 4pts; 2nd. Verdugo (Euskaltel) 3pts; 3rd. Sy.Chavanel(Cofidis) 2pts; 4th. Paulinho (Discovery) 1pt. Michael Rasmussen already starting to put a dent in Sylvain Chavanel's polka-dot jersey lead.

  78. 163km - Rasmussen (Rabobank) and Verdugo (Euskaltel) leave the peloton! The dangerous climbing duo take a 12-second lead. At the back of the pack, yellow jersey Fabian Cancellara (CSC) is being dropped. The summit of the Côte de Corlier nears...

  79. 164km - New escape, made up of about 12 riders, has managed to take a six-second lead, after instantly being brought back into the peloton. Sy.Chavanel and De La Fuente (Saunier Duval) urged the early move.

  80. 170km - The riders start to ascend the Côte de Corlier. Sylvain Chavanel (Cofidis) tried to attack, but the Frenchman was quickly drawn back into the fold.

  81. 174km - The escape is quickly caught as the peloton picks up the pace. We're nearing the first climb of today's opening Alpine stage, the Côte de Corlier (cat.3), with 6km of climbing at an average gradient of 5,3%.

  82. 176km - First real escape! About 15 riders go off under the urging of Marcus Burghardt (T-Mobile): Jose Garcia Acosta (Caisse d'Epargne), Christian Vandevelde (CSC), Stéphane Goubert (Ag2r), Inigo Landaluze (Euskaltel), Paolo Bossini (Lampre), Patrice Halgand (Crédit Agricole), George Hincapie (Discovery), Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues), Stéphane Augé, Staf Scheirlinckx (Cofidis), Frederik Willems (Liquigas), Phillipe Gilbert, Benoît Vaugrenard (FDJeux), Juan Garate (Quickstep), and Felix ardenas (Barloworld).

  83. 180km - Surprise, surprise. Tom Boonen takes the first intermediate sprint at the Pont-d'Ain bridge, and adds 6pts and 6" to his green jersey margin. Erik Zabel (Milram), who is chasing the Belgian in the green jersey race, is second in the sprint claiming 4pts and 4". Status quo at the head of the points classification. Daniele Bennati (Lampre), 3rd in this sprint, earns 2pts and 2".

  84. 182km - Quick Step is taking control of the peloton to set up the sprint for green jersey Tom Boonen, who is looking for the bonus points and to solidify his hold on the points lead. When asked by Eurosport this morning if he could finally survive an entire Tour de France to retain the green jersey, the 2005 world champion was coy, saying "You never know, you never know. Last year I was feeling good then I got sick, then you go three or four days and the light goes out. So I'll take it day-by-day and try to defend as many points as possible."

  85. 188km - Two riders have had a go at leaving the peloton. One Agritubel man, who wanted to escape, went off but was quickly caught. Then Italy's Alessandro Ballan (Lampre) tried to go off alone in an effort to steal the sprint bonus. He was caught after a few seconds.

  86. 194 - The peloton is still bunched closely together. We might not see a break until after the opening intermediate sprint of Pont D'Ain at km 16,5 with the green jersey contenders looking to get a few cheap points.

  87. 197.5 - And after the imaginary start was given at noon, ten minutes later the real start is given! Ruben Lobato of Saunier Duval joins Oscar Freire in not starting today's long day in the saddle, including a Cat. 1 climb the Col de Colombiere with the summit coming with just 14 kilometres left to ride.

  88. 11:00 - AND THEY'RE OFF! A great stage is set, Bastille Day, the first day in the Alps, and a perfectly sunny trip at the Tour de France! Stay with us for every moment LIVE!

  89. 10:59 - The news is that triple world champion Oscar Freire has given up his quest for stage wins, not taking his start in today's mountain stage and abandoning the race.

  90. 10:56 - WELCOME TO LIVE COVERAGE OF STAGE SEVEN: Of this year's Tour de France, as we bring you every second LIVE! The riders are moments from taking the start to this 197.5 km stage, as the real race for the yellow jersey begins with Le Tour entering the Alps!