The 244 Kilometre stage from Innsbruck in Austria, through Switzerland to Chiavenna in Italy saw a breakaway with Facci (Quick Step), Huzarski (Pol, ISD-Neri), Klimov (Rus, Katusha), and Isaichev (Rus, Xacobeo) from the start keep a lead for about 200 kilometres. Weather conditions became difficult with fog and wet roads which prompted Alessandro Bertolini (Diquigiovanni-Androni) to make an adventurous attack.
Brutt (Rus, Katusha), Hunter (Saf, Barloworld), Boasson Hagen (Nor, Columbia), Vigan? (Fuji-Servetto) then pushed to reach Bertolini. Coming towards the finish line, Hunter surged forward and with 800 metres to go Bertolini lead a counter attack which was closely followed with Boasson Hagen having the power to cross the finish line first followed by Hunter and then Brutt.
The overall classifications reamains largely unchanged with Di Luca (LPR Brakes) in Pink, L?vkvist (Columbia) trailing by 5 seconds and Australian rider Michael Rogers (Columbia) 36 seconds behind the leader.
Bad Weather Condition on Stage 7
Rogers commented on the conditions "never been so scared on a bike as today. Didn’t enjoy that last decent into the finish. Dangerous stuff". Suffering a blow out in his front wheel on the final decent, team mate Marco Pinotti help Rogers by giving up his wheel so that Rogers could stay in the bunch.
Levi Leipheimer who ommented with Lance Armstrong on the fast speeds up to 70 kpmh yesterday, today commented "Remember when I posted about going 70+mph yesterday on a 15lb bike? Today made that look like child’s play". He continue to describe the impact of the poor weather conditions "40 degree rain & fog, shivering uncontrollably, couldn’t see, brakes working 10" too late and then entering a curved dark tunnel at 55mph!"
Team Astana Surprise Protest
In an unusual move, team Astana showed up at Stage 7 with a new team kit, essentially the same though with sponsor logos faded out in protest at sponsors who havn’t paid up. Riders and staff have only received 2 months salary in 2009 as the economic crisis hits Kasakhstan. General manager Johan Bruyneel made a statement that the decision was made as the Kazakh Cycling Federation had not yet solved all problems brought up before the tour begin and until all issues are resolved, Team Astana will continue to race in the new kit.
Top Ten Results on Stage 7
1 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Team Columbia – Highroad 5.56.53 (40.685km/h)
2 Robert Hunter (RSA) Barloworld
3 Pavel Brutt (Rus) Team Katusha
4 Davide Vigan? (Ita) Fuji-Servetto
5 Alessandro Bertolini (Ita) Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli
6 Andriy Grivko (Ukr) ISD 0.31
7 Matthew Goss (Aus) Team Saxo Bank 0.40
8 Allan Davis (Aus) Quick Step
9 Robert Forster (Ger) Team Milram
10 Ben Swift (GBr) Team Katusha
General Classification after Stage 7
1 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) LPR Brakes – Farnese Vini 28.08.48
2 Thomas L?vkvist (Swe) Team Columbia – Highroad 0.05
3 Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Columbia – Highroad 0.36
4 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana 0.43
5 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 0.50
6 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas 1.06
7 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervelo Test Team 1.16
8 Christopher Horner (USA) Astana 1.17
9 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas 1.27
10 David Arroyo (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne 1.41
Website: Giro d’Italia
