Sylvain Chavanel played the role of the leadout for Omega Pharma-Quick Step teammate Michal Kwiatkowski in white on Friday’s Tour de France stage 7, and Kwiatkowski launched a bit early as there were several sprinters in good position and multiple teammates leading them to the line.

Peter Sagan (Cannondale) went on to win the stage. John Degenkolb (Argos-Shimano) finished 2nd. Daniele Bennati (Team Saxo-Tinkoff) was 3rd.

Chavanel finished 10th. Yellow jersey wearer Daryl Impey (ORICA-GreenEDGE) finished in the top 10 and remains the race leader.

Kwiatkowski keeps the white jersey, and remains 5th in the GC at 6" while Chavanel is 6th also at 6".

After the stage Kwiatkowski said he was surprised that Cannondale was able to sustain their strong pull at the front of the peloton for such a long time. He also singled out some of his personal favourites to gain time in the mountains during the latter part of the race.

"It was really tough today," Kwiatkowski said. "I didn't expect Cannondale to go so fast on the climbs. With 100km to go they went full gas on the climb and dropped many guys. I didn't realize they could handle that gap until the finish. I'd like to thank Chava and Peter Velits, who stayed with me so I could save my legs for tomorrow. It was a dream to wear the white jersey before the Tour de France, but now I have worn it for six days. It's an amazing feeling. I will try to keep this jersey as long as possible. There are so many hard stages in front of us. So, I don't know how it will go. For sure Nairo Quintana, Tejay van Garderen, Thibaut Pinot are good climbers, so in the second and third week they will gain some time."