Postpublished at 15:21 British Summer Time 11 July 2014
Elmiger and Huzarski have made a break from the escapees. They are 55 seconds clear of the peloton. The other four have been left in no-mans land.
Summary
Italy's Matteo Trentin wins stage 7 from Epernay to Nancy
Slovakia's Peter Sagan beaten by inches in sprint finish
Vincenzo Nibali remains in race leader's yellow jersey
Geraint Thomas and Simon Yates only GB riders left
Postpublished at 15:21 British Summer Time 11 July 2014
Get involvedpublished at 15:16 British Summer Time 11 July 2014
Alan in Glasgow, via text on 81111: Sagan is never going to be a GC rider. He is Cancellara's successor but with more all round ability. Green jersey, classics and all round complete rider. But mountain goat and GC tactician he aint.
Oscar F, via text on 81111: Why aren't the remaining Sky guys riding together more on the stages?
Postpublished at 15:13 British Summer Time 11 July 2014
Cannondale's directeur sportif Stefano Zanatta has been on French TV during the race.
He said: "With two small climbs, the finale is good for Peter Sagan. That's why we do all the work at the head of the peloton. We have taken the responsibilities because we have the best team. I hope that Peter will win. He had a good night after his crash yesterday. He doesn't suffer. He's got the strength and the personality for finishing it off today."
Postpublished at 15:12 British Summer Time 11 July 2014
We have just 50km of today's marathon stage remaining. Cannondale continue to lead the peloton, they have put in a massive effort today - the pressure will be mounting on Peter Sagan to deliver.
Postpublished at 15:10 British Summer Time 11 July 2014
Rob Hatch is reporting that, for the first time since they arrived in France, the sun is starting to peak through the clouds. Not that you'd know it from the sunflower fields - all the plants are heads bowed.
The roads are dry though, which will be a huge relief to the riders. A couple of the Astana riders take the scenic route, chancing their arms on the dusty edge of the road, trying to make up a few places in the peloton. A couple of Sky riders look across and chuckle at their efforts before moving aside to let them back onto the much-safer asphalt.
Postpublished at 15:06 British Summer Time 11 July 2014
Image source, Tim PeachOn their way to the finish line today, my radio colleagues passed this wonderful-looking fountain and thought you'd like to see it too.
Postpublished at 15:01 British Summer Time 11 July 2014
BBC Radio 5 live sports extraLive commentary is just getting going with Rob Hatch and Rob Hayles. Click the link at the top of the page to listen.
Postpublished at 14:59 British Summer Time 11 July 2014
Team Sky: , externalGreat to see @Petekennaugh take 3rd on stage 6 of the Tour of Austria and extend his overall lead to 1min 2sec with 2 stages to go!
Postpublished at 14:57 British Summer Time 11 July 2014
The guys out front look to have given up. They know they are the bait and the catch is imminent. But Nicolas Edet is not having any of this dillying or dallying. He is off. And there is no response from the other five.
Edet, the Cofidis rider, doesn't get too far down the road before he realises he just doesn't have the legs for a solo bid and he's soon back with his comrades.
The riders are on a long straight road though and all they can see when they look over their shoulders is the peloton and associated cars bearing down on them. The advantage is one minute with 60km remaining.
Get involvedpublished at 14:51 British Summer Time 11 July 2014
Alex Garner:, external Sagan won't ever be GC competitive as I doubt he has the mentality necessary to kill yourself to cut losses. All about wins.
Massimo Moretti: , externalMost comments on Sagan and GC are ridiculous. The guy is not built for GC, but for Green Jerseys and Classics.
Postpublished at 14:48 British Summer Time 11 July 2014
Up front, this is bordering on cruel. The six escapees are just one minute clear and they have been like that for a good few kilometres now. The Cannondale-led peloton is toying with them, rather like a cat with a mouse caught in a trap.
Postpublished at 14:44 British Summer Time 11 July 2014
Another abandonment. This time it's Danny van Poppel. The Trek rider was among those who crashed yesterday. I'm not sure whether he has been involved in another crash but the Dutchman has clearly had enough.
Get involvedpublished at 14:41 British Summer Time 11 July 2014
Duncan Hussey:, external Here's a picture of Didi this year! He's recruiting
Image source, Duncan HusseyPostpublished at 14:39 British Summer Time 11 July 2014
Green Jersey
ClassificationResult of the intermediate sprint in Hannonville-sous-les-cotes, km 148
1. Martin Elmiger (IAM), 20 points
2. Alexandre Pichot (Europcar), 17
3. Anthony Delaplace (Bretagne), 15
4. Matthew Busche (Trek), 13
5. Nicolas Edet (Cofidis), 11
6. Bartosz Huzarski (NetApp), 10
7. Bryan Coquard (Europcar), 9
8. Mark Renshaw (OPQS), 8
9. Peter Sagan (Cannondale), 7
10. Elia Viviani (Cannondale), 6
11. Alessandro Petacchi (OPQS), 5
12. Fabio Sabatini (Cannondale), 4
13. Niki Terpstra (OPQS), 3
14. Marcel Kittel (Giant-Shimano), 2
15. Mickaël Delage (FDJ), 1
Postpublished at 14:38 British Summer Time 11 July 2014
BBC Radio 5 live sports extraRadio 5 producer Tim Peach has also seen Didi - just before the first climb today, so you've got him to look forward to. We have 75km remaining on today's stage. That first climb comes with around 20km to go.
Tim is preparing to go live with the Robs - Hatch and Hayles at 15:00 BST. It's website only commentary today and can be accessed via the top of this very page.
Ahoy therepublished at 14:34 British Summer Time 11 July 2014
British Olympic track champion Sir Chris Hoy is in Belgium for a bit of motor racing this weekend, but has other things on his mind too. He tweeted:, external One eye on the Tour, the other on the racing here. Qualifying in an hour, time to focus!
Image source, Chris HoyDidi is alive and wellpublished at 14:28 British Summer Time 11 July 2014
Image source, Getty ImagesGrahame, via text on 81111: Re: Didi, I'm sure he was seen in Armentieres near Lille, towards the end of stage 4.
Sam in Plymouth, via text on 81111: @Niall McFarlane. Could have swore I saw him on stage five on the cobbles. Didn't look at the exact distance but I'd reckon around 40k to go.
No pics of Didi from this year's Tour yet, so here's one from the 2008 race.
Postpublished at 14:26 British Summer Time 11 July 2014
Green Jersey
ClassificationA bit of excitement in the peloton and Bryan Coquard comes round the outside of Peter Sagan to be first over the line from the main bunch. Mark Renshaw of Omega Pharma - Quick-Step is next over, with Sagan settling for ninth.
Coquard has reduced his deficit on Sagan in the green points jersey classification by two, to 78.
Postpublished at 14:24 British Summer Time 11 July 2014
Green Jersey
Classification
Image source, Getty ImagesCofidis rider Nicolas Edet was in a breakaway on stage two from York to Sheffield and he is putting in some hard miles today on stage seven. The six out front have just rolled through the intermediate sprint with Martin Elmiger of IAM Cycling taking the 20 points on offer for first over the line.
Get involvedpublished at 14:17 British Summer Time 11 July 2014
Rich Law: , externalSurely Peter Kennaugh is going to be the next big GC hope for Britain.
John McEnerney: , externalThe red jersey (see 13:35) was dropped in 89 along with the Combo Jersey! Both need to be brought back!
Tim Bell: , externalSagan's becoming a talented generalist who doesn't win big races - but today looks tailor-made for a Wolverine win