Tour de France 2023 stage 7 LIVE: Result and winner as Jasper Philipsen pips Mark Cavendish in Bordeaux
The Astana rider will be among the contenders as the peloton heads for Bordeaux
Jasper Philipsen won a dramatic sprint in the final metres of stage 7 of the Tour de France as he edged past Mark Cavendish in Bordeaux to stop the Brit earning a record breaking 35th stage win on Tour.
A long, flat stage left many riders in contention as Simon Guglielmi headed off on his own in a breakaway and never looked comfortable in that role.
For most of the day the general classification teams, including Jonas Vingegaard’s Jumbo Visma, took the time to rest up after a brutal few days in the mountains.
When the peloton finally hit Bordeaux the sprinters burst into action with Philipsen taking on an early attack 800 metres from the line. He left Caleb Ewan behind only for Cavendish to make a move on the outside and get the lead with 100m to go. Philipsen, however, was too savvy. He dropped onto Cavendish’s wheel and swept past the 38-year-old in the final few metres to win the stage and leave the Brit slumped over the handlebars is heartbreak.
Relive all the action from stage seven below:
Jasper Philipsen pips Mark Cavendish to claim third stage win of Tour de France
Jasper Philipsen denied Mark Cavendish a record-breaking Tour de France victory on the line as the Belgian won stage seven on the line in Bordeaux.
Philipsen made it three wins from three sprint stages in a row in this Tour as he came around Cavendish in the final few metres, leaving the Manxman to curse as he rolled in second, still tied with Eddy Merckx on 34 career Tour wins.
The 38-year-old had come from well down in the pack to power his way down the right hand side and up to the front of the race, but Philipsen got onto his wheel and powered by, with Biniam Girmay in third.
Jasper Philipsen pips Mark Cavendish to claim third stage win of Tour de France
Philipsen made it three wins from three sprint stages in a row.
Jasper Philipsen wins stage 7!
Post race reaction from the stage winner:
Jasper Philipsen wins stage 7!
General classification leaderboard after stage 7:
1. Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) - 29hr 57min 12sec
2. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) +25sec
3. Jai Hindley (Bora-Hansgrohe) +1min 34sec
4. Simon Yates (Jayco-Alula) +3min 14sec
5. Carlos Rodríguez (Ineos Grenadiers) +3min 30sec
6. Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates) +3min 40sec
7. David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) +4min 3sec
8. Romain Bardet (DSM-Firmenich) +4min 43sec
9. Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers) +4min 43sec
10. Sepp Kuss (Jumbo-Visma) +5min 28sec
Jasper Philipsen wins stage 7!
Here are the top five results from the Stage 7 finale. It was almost there for Mark Cavendish but he had to settle for second place.
1. Jasper Philipsen
2. Mark Cavendish
3. Biniam Girmay
4. Luca Mozzato
5. Dylan Groenewegen
Elsewhere, Jonas Vingegaard retains the yellow jersey.
Jasper Philipsen wins stage 7!
The stage winner spoke after his victory and there’s no surprise that he was quite complimentary about Mark Cavendish.
“I’m super happy and proud, I was always in a good wheel, I never had to do a big effort before I launched my sprint, I can’t believe it,” he said,
“If you’d told me this one week ago [he’d win three stages] I’d have said you’re crazy. So far, it’s a dream tour … from now on, I am looking to Paris also.
“He [Cavendish] was really strong, I would also have loved to see him win … I think everybody … but for sure he will keep on trying, he’s up there, he’s in good condition.”
Jasper Philipsen wins stage 7!
What a result for Jasper Philipsen, what a finish, what a race.
Tour de France stage 7
Jasper Philipsen wins stage 7!
Mark Cavendish is pipped right on the line. It’s heartbreaking for the Brit who finishes in second place. He was beaten in the final 10 metres or so.
Philipsen timed his second attack perfectly and had enough in the legs to get past.
Tour de France stage 7
800m to go: Inside the final kilometre and the sprinters go for it. Japser Philipsen starts to accelerate but Mark Cavendish makes a run on the outside....
Tour de France stage 7
2km to go: When will they decide to go? The sprinters are all close to the front as the peloton heads over the river and moves through a chicane.
Caleb Ewan and Jasper Philipsen seem to be the front men.
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