Today, Le Tour went uphill into the Alps and there were six ranked climbs on the 165.5km stage from Tornus to Station des Rousses where there was a mountain finish.
It was always going to be a day that would sort out the general classicfication and Jerome Pineau, who was leading the King Of The Mountains jersey was first to show. The Quick Step rider was in a group of five riders that also includede Christian Knees, Danilo Hondo, Ruben Perez, and Samuel Dumoulin.
The gap from the peleton which saw the likes of Mark Cavendish drop off the back, was allowed to get up to eight minutes.
Pinea took the first climb of the day - the Cote de l'Aubepin and ended up being voted the Brandt Most Agressive Rider Of The Day. By the fifth climb, Pineau and Hondo were away with a group led by Vockler chasing them down.
Quick Step's Sylvain Chavenel was working his way up to the leaders and with 14km to go, he had passed his rivals.
The gap back to the yellow jersey of Fabian Cancellera was now nine and a half minutes and in a time of 4hr 22 mins 52 seconds, Chavenel crossed the line to win Stage seven and take the yellow jersey.
World Champion Cadel Evans (pictured below) is now second to Chavanel, some one minute and twenty five seconds back.
It was a mixed day for the British riders with Nicholas Roche moving the G.C. from 11th to 8th and Bradley Wiggins from 14th to 11th.
Charles Weglius (pictured below) had a great day and moved up from 172nd to 149th.
Other British riders are David Millar 73rd (down from 15th), Mark Cavendish (126th), Jeremy Lloyd (150th) and Daniel Lloyd (159th).Last of the 186 riders is Jesus Hernandez Blazquez who is 186th and 1hr 1min and 8 seconds behind the yellow jersey.
Stage Eight is from Station De Rousses to Morzine- Avoriaz and is 189km long.
You can see the stage live on British Eurosport and ITV4.
Pictures copyright of Covsupport News Service. Credit CNS/KM