[Ben Lauer]

Stage 7: Luneville to Karlsruhe 228.5 km

- Again there was a trend of early escape attempts. Six riders broke free, but were caught with no extreme effort by the peloton.
- Groups of 2-6 kept attacking and the peloton kept reeling them back in.
- Another Attempt to break away was made by two different riders, McEwen (DVL) and Wegmann (GST).
- McEwen is caught quickly, but Wegmann get out ahead of the peloton, He gained a maximum lead of 8:35.
- After the Second Intermediate sprint, the sprinters teams decide it is time to bring Wegmann back to the peloton.
- This stage looked very much like a repeat of yesterday, with intermittent rain and early break away staying ahead for a majority of the race.
- Wegmann was caught with 23km to go.
- Just like yesterday, there was a crash inside 1000m, this one at 200m. It cause a few riders to go down.
- Robbie McEwen sprints across the line for the stage win.

The Top 5 for the stage are:
1) Robbie McEwen (DVL/AUS)
2) Magnus Backstedt (LIQ/SWE)
3) Bernhard Eisel (FDJ/AUT)
4) Gerrit Glomser (LAM/AUT)
5) Baden Cooke (FDJ/AUS)
There was no change in the General Classification. Lance still wears Yellow.
The only change in the Positions was the Climbing Jersey, The Red and White Polka-dot jersey now is worn by Wegmann because he was alone for all the point receiving climbs today.