Petacchi wins stage seven of Vuelta

Mark Cavendish was yet again denied a sprint stage win in the Vuelta a Espana today when Alessandro Petacchi won the seventh stage into Orihuela.

The Italian crossed the line a length ahead of Cavendish after the Manxman found himself boxed in by the final manoeuvres of the bunch gallop.

Cavendish had opened his sprint from on the wheel of fourth place finisher Andrea Stauff but couldn't find a gap to come past Petacchi. By the line, Cavendish was practically freewheeling.

It was another hot day on the Vuelta and just two kilometres out of the start town of Murcia the early break got the slip.

The quartet of Dominik Roels (Milram), Martin Pedersen (Footon-Servetto), Vladimir Isaichev, (Xacobeo Galicia) and Jorge Montenegro (Andalucia Cajasur) spent almost the entire stage out front, gaining a maximum of nine minutes.

But after a concerted chase headed by Lampre, FDJ, Garmin-Transitions and HTC-Columbia, the race came back down to the expected bunch finish. Cavendish's next stab at a stage win will now have to wait until after the weekend.

One consolation for Cavendish is that he has taken the lead in the points classification and will wear the green jersey going into stage eight.

Results

Vuelta a Espana 2010, stage seven

1. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini 187.1km in 4-36-12

2. Mark Cavendish (GB) HTC-Columbia

3. Juan-Jose Haedo (Arg) Saxo Bank

4. Andreas Stauff (Ger) Quick Step

5. Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin-Transitions

6. Denis Galimzyanov (Rus) Katusha

7. Robert Forster (Ger) Milram

8. Sebastien Hinault (Fra) Ag2r-La Mondiale

9. Daniele Bennati (Ita) Liquigas

10. Wouter Weylandt (Bel) Quick Step all same time

Overall classification after stage seven

1. Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 27-12-38

2. Igor Anton (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi at 10sec

3. Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha at same time

4. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas at 12sec

5. Peter Velits (Svk) HTC-Columbia at 16sec

6. Tejay Van Garderen (USA) HTC-Columbia at 29sec

7. Frank Schleck (Lux) Saxo Bank at 50sec

8. Ruben Plaza (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne at 54sec

9. Ezequiel Mosquera (Spa) Xacobeo Galicia at 55sec

10. Nicolas Roche (Irl) Ag2r-La Mondiale at 58sec

Stage seven scenery

Dominik Roels heads the break

David Zabriskie leads the chase

Alessandro Petacchi wins the stage

Mark Cavendish leads the points classification

Vuelta a Espana 2010: Related links

Stage six: Hushovd demonstrates climbing skills on way to Vuelta win

Stage five: Farrar beats Cavendish for Vuelta stage win

Stage four: Anton wins stage but Gilbert keeps red jersey

Stage four photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage three: Gilbert attacks to win stage and take race lead

Stage two: Hutarovich beats Cavendish to Vuelta stage win

Vuelta stage one: Cavendish leads after HTC-Columbia win team time trial

The British riders to have led one of the grand tours

Vuelta a Espana 2010: Cycling Weekly's coverage index