Tour de France 2017: Kittel bests Boasson Hagen in photo finish sprint, Froome retains in lead

At 213.5 kilometres, stage 7 of the Tour de France travels on flat roads from Troyes to Nuits-Saint-Georges. The race comes down to a bunch with Kittel besting Boasson Hagen in a photo finish. Chris Froome retains in the overall lead. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 7th stage 2017 Tour de France

1. Marcel Kittel (ger)
2. Edvald Boasson Hagen (nor) s.t.
3. Michael Matthews (aus) s.t.
4. Alexander Kristoff (nor) s.t.
5. John Degenkolb (ger) s.t.
6. Dylan Groenewegen (nld) s.t.
7. Rüdiger Selig (ger)
8. Nacer Bouhanni (fra) s.t.
9. André Greipel (ger) s.t.
10. Daniel McLay (gbr) s.t.

GC after the 7th stage
1. Chris Froome (gbr)
2. Geraint Thomas (gbr) + 0.12
3. Fabio Aru (ita) + 0.14
4. Daniel Martin (irl) + 0.25
5. Richie Porte (aus) + 0.39
6. Simon Yates (gbr) + 0.43
7. Romain Bardet (fra) + 0.47
8. Alberto Contador (spa) + 0.52
9. Nairo Quintana (col) + 0.54
10. Rafal Majka (pol) + 1.01

11. Rigoberto Uran (col) s.t.
12. Pierre Latour (fra) + 1.07
13. Louis Meintjes (rsa) + 1.24
14. Emanuel Buchmann (ger) + 1.29
15. Jakob Fuglsang (den) + 1.33

Race report
Once the flag is dropped four riders jump clear. Dylan van Baarle, Yohann Gène, Maxime Bouet and Manuele Mori race to a lead of almost 4 minutes. Then the pack takes them on a leash. With 6 kms left the escapees are brought back.

In the ensuing sprint Kittel and Boasson Hagen cross the line with a margin so tiny the naked eye can’t see it. After reviewing the photo finish the jury declares the German the winner. Michael Matthews comes in third.

There are no changes in the general classification, so Froome holds on to the maillot jaune.