In one of the biggest upsets in recent memories, Aussie battler Adam Hansen rode solo for the biggest victory of his career, beating his nearest rivals by a whopping 1m 07s on what was a heavily, crash marred stage.
After taking the lead with a break containing five other riders, Hansen was the strongest of them all, surviving throughout the day to win the stage.
Nearly all those who went with Hansen couldn’t stand the fierce pace and were swallowed up by the peloton, until only two remained.
The two remaining were Hansen and Emanuele Sella of the Androni Giocattoli outfit, who with 22km to go had a strong three minute gap over the main field.
Sensing Sella weakening, Hansen smashed down the pedals in what was a perfect acceleration, leaving Sella in his wake.
The usual team domestique had opened up a 45 second advantage over Sella in just 6km, and from then on powered home, negotiating the water logged, slippery roads to beat the peloton by 1:07, with the beaten Sella caught by the main field only a few kilometers later.
However Hansen’s victory was not the only Australian triumph in today’s stage, with 2011 Tour de France champion, Cadel Evans, gaining vital minutes on last year’s dominant force in world cycling, Bradley Wiggins, after the Brit went down on a sharp harepin only 5km away from the line.
With Nibali, Hesjedal and Evans all ahead in the main field, they sensed the opportunity to take crucial time off the Brit, and did just that with their respective teams going hard at the front of the peloton to make the advantage stick.
This advantage over Wiggins not only stuck, it severely lengthened, with the Olympic gold medalist taking a cautious approach to the line, seemingly to avoid another crash.
This allowed the main group containing Nibali, Hesjedal and Evans to gain 1’21 on Wiggins, in what is sure to be a key blow both psychologically, and perhaps on the final leaderboard to the Team Sky main rider.
However, with tonight’s stage 8 a 55km individual time trial, Wiggins will believe he can bridge the gap between him and his fellow GC competitors, in what is set to be an enthralling stage.
But the day belonged to a true Aussie fighter, Adam Hansen, on what was a gutsy, determined performance that did Australia proud.
Stage 7 – Results
1 HANSEN Adam LTB 04:35:49
2 BATTAGLIN Enrico BAR All at 01:07
3 DI LUCA Danilo VIN
4 SANTAMBROGIO Mauro VIN
5 CARUSO Damiano CAN
6 EVANS Cadel BMC
7 PIRAZZI Stefano BAR
8 JEANNESSON Arnold FDJ
9 WEENING Pieter OGE
10 HESJEDAL Ryder GRS
11 CARUSO Giampaolo KAT
12 SERPA Jose LAM
13 BETANCUR Carlos ALM
14 INTXAUSTI Benat MOV
15 VALLS Rafael VCD
16 KELDERMAN Wilco BLA
17 KRUIJSWIJK Steven BLA
18 MAJKA Rafal TST
19 GESINK Robert BLA
Overall Standings after Stage 7
1 INTXAUSTI Benat MOV 28:30:04
2 NIBALI Vincenzo AST 00:05
3 HESJEDAL Ryder GRS 00:08
4 CARUSO Giampaolo KAT 00:10
5 SANTAMBROGIO Mauro VIN 00:13
6 EVANS Cadel BMC 00:16
7 GESINK Robert BLA 00:19
8 SANTAROMITA Ivan BMC 00:28
9 WEENING Pieter OGE 00:29
10 KISERLOVSKI Robert RLT 00:34
23 WIGGINS Bradley SKY 01:32
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