Bouhanni sneaks through to win stage 7 of the Giro d'Italia

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Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ.fr) claimed a tight sprint on stage seven of the Giro d’Italia from Frosinone to Foligno, edging out Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek Factory Racing) and Luka Mezgec (Team Giant-Shimano).

Michael Matthews (Orica-GreenEdge) finished in fourth and retains his maglia rosa as the race heads into the mountains in central Italy with the overall classification unchanged. Cadel Evans (BMC) remains second at 21 seconds, with Rigoberto Uran (Omega Pharma-Quick-Step) at 1:18.

It was a close sprint but it was Bouhanni who raised his arms in victory. The Frenchman showing poise and precision in a technical finale. He was positioned on Mezgec’s wheel after the final corner and then surged through on the inside line along the barriers to win.

It marked Bouhanni's second stage win in this year’s race and the second Grand Tour win of his career. In a year in which his contract is up for renewal, the Frenchman is increasing his value with every opportunity. With Marcel Kittel at home with his feet up after a fever ended his race several days ago, Bouhanni has cemented his place as the race’s top sprinter.

"It's great to win a second stage. I'm happy for me and for the team. They did an incredible job to keep me out of the wind and then to close the gap on the break," Bouhanni said.

"I was on the wheel of the Giant-Shimano riders and had Chavanel behind me. I managed to go through the gap on the right and to get past the other riders to win. The Giro is one of the biggest races in the world and so to win two stages is great for me."

Today Bouhanni made the fewest mistakes in the finale. As Viviani and Swift lost ground in the finale, Bouhanni made the most of his team's work as they reeled in a break that consisted of Robinson Chalapud (Colombia), Nathan Haas (Garmin-Sharp), Winner Anacona (Lampre-Merida), Bjorn Thurau (Europcar) and Nicola Boem (Bardiani-CSF).

Even when Bouhanni was isolated in the final dash for the line, he held his nerve. He fought elbow to elbow with Mezgec and profited from the Giant-Shimano’s leadout. In a scrappy sprint, and with some of the world’s best sprinters missing, Bouhanni took full advantage.

A long ride north

The 211km stage provided the perfect tonic after yesterday’s difficulties. The peloton, bruised and bandaged, started in Frosinone a little lighter with the Katusha trio of Joaquim Rodriguez, Giampaolo Caruso and Angel Vicioso among those that had quit the race.

The weather conditions were relatively better, although there were sporadic early showers. But after the stage began, the break formed quickly to settle both pace and nerves.

The five riders, none of whom where real threats to Matthews’ GC lead, established a buffer close to nine minutes but Orica-GreenEdge, keen to keep the maglia rosa for one last day, kept tabs as the race moved north.

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The conditions improved throughout the day and although the break still held a five-minute lead on the one and only climb of the day, the Valico della Somma, the clever work from Orica-GreenEdge ensured that the sprinters’ teams would help them. The Australian team did just enough to keep the break within touching distance and at the summit of the climb the teams of the pure sprinters were given a choice: work immediately and compete for the win or hesitate and see your last chance of a victory until at least Tuesday slip away.

Trek Factory Racing, Giant-Shimano, Cannondale and even Lotto Belisol all duly stepped up and began to eat into the break’s lead. Kilometre after kilometre ticked down, and with each one the break began to show signs of fatigue and frustration.

Gesticulation gave way to desperation as the break began to attack one another. Their lead had held at three minutes with 20km to go but by the time the peloton moved into the final five kilometres, the five ahead only had a matter of seconds.

There was a scare when Francisco José Ventoso (Movistar) crashed but the Spaniard was quickly sitting up, as up ahead, Bouhanni steadied himself for his second win and the lead in the points jersey.

His contract expires at the end of the season but he should hold off agreeing a deal with a team until his Giro is complete. He could win several more stages before the race ends in Trieste on June 1.

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