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Giro d'Italia 2018: Stage 7

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Hello and welcome to the Cyclingnews live coverage of stage 7 of the Giro d'Italia.

 

As we kick off our full live coverage of the 159km stage, the riders are signing on and gathering for the start.

Elia Viviaani (Quick-Step Floors) won two sprint stages in Israel and is the natural favourite for todays finish in Praia a Mare.

The sun is out in Pizzo and at the finish in Praia a Mare. There is only a slight sea breeze. 

This year's Giro d'Italia travels north from Sicily via Calabria, Campania and then the Apennines and the Adriatic coast. 

The riders have rolled out of Pizzo and are on the 2.5km neutralised section.

Today's stage is so flat there are no categorised climbs and so no points awarded for the blue jersey mountains classification.

They're off! And we have the first attacks. 

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We have four riders up the road in the first attack but Quick-Step is chasing hard.

Tony Martin (Katusha) is in the move and so perhaps that why they don't want the powerful German in the attack. 

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It seems that Tony Martin was the problem. 

This was the scene at the start in Pizzo, with big crowds and warm weather. 

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The trio lead by 4:30 as Mitchelton-Scott take up their place at the front of the peloton. 

Davide Ballerini has been one of the most aggressive riders in this year's Giro d'Italia. 

Simon Yates is happy to wear the maglia rosa today. 

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Yates impressed everyone with his late attack to join Chaves and then by sportingly let him with the stage. 

However the Briton was frank and to the point when asked to outline his principal goal on this Giro.

Click here to read our interview story with Simon Yates after he took the pink jersey.

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This is the general classification after stage 6. 

Three of the four leader jerseys changed owners yesterday. 

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With an hour raced, the average speed so far is 41.9km/h. 

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To keep up to date on the time gap check out the Situation window. It lists the riders in the break and constantly updates their lead on the peloton.

The peloton is lined out along the coast road but the riders are relaxed as the kilometres tick down. 

There are some grey clouds gathering on the hills but rain is not expected along the coast and at the finish. 

Yesterday the break did not form until after 50km of attacks, with 28 riders in the move. 

Cyclingnews always brings you all the most important news and interviews after each stage. 

Also in the Giro shorts today are stories about how Giovanni Visconti is 'happy to be alive' after being hit by a team car, how Richard Carapaz showed his potential and took the white jersey and how Wilier Triestina suffered but stay united after Zardini crashed, fractured is collarbone but managed to finish the stage.

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We can see that Markel Irizar (Trek-Segafredo) is riding on disc brakes. 

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The race is approaching the feed zone near Paola. 

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After the huge efforts during yesterday's mountain stage to Mount Etna, the overall contenders are enjoying a quiet day in the peloton.

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The peloton eases as they pass through the feed zone.

Riders traditionally throw away any musettes, bidons and rubbish but races have now created specific 'green zones'  where the trash is collected. 

The Giro d'Italia has been underway for a week now. 

To prepare for the TOC, click here to read our race preview.

Most teams have confirmed their line-ups for the Tour of California, including BMC, who have Tejay van Garderen as team leader.

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Behind Viviani wins the sprint for fourth place and so takes six points.

Today's race route hugs the coast all the way to Praia a Mare, switching from the main road to smaller roads through the coastal holiday resorts.

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Were deep into the Grand Tour and stage race now but it was a great Classics season. 

The Cyclingnews film crew were granted exclusive access to the biggest teams. We followed reconnaissance rides, were allowed into the inner sanctum of team buses, on the massage table, and invited to post-race celebration parties and rider debriefs to create this near fifty-minute film.

We hope the success of this first film will lead to us bringing you a new series of compelling content that we can showcase on Cyclingnews. With that in mind we hope that you can understand why we’ve associated a download fee for the film.

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The  final intermediate sprint of the day is coming up in Santa Maria del Cendro. 

