Stage 7 of the 2013 Vuelta a Espana sees the race head back to Andalusia for the 195km journey from Almendralejo to Mairena de Aljarafe. Join us for live updates from midnight AEST.
Although we are edging ever-closer to the important mountain stages that will determine who finishes on the podium, this one is relatively flat and will most likely be determined by a sprint finish.
There are also few points on offer, with only two intermediate sprints, so expect a breakaway from those who want to spend some time out front but also expect any breakaway to be reeled end once we reach the business end of the stage.
With a number of corners and roundabouts in the last kilometre, the peloton should be stretched out further than usual coming into the sprint finish.
Positioning will be crucial, with whichever team able to produce the strongest lead-out train most likely get their man over the line first.
Look for Argos-Shimano, Omega-Pharma QuickStep and Garmin-Sharp up the front.
Orica-GreenEDGE will also be in contention and especially buoyed after Michael Matthews’ Stage 5 win.
Italian Vincenzo Nibali of Astana holds the overall lead heading into Stage 7 and will be looking to stay safe and retain energy for the mountains.
American Chris Horner (Leopard) and Frenchman Nicolas Roche (Saxo-Tinkoff) round out the top three.
Australian Michael Matthews (Orica-GreenEDGE) tops the point’s race, leading from Spain’s Daniel Moreno (Katyusha) and Argentine Maximiliano Richeze (Lampre).
Roche (first) and Moreno (third) are also well-placed in the King of the Mountains category, book-ending Frenchman Nicolas Edet (Cofidis) in second.
Whatever happens, there is no doubt this stage will offer some amazing scenery for all those watching.
chrismason
Roar Guru
Thanks for following the action, I'll be with you again tomorrow night at the same time for Stage 8. Good night!
chrismason
Roar Guru
General classification after stage 7 1 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana Pro Team 27:29:35 2 Christopher Horner (USA) RadioShack Leopard 0:00:03 3 Nicolas Roche (Irl) Team Saxo-Tinkoff 0:00:08 4 Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) RadioShack Leopard 0:00:16 5 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar Team 0:00:21 6 Robert Kiserlovski (Cro) RadioShack Leopard 0:00:26 7 Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Sky Procycling 0:00:28 8 Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Katusha 0:00:31 9 Rafal Majka (Pol) Team Saxo-Tinkoff 0:00:38 10 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Team Saxo-Tinkoff 0:00:42
chrismason
Roar Guru
The top ten on the stage: 1 Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Omega Pharma-Quick Step 2 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing Team 3 Robert Wagner (Ger) Belkin Pro Cycling Team 4 Adrien Petit (Fra) Cofidis 5 Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 6 Andrew Fenn (GBr) Omega Pharma-Quick Step 7 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky Procycling 8 Danilo Wyss (Swi) BMC Racing Team 9 Klaas Lodewyck (Bel) BMC Racing Team 10 Reinhardt Janse van Rensburg (RSA) Argos-Shimano
chrismason
Roar Guru
Nibali is still leading in the general classification
chrismason
Roar Guru
Robert Wagner of Belkin was third
chrismason
Roar Guru
So the second longest stage of the race will be completed as the rest of the rider's cross the line, including Ireland's Tony Martin (GAR) who had a bad day on the bike after success earlier in the race. The leader crossed in just over 4h30min
chrismason
Roar Guru
OPQS get the stage win with their man Stybar who has stolen the win in what was supposed to be a sprint finish from the main group. He took the gamble to jump away from the peloton with world road race champion Phillippe Gilbert and held his nerve to take a surprise win.
chrismason
Roar Guru
17:37 Stybar comes out from behind Gilbert's wheel with 250m to go and holds off a fast-finishing Gilbert and the rest of the peloton for the stage win! That is a photo finish between Stybar and Gilbert, the two crossing with less than a tyre-width between them
chrismason
Roar Guru
17:36 Sprinters have missed out on the second flattest stage of the race.
chrismason
Roar Guru
17:34 1km to go!
chrismason
Roar Guru
17:32 The lead is 0:17! We are going to have a two man sprint!
chrismason
Roar Guru
17:31 The two world champions have 2km to keep the peloton at bay
chrismason
Roar Guru
17:30 These two might just pull off a miracle through these narrow streets, the sprinters don't seem to be at the head of the chasing pack. 2.5km to go The time gap is 0:08
chrismason
Roar Guru
17:30 The lead is 0:06
chrismason
Roar Guru
17:28 Movistar leads the chase now
chrismason
Roar Guru
17:25 5km to go, Stybar and Gilbert still out front
chrismason
Roar Guru
17:24 6km to go and the two riders are still 0:11 away
chrismason
Roar Guru
Lampre leading the chase 0:11 back
chrismason
Roar Guru
17:22 Gilbert (BMC) and Sybar (OPQS) have jump off the front
chrismason
Roar Guru
17:20 GreenEDGE having a turn now. Great stuff