Tour de France race organizer A.S.O. had designed stage 7 of Tour de France as individual time trial from Nuits-Saint-Georges to Gevrey-Chambertin in Bourgogne. The 25.3-kilomter route took the riders in the Tour peloton through famous wine territory where some of the world’s most sought-after wine appellations are made. In the words of Scottish novelist and poet Robert Louis Stevenson “Wine is bottled poetry,” and with the Tour de France being “poetry on bike wheels,” this was a perfect match.

The parcours of today’s stage were relatively flat, though with a minor bump in the middle of the route. Timing point 2 would be at the top of this hill.

Mark Cavendish, who had written Tour de France history by remarkably taking his 35th stage victory, was the first rider on the start ramp. While the Manx Missile had no hopes of winning today’s time trial, he could not allow himself to relax too much in today’s stage and had to make certain he would not exceed today’s time limit. The much-worshipped rider from Great Britain would perhaps have time to enjoy a glass of delicious Gevrey-Chambertin after finishing the stage.

As Cavendish was the first rider on today’s course, he was the first rider to enter the hot seat. 39-year-old Cavendish is likely riding his last Tour de France. Though according to actress Joan Collins “Age is just a number. It’s totally irrelevant unless, of course, you happen to be a bottle of wine,” age was slowly catching up on the former World Champion and he is looking forward to less time on the road and more time with his wife Peta Todd and their five children.

It did not take long before Astana rider and Cavendish teammate Michael Mørkøv replaced Cav in the hot seat. French time trial specialist Lenny Martinez was next to set a new fastest time for his Groupama-FDJ outfit.

Belgian time trial specialist Yves Lampaert started his time trial and was looking strong. While hoping to fight for the stage win in today’s stage, he was also on a mission to collect route data and prepare today’s ride for his Soudal-QuickStep team captain Remco Evenepoel.

Stefan Bissegger, who is former Swiss national time trial champion, left the start ramp and was clearly delivering a maximum effort in an attempt to claim the stage victory for his EF Education-EasyPost team. Bissegger is always focused when riding time trials and always performs his absolute best, but though he finished second in this year’s national championships, it has unfortunately been a while since the 25-year-old rider from Switzerland has banked a significant victory in a time trial.

In the words of Danish writer Karen Blixen “there are many ways to the truth – one of them is Bourgogne.” The time trial discipline is known as the “race of truth” and today’s stage 7 individual time trial was a very important race for the general classification favorites in the Tour de France peloton. Valuable time could be gained on major competitors in the general classification, but much valuable time could also be lost if a rider did not master the discipline well or if a rider was suffering from illness or otherwise having a bad day in the saddle.

Bissegger took many chances on the route and fortunately did manage to stay on his bike. He delivered an impressive performance and clocked a new fastest time when he crossed the finish line in Gevrey-Chambertin.

Swiss national time trial champion Stefan Küng started his time trial and set a new fastest time at intermediate timing point one. Küng, however, was only third when he reached intermediate timing point two.

Kevin Vauquelin replaced Bissegger in the hot seat. However, the French Arkea – B&B Hotels rider was not granted a long rest. Vauquelin, who won stage 2 of this year’s Tour, was replaced by Belgian rider Victor Campenaerts (Team Lotto-Dstny), who had not had an impressive season so far. But time trial experts and general classification favorites had yet to start their rides.

Küng crossed the finish line approximately eight seconds slower than temporary stage leader Campenaerts. Küng had suffered a mechanical issue during his time trial and would otherwise have set the fastest time in today’s Tour de France time trial.

Wout van Aert (Team Visma – Lease a Bike) and Geraint Thomas (Ineos-Grenadiers) started their time trials.

Geraint Thomas set a fast pace from the very beginning of his ride. The Welshman was determined to deliver a good result for his team and his fans along the roads of Bourgogne.

