59th Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré - PT

France, June 10-17, 2007

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Stage 7 - June 17: Valloire - Annecy, 129km

Live commentary by Bjorn Haake

Live coverage starts: 15:30 CEST
Estimated finish: 17:30 CEST

Complete live report

15:36 CEST    63km/66km to go
Bienvenue at the Cyclingnews live coverage of the final stage of the Dauphiné Libéré.
Today's stage is short at only 129 kilometres. But Christophe Moreau, the leader in the overall, will not be able to leisurely ride home. His 14 second advantage over Cadel Evan could easily be wiped by the Australian on the cat 1 climb of the Col de la Forclaz, which is located only 18 kilometres from the finish.

15:45 CEST   
For a while the peloton rode at 50+ km/h to reduce the advantage of the eight guys in front. As the lead got down to 2' the field let up a bit and the advantage is growing again. It is currently 2'13"

15:48 CEST    70km/59km to go
We are about 15 kilometres from the Col de Tamié, a cat 2 climb that is 6.5 kilometres long and has an average gradient of 6.5%

The peloton has stopped chasing and the advantage of the eight in front is now at 2'45

15:49 CEST   
The group in the front consists of
Egoi Martínez (Spa) Discovery Channel,
Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Gerolsteiner,
Maxim Iglinsky (Kaz) Astana,
Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Française Des Jeux,
Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Liquigas,
Kevin Seeldraeyers (Bel) Quickstep-Innergetic,
Enrico Franzoi (Ita) Lampre-Fondital,
Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole

15:54 CEST   
Yes, Thor Hushovd. He is apparently trying to avoid a sprint at all costs. He also hasn't one yet this year.

15:57 CEST    78km/51km to go
Euskaltel and Milram are pulling the field.

16:03 CEST    82km/47km to go
The front group is at the bottom of the climb of the Col de Tamié with an advantage of 2'50".

16:06 CEST   
Boonen is dropping off the peloton.

16:10 CEST    83km/46km to go
Boonen was in a break the other day. Today it is Hushovd. The sprinters are really at it during this year's Dauphiné.

16:14 CEST   
We'll keep an eye on the Tour de Suisse as well. The field, controlled by CSC, was mostly together. But just now Pascal Hungerbühler has attacked and he now has a lead of 1'30, approximately 80 kilometres from the finish.

16:19 CEST   
During the Col de Col de Tamié four riders have attacked out of the front group. They are: Martínez, Iglinskiy, Seeldraeyers and Gilbert.

16:22 CEST    88km/41km to go
The four manage to stay ahead of the other breakaway companions. Over the top it is Belgian Philippe Gilbert who precedes the other three.

16:26 CEST   
The group of four is now ahead of the other four of the original 8-man breakaway by 35"

16:29 CEST   
The peloton is two minutes behind the front group.

16:31 CEST    98km/31km to go
Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Gerolsteiner, Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Liquigas, Enrico Franzoi (Ita) Lampre-Fondital and Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole has managed to ride back up to the four leaders.

16:33 CEST   
The Col de la Forclaz is looming. It is about another 5 kilometres before the climb starts.

16:35 CEST    103km/26km to go
Seeldraeyers has attacked out of the front group.

The peloton is coming closer with Euskaltel doing most of the work.

16:36 CEST   
Levi Leipheimer is riding near the front of the main group. He looks like he is feeling better today. Moreau is near the front as well.

16:37 CEST   
Laurent Lefèvre of Bouygues Telecom has caught up the front group just when they merged again to an 8-man group. He counters the attack of Seeldraeyers and is now leading the race.

16:38 CEST   
Bernhard Kohl in his Austrian championship jersey is near the front of the peloton.

16:39 CEST   
Turpin is now making the pace for his leader, while Martínez is just being caught. He was one of the eight in the front.

16:39 CEST   
Contador of Discovery Channel attacks on the climb!

16:40 CEST    105km/24km to go
This acceleration has now affects on the peloton, which breaks up into little groups. Di Gregorio, the mountain leader, also has trouble following.

