Vuelta 2018 Stage 7: Solo victory Tony Gallopin, Rudy Molard retains red jersey

The 7th stage of the Vuelta a España travels to a promising finale in Pozo Alcón. First a climb with its crest 13 kilometres before the line. The drop leads to a punchy ramp before a false flat of 5.5 kilometres runs all the way to the line. Tony Gallopin powers to the win with a late attack, while Rudy Molard retains the maillot rojo. Michal Kwiatkowski drops to sixth place due to a crash. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 7th stage 2018 Vuelta a España

1. Tony Gallopin (fra)
2. Peter Sagan (svk) + 0.05
3. Alejandro Valverde (spa) s.t.
4. Eduard Prades (spa) s.t.
5. Omar Fraile (spa) s.t.
6. Rigoberto Uran (col) s.t.
7. Ion Izagirre (spa) s.t.
8. Enric Mas (spa) s.t.
9. Wilco Kelderman (nld) s.t.
10. Sepp Kuss (usa) s.t.

11. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) s.t.
12. Miguel Ángel López (col) s.t.
15. Fabio Aru (ita) s.t.
16. David de la Cruz (spa) s.t.
17. Emanuel Buchmann (ger) s.t.
18. Thibaut Pinot (fra) s.t.
19. Louis Meintjes (rsa) s.t.
20. George Bennett (nzl) s.t.
25. Simon Yates (gbr) s.t.
26. Nairo Quintana (col) s.t.
29. Rafal Majka (pol) s.t.
36. Michal Kwiatkowski (pol) + 0.30
74. Richard Carapaz (ecu) + 7.52

GC after the 7th stage
1. Rudy Molard (fra)
2. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 0.47
3. Emanuel Buchmann (ger) + 0.48
4. Simon Yates (gbr) + 0.51
5. Tony Gallopin (fra) + 0.59
6. Michal Kwiatkowski (pol) + 1.06
7. Ion Izagirre (spa) + 1.11
8. Nairo Quintana (col) + 1.14
9. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) + 1.18
10. Enric Mas (spa) + 1.23

11. George Bennett (nzl) + 1.26
12. Miguel Ángel López (col) + 1.27
13. Fabio Aru (ita) + 1.28
14. Rigoberto Uran (col) + 1.29
15. David de la Cruz (spa) + 1.34
17. Wilco Kelderman (nld) + 2.50
18. Thibaut Pinot (fra) + 3.08
21. Rafal Majka (pol) + 4.28
25. Louis Meintjes (rsa) + 5.35

Race report
Alexis Gougeard, Michael Woods, Floris De Tier, Nicola Conci, Edward Ravasi, Alex Aranburu and Oscar Rodriguez attack from the gun. Several riders try to join them, but don’t make it across. The seven ride to a lead of almost 4 minutes.

On the penultimate climb the leaders are almost brought back. De Tier and Woods head out together before Woods goes solo with 3 kms left to climb. He distances the peloton at first, but he is caught just before the summit.

Lluís Mas strikes with 11 kms out and Michal Kwiatkowski crashes on descent. The Pole is back on his bike with a 30 seconds deficit.

On the last climb Mas is brought back and his compatriot is next to try his luck. He charges 5 kms before the line, but Tony Gallopin gobbles him up with 2 kms to go. The Frenchman powers on to win the race 5 seconds ahead of Peter Sagan, who outsprints Alejandro Valverde for second place. Rudy Molard finishes in the same group to keep hold of the red jersey.

Kwiatkowski finishes 30 seconds behind Gallopin and drops from second to sixth place overall.