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Tour de France update on Stage 7

Stage 7 was Lun?ville to Karlsruhe, Germany for a distance of 228.5km.

This year, the points race is proving to be exciting but is about to take backstage for the overall lead - and the polka dot jersey - as the race enters the mountains. It shouldn`t prove to be anything too hard for the main General Classification contenders, at least not until Wednesday`s unbelievably cruel up-and-up-and-up stage. With Alexandre Vinokourov and Ivan Basso each within 90 seconds of six-time champ Lance Armstrong, by Wednesday afternoon we all should have a generally good idea who will win this year`s Tour, after the expected battle up three incredibly tough climbs in the Alps...does Lance have it in him is the question on most spectator`s minds these days.

As you`ve probably surmised, Stage 7 is the last flat stage for a while. Robbie McEwen has been trying to stay in the race for green, and with another great finish has so far gotten exactly what he wanted. Tom Boonen crashed early on in the stage, but he managed to only lose eight points off his advantage over McEwen, while increasing his lead over Thor Hushovd of Norway and Team Credit Agricole. It ain`t over yet.