16:42 CEST   
Kohl and Casar are in the group with Di Gregorio, well distanced already.
Piepoli is with the group of Moreau. Contador is brought back.

16:43 CEST   
Lefèvre is out of the saddle and gives it his all to stay ahead of the chasers.

Contador attacks again.

16:44 CEST   
But Piepoli leads the group maillot jaune back up to the Discovery rider.

16:45 CEST    106km/23km to go
Lefèvre has not much of an advantage any more and will be caught as the Moreau group is now going very fast

16:46 CEST   
David Zabriskie is in the group as well.

16:48 CEST   
For the moment no info on Cadel Evans.

16:51 CEST   
It has started to rain. The road is now really steep. Menchov and Evans are in the group.

Iglinsky, who rode another superb race, has to pay for his efforts, and drops back.

16:54 CEST    110km/19km to go
Vino in green is riding behind Moreau in yellow. The Frenchman gets a lot of "bravo" calls from the spectators. It's nice to race at home.

16:55 CEST   
Leipheimer is in the front group as well.

16:56 CEST   
The group goes over the top of the last mountain in the race. They can see the Lac d'Annecy below.

16:58 CEST    112km/17km to go
The descent is treacherous as it had started to rain when the riders were in the last kilometres of the uphill. When the road just started to get wet it's always the worst.

16:59 CEST   
Piepoli doesn't care. He is imitating Savoldelli and almost passes the motorbike.

17:00 CEST   
He has to slow down a bit in a left hand bend and then there is a little rise. No fun when you are supposed to be on a downhill.

17:03 CEST   
Piepoli is still slightly ahead of the main group, which includes Moreau, Evans, Leipheimer, Menchov, Vinokourov, Contador,

17:04 CEST   
They are done with the descent and Contador lifts the pace. Piepoli is still a few hundred metres ahead. But it'll be tough for him with a dozen people chasing.

17:04 CEST   
Evans attacks!!!

17:05 CEST   
His last chance to change the outcome of this race.

17:06 CEST   
But he is immediately brought back. Menchov counters and catches up with Piepoli.

17:07 CEST   
Menchov blasts by Piepoli. The Italian tries very, very hard and eventually reaches the Russian's back wheel.

17:07 CEST    122km/7km to go
Behind them three try to bridge, including Vino. But they get caught.

17:08 CEST    123km/6km to go
Menchov and Piepoli have sat up. Leipheimer counters!

17:09 CEST   
This could be the move, as the others now look at each other. The typical last minute race tactics develop. Who will try to bring back the American?

17:09 CEST    124km/5km to go
It's raining hard and Levi looks determined.

17:10 CEST   
Vinokourov decides to bring back Levi. It'll be touch and go.

Levi crashes!

17:12 CEST   
Just when we wanted to say he masters a round about he actually didn't. The road is just too wet now and round abouts in a race aren't fun even when it's dry.

17:12 CEST    126km/3km to go
Vino has to avoid the American's bicycle on the ground, but is now ahead of the others.

17:13 CEST   
The lake is to his left. Levi is rejoining the group, which has lost their momentum.

17:14 CEST   
Vino has a green jersey and yellow helmet straps. They are so loose the helmet won't help much in a crash. But he does not plan to imitate Levi.

17:15 CEST    128km/1km to go
Vino enters the last kilometre by himself. Moreau is only trying to control Evans.

17:15 CEST   
Vino has a teammate to control the break behind.

17:15 CEST   
And Vino lifts his arms as he crosses the line!!!

17:16 CEST   
the sprint for second starts

17:17 CEST   
Moreau crosses the lines with his arms up in the 12 -man group. He has won the 59th edition of the Dauphiné Libéré!

17:26 CEST   
Thanks for joining us at the live coverage of this year's Dauphiné Libéré. We hope you enjoyed it and will be back next Thursday for the decisive stages of the Tour de Suisse.

Check out the results, photos and full reports later on our website.

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