Frenchman Romain Bardet is riding his final Tour de France and after remarkably winning stage 1 of this year’s Tour, he was now cruising along the French roads while being celebrated by the many French fans. Many fans were cheering on him, and he was clearly enjoying the day in the saddle.

Ben Healy (Team EF-Education-EasyPost) set a fast pace in his time trial and appeared surprisingly strong. Healy isn’t known for his time trial abilities but had clearly improved his time trialing skills. Healy set the second fastest time at intermediate timing point one. Only Küng had been faster than the Irishman.

Healy even clocked the fastest time at intermediate timing point two. But the light rider was not expected to perform well in the downslope part of the stage – which was the fastest part.

Healy almost beat the fastest time when he reached the finish but had alas lost a few vaualble seconds in the final section of the time trial. He would not be the winner of today’s stage. Geraint Thomas finished approximately 01:30 minutes slower than hot seat rider Campenaerts.

Primoz Roglic was next on the start ramp for Team Red Bull – Bora – Hansgrohe. Roglic was in fifth position in the general classification before today’s stage, 01:15 minutes behind his fellow countryman Tadej Pogacar.

Ineos-Grenadiers team captain Carlos Rodriguez started his time trial. The big names were now on the start ramp and in constant focus.

Jonas Vingegaard started his time trial. This was a very decisive day for the Danish rider who was defending Tour de France Champion. 

World time trial champion Remco Evenepoel was next on the start ramp for Soudal-QuickStep. The Belgian rider fired on all engines from the very first meter. Evenepoel had already announced his intention of winning the stage.

Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) was the final rider on the start ramp. Clad in a completely yellow aerosuit the Slovenian rider set out to deliver the best possible performance to defend his lead in the general classification or even increase it.

Roglic set a new fastest time at intermediate timing point one. But Vingegaard soon set an even better time. The Dane had obviously recovered well from his early season crash and had made miraculous improvements in the long training camp stays that followed.

Evenepoel proved even faster than Vingegaard and Roglic at intermediate timing point one. Pogacar squeezed his way in between Evenepoel and Vingegaard. The flying yellow jersey was three seconds slower than Evenepoel.

Evenepoel set the fastest time at intermediate timing point 2. Pogacar was ten seconds slower than the young Belgian, while defending Tour Champion Vingegaard was 23 seconds slower. Roglic was in fourth position, 37 seconds behind Time Trial World Champion Evenepoel.

The riders maintained the same intermediate rankings at intermediate timing point three. 

Evenepoel’s chain came off with 2.5 kilometers left, but the Belgian magician jumped on his bike and made the chain come on again. He immediately accelerated to continue his power mission.

Roglic set a new fastest time when he reached the finish line. Campenaerts now had to leave the hot seat. Vingegaard was three seconds slower than the Slovenian stage leader. But Evenepoel and Pogacar were still on their bikes. Would they prevail?

Remco Evenepoel blast across the finish line in the new fastest time. The 24-year-old Belgian world champion was more than 34 seconds faster than Roglic in today’s stage. Tadej Pogacar was unable to set a faster time than the Evenepoel. Evenepoel won the stage 7 time trial of Tour de France 2024 ahead of Tadej Pogacar (12 seconds slower) and Primoz Roglic (34 seconds slower), while defending Tour de France Champion Jonas Vingegaard finished fourth, 37 seconds behind the stage winner.

Tadej Pogacar remains general classification leader of this year’s Tour de France and will also wear the yellow jersey in tomorrow’s stage 7 of Tour de France 2024. Pogacar leads the Tour de France ahead of Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep) and Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma – Lease a Bike).

Stay tuned to Roadcycling.com for complete coverage from Tour de France 2024.

Our cycling coverage is sponsored by Meyer Burger – Solar Power Deluxe – The “Apple” of Solar energy systems. Meyer Burger offers premium solar solutions for roofs, balconies and open spaces. Visit www.meyerburger.com to experience energy savings like never before. Demand the highest quality – ask for Meyer Burger.