Belkov leads through the sprint. The trio lead the peloton by 1:50 but have upped their pace.

Yet again Viviani wins the sprint at the head of the peloton to hoover up a few more points.

The Wilier Triestina team has hit the front to lead the chase. The Italian team has promised to bounce back after a tough day yesterday. 

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Bonifazio of Bahrain is also a threat today but has just flatted and taken a wheel from Mohoric.  

This rolling finale could suit Sacha Modolo of EF and DS Fabrizio Guidi likes the Italian's chances. 

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We immediately have another attack as Bonifazio gets back into the team cars. 

Alex Dowsett goes off the front. Ulissi has also tried his hand. 

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The sprint trains and G protection trains re forming now for the fast run-in to the finish. 

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They're flying at 70km/h as teams fight for wheels.  

The riders are passing through several tunnels making it even more nervous. 

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Here come Quick-Step, with Morkov dragging up Sabatini and Viviani.

No one team is able to lead out the peloton.

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EF take over but here comes QSF. 

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Viviani prefers to go solo. Bennett is on his wheel. 

Modolo leads it out. Viviani comes past but he also runs out of speed.

Bennett and his Bora teammates hug in celebration.

It is Bennett's 23rd career win but the first of 2018. 

Viviani looked set to win but Bennett came off his wheel at the right moment to pass him in the final 50m.  

Bennett heads back to the podium area to be crowned as the stage winner.

It is Bennett's first Grand Tour stage win.

This is the top ten for the stage.

The general classification remains unchanged. 

“I’m really happy. We tried so hard in other sprints but never got the timing right. The team did a fantastic job and want to thank everyone who helped me get to this point,” Bennett said.

Bennett holds his arms out wide on the podium. 

Bennett added: 

Simon Yates is on the podium. He does not seem sure of the podium protocol yet but is happy to have the pink jersey for another day. 

“It was a nice day until the finale and sprint,” Yates said briefly. “The break went early and never really got a gap so it was a good day.”

This is the first shot of the sprint finish.

Here's Yates in pink on the podium in Praia a Mare.

Here's a later shot of the sprint. Viviani is not happy, while Bennett clearly is.

Several riders and DS have explained that the late tunnels above Praia a Mare were not lit, with wax torches the only source of light. However the wax apparently ran onto the road, causing a moment of panic in the peloton.

Simon Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) spoke briefly to Italian television but avoided revealing the team’s tactics or who is the real team leader.

This is a great shot of Bennett enjoying his stage win.

To see more great photos from stage 7, and to read our full stage report, click here.

That was the view from the start in Pizzo. However the riders had little chance to enjoy the sea views. 

The peloton rolled along the coast compact, with Simon Yates protected by his Mitchelon-Scott teammates.

Elia Viviani was disappointed to be beaten in Praia a Mare. 

Unfortunately Viviani and the other sprinters will have to suffer in the mountains in the next few days before the next chance to sprint for victory. 

The riders enjoy the second rest day on the Adriatic coast on Monday but then face a 239km rolling stage in the hills of Abruzzo, Le Marche and Umbria.

Next Wednesday's 11th stage is very similar with several late climbs. A visit to Filottrano to remember Michele Scarponi is followed by a twisting, uphill finish in the centre of ancient Osimo. 

The next real chance for the sprinters in next Thursday in Imola, when the 214km stage ends on the Autodromo Ferrari motor racing track.

Sam Bennett won the fight to the line but then he had to fight the swarm of photographers and other team staff at the finish to go to the podium. 

It was clearly worth it and Bennett rightly celebrated his first ever Grand Tour stage win.

For full details on the stage and to see our 50+ photo with every stage report, click here.

We've increased our number of podcast this season and you can here the latest edition by click here. 

 

The Cyclingnews podcast is brought to you in association with Prendas Ciclismo, Pinarello and Floyds of Leadville.

Thanks for joining us in the saddle for another stage if full live coverage. 

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