Groenewegen stays calm for stage win

DYLAN Groenewegen’s calm sprint finish won stage seven of the Tour de France as Team Sky’s Geraint Thomas stayed second in the general classification.

Team LottoNL-Jumbo’s Groenewegen pulled clear of Fernando Gaviria to win comfortably and deny the Colombian a third stage win at this year’s Tour.

Peter Sagan was third as riders tussled in a late frenzy in Chartres after 231km that lacked drama.

Mark Cavendish appeared in contention but slipped to 10th late on.

Cavendish, who is chasing a 31st stage win to close in on the Tour record of 34 held by Belgian Eddy Merckx, said a late collision hampered his finish but conceded other teams seem in better form.

“I was following quite good wheels but it was choppy,” said Team Dimension Data rider Cavendish, 33.

“I went to go but Quick-Step and Bora-Hansgrone just seem to have another level.

“I kicked but couldn’t match them. I had a little coming together at the end and it may have been my fault, it stopped me in the tracks.”

Team Sky’s Thomas lost three seconds on overall leader Greg van Avermaet, who will again wear the yellow jersey on Saturday’s 181km stage from Dreux to Amiens Metropole.

Thomas and defending champion Chris Froome were in the saddle for five hours and 43 minutes during a stage where the peloton largely stayed intact aside from the odd fruitless breakaway.

“There were a few moments where a few teams tried but there was no real wind to do anything,” said Whitchurch ace Thomas.

“It made the final bit real fast and stressful. It’s still around six hours in the saddle but it’s easier than racing at full gas all the way.

“Maybe they should just have the stages at less than 200km in Grand Tours, it would be more exciting for everyone.”