Director’s report from Johnny Weltz
The stage was totaly flat except the final where there was a third category climb and then a second category climb on the menu for the end of the day!
It all started on the flat with a group of 17 riders taking off, we had Martijn Maaskant in there. But it didn’t get a chance to live long, so a lot of smaller attacks went afterward. Finally after 50 kilometers a group of four riders took off, which made a lot of work for the whole field as it was four dangerous riders.
Once they had five minutes on the field the chase started and kept the group in line. As we were getting closer to the finish the teams started to get their climbers into position so the speed picked up considerably. The group came back with 14 kilometers to go and a lot of movement took place in the front.
Christian Vande Velde was very active and seems to feel very well. We also had Ryder Hesjedal and Tom Danielson up there in the front group and specifically Ryder was very close to the action all the way up the climb and seems to get better every day. Martijn did a solid team job and has recovered from his stomach bug. And all in all the team has become better and better together passing the days and getting closer to the action in the front.
Team Garmin-Slipstream, stage 7 results
1. Kim Kirchen 4h56.41
17. Ryder Hesjedal +0.13
18. Tom Danielson
35. Christian Vande Velde +0.57
71. Martijn Maaskant +2.27
93. Cameron Meyer +5.14
126. Huub Duyn +14.23
132. Chris Sutton
134. Will Frischkorn
Team Garmin-Slipstream, GC results
1. Tadej Valjavec 28h07.15
24. Ryder Hesjedal +3.02
26. Tom Danielson +3.08
50. Cameron Meyer +8.35
99. Huub Duyn +35.02
105. Christian Vande Velde +36.30
131. Will Frischkorn +52.12
128. Chris Sutton +57.23
133. Martijn Maaskant +59.14
