Contador blitzes clear of rival Armstrong
• Contador attack takes him above team-mate Lance Armstrong
• Fabian Cancellara loses yellow jersey to Rinaldo Nocentini
Alberto Contador’s stunning charge took him to within six seconds of the overall lead, as France’s Brice Feillu won the seventh stage of the Tour de France in a solo breakaway.
Switzerland’s Fabian Cancellara, who trailed far behind the main pack, lost the yellow jersey he had held since the opening time trial to Italy’s Rinaldo Nocentini, who was fourth, but it was Contador who laid down a marker, finishing 21 seconds ahead of his Astana team-mate Lance Armstrong.
Armstrong lies third overall, eight seconds behind Nocentini – the first Italian to wear the yellow jersey since 2000 – after the 224km trek from Barcelona to the Andorran ski resort of Arcalis, the longest stage of the Tour.
Competitors scaled the “hors catégorie” Serra-Seca pass, before the climb into Arcalis that is one of the toughest ascents in professional cycling. Riders embark on two more days in the Pyrenees before a rest day Monday.
“It’s a nice victory,” said Feillu, a 23-year-old riding in his first Tour.
Stage seven standings
1. Brice Feillu, 6h 11′ 31″
2. Christophe Kern, 6h 11′ 36″ + 00′ 05″
3. Johannes Fröhlinger, 6h 11′ 56″ + 00′ 25″
4. Rinaldo Nocentini, 6h 11′ 57″ + 00′ 26″
5. Egoi Martinez, 6h 12′ 16″ + 00′ 45″
6. Christophe Riblon, 6h 12′ 36″ + 01′ 05″
7. Jérôme Pineau, 6h 14′ 03″ + 02′ 32″
8. José Ivan Gutierrez, 6h 14′ 45″ + 03′ 14″
9. Alberto Contador, 6h 14′ 57″ + 03′ 26″
10. Cadel Evans, 6h 15′ 18″ + 03′ 47″
11. Andy Schleck, 6h 15′ 18″ + 03′ 47″
12. Bradley Wiggins, 6h 15′ 18″ + 03′ 47″
13. Frank Schleck, 6h 15′ 18″ + 03′ 47″
14. Levi Leipheimer, 6h 15′ 18″ + 03′ 47″
15. Lance Armstrong, 6h 15′ 18″ + 03′ 47″
16. Tony Martin, 6h 15′ 18″ + 03′ 47″
17. Denis Menchov, 6h 15′ 18″ + 03′ 47″
18. Carlos Sastre, 6h 15′ 18″ + 03′ 47″
19. Vladimir Karpers, 6h 15′ 18″ + 03′ 47″
20. Christian Vande Velde, 6h 15′ 18″ + 03′ 47″
