Di-Data rider pipped on line

– The seventh stage of the Tour de France burst into life at the end yesterday as Marcel Kittel (above) claimed his third victory in this year’s edition, pipping Edvald Boasson Hagen to the line in the final sprint.

Results long stayed provisional as the race jury looked at the photo finish to determine the winner of the 213.5km flat ride from Troyes.

Kittel was declared the victor ahead of Boasson Hagen from South Africa team Dimension Data and joins Erik Zabel as the German rider with most stage wins on the Tour (12).

Australian Michael Matthews (Team Sunweb) was a distant third as Chris Froome (Team Sky) retained the overall leader’s yellow jersey.

Kittel also snatched the green jersey for the points classification from Arnaud Demare (FDJ) after the French champion, who had been ill overnight, was not a factor in the sprint. Kittel has 197 points to Demare’s 182.

“It was very very close with Edvald, a little bit like last year when I beat (Frenchman Bryan) Coquard,” said Kittel.

Until the final straight, the day had gone without any drama – the usual scenario for long, flat stages. Four riders broke away from the gun, but their advantage was controlled by the sprinters team and the fugitives were caught with the line in sight, leaving it to the big-thighed sprinters to fight it out for victory.

Overall, Froome still leads team-mate Geraint Thomas by 12 seconds and Italian Fabio Aru (Astana) by 14.

Today’s eighth stage will be one for the breakaway riders as it takes the peloton over 187.5km from Dole to the Station des Rousses. – Reuters

Nuits-Saint-Georges