Summary Peter Sagan won the hilly seventh stage of the Tour de France on Friday.
ALBI (AP) - Slovakian rider Peter Sagan won the hilly seventh stage of the Tour de France in a sprint finish on Friday, and Daryl Impey kept the overall race lead.
Sagan held off a challenge from John Degenkolb of Germany to win his first Tour stage and extend his lead in the contest for the sprinters green jersey.
Impey began the day as the only South African rider to wear the yellow jersey, but he will likely relinquish it after Saturday s first of two difficult days of climbing in the high mountains of the Pyrenees.
Veteran American rider Christian Vande Velde pulled out after being caught up in an early crash one of several that have marred a nervy start to the 100th edition of the showcase race.
