The 7th stage of the Tour de France 2014 took place on July 11, 2014 and led from Épernay over 234.5 km to Nancy . In the course of the stage there was an intermediate sprint after 148 km and two mountain classifications in the fourth category. This meant that the stage counted as a flat stage, with 189 riders at the start.
After driving six kilometers, Martin Elmiger (IAM) and Bartosz Huzarski (TNE) pulled away from the field. A little later, Alexandre Pichot (EUC), Matthew Busche (TFR), Nicolas Edet (COF) and Anthony Delaplace (BSE) joined them. The six outliers were quickly 4:20 minutes ahead. In the peloton, the Cannondale team did the tracking work. The lead of the leaders began to decrease under the consistent pursuit in the main field, 183 kilometers from the finish the six were only 2:50 minutes ahead of the favorites for the day and overall victory.
Elmiger won the intermediate sprint of the stage, followed by Pichot and Delaplace. In the main draw, Bryan Coquard (EUC) won the sprint ahead of Mark Renshaw (OPQ) and Peter Sagan (CAN). Meanwhile, the lead of the leading group melted further down to 45 seconds around 50 kilometers before the end. A little later, Elmiger and Huzarski attacked from the leading group and left the other four drivers behind. They were overtaken by the peloton soon after. The two-peaks were able to break away a little further for a short time, but were then caught at the beginning of the ascent to Maron . With 20 kilometers to go, the peloton was complete again. The incline meant that some sprinters had to tear down. Simon Yates (OGE) from Great Britain secured the first mountain classification, the second on the Côte de Bouffler went to Greg Van Avermaet (BMC).
Four kilometers from the finish, Sagan and Van Avermaet managed to pull away a little, but were still overtaken. In the end, Italian Matteo Trentin (OPQ) won the sprint ahead of Sagan and Tony Gallopin (OPQ).
Darwin Atapuma (BMC): Task during the stage