Tour de France 2013: Preview and Predictions for Stage 7

Stage 6 of the 2013 Tour de France saw another change atop the overall classification standings as Daryl Impey seized the yellow jersey from Orica Greenedge teammate Simon Gerrans on Thursday. 

Through the first six stages, a true favorite has yet to emerge from the crowd. As with most races that feature the kind of elite competition you see on the Tour, creating a lead early on is a difficult task. 

Impey is the current leader, but eight riders are all within 10 seconds of his time in overall classification, per the Tour de France's official leaderboard. 

Four riders have already donned the yellow jersey through six stages.

Will we see another change after Stage 7?

Viewing Info

When: Friday, July 5 from 8 a.m. - 11 a.m. ET

Watch: NBCSN (live coverage from 8 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. ET)

Where: Montpellier to Albi

Route Details

If you wanted to sum up Stage 7 in just one word, it would be "unpredictable."

Per the Tour's official website, Impy categorized it as a "lumpy" day. Considering the distance and terrain that the riders will cover as they begin to approach the Pyrenees, it's safe to say that this is anyone's stage. 

The 205.5-kilometer stage is the third-longest the riders have seen to this point and the longest stage they will see until they get to the 218-kilometer Stage 12. Despite the long distance, you can't count the sprinters out. The four climbs on the route aren't severe and shouldn't knock sprinters out of the running. 

Because the next days are littered with mountain stages, this could be the sprinters' final chance to make their impact on the race until Paris. However, the hills could play a role as climbers prepare to start their push to the front of the pack. 

Prediction

The winner of Stage 7 might just be a familiar face. Mark Cavendish already has a stage victory to his name with his Stage 5 win, and he should be a serious contender to have his name called as the day's winner yet again. 

The Manx sprinter followed up his impressive Stage 5 victory with a disappointing showing in Stage 6. 

With 35 kilometers to go, he was involved in a crash that cost him valuable time before re-joining the peloton with 27 kilometers to go. 

The crash ultimately cost him the position necessary to make a run at the final sprint as Andre Greipel took the stage. 

Expect Cavendish to use his frustrations from yesterday as motivation to make one good run before he goes through the mountains. That should give him the edge he needs to claim another stage victory.