Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team has been a protagonist in La Vuelta a Espana stages thus far, getting into breaks for several stages in hopes of a stage win. Frantisek Rabon was the latest brave rider to test the waters in the 164.2km Stage 7, making an escape group of four riders that was down to just he and Bertjan Lindeman (Vacansoleil-DCM) until less than 15km remained.
The peloton kept things in control for a field sprint, and Gert Steegmans and Zdenek Stybar got themselves near the front of the field for a very long final sprint. Steegmans came charging up the right side, but could not hold the power as John Degenkolb (Argos-Shimano) bested Elia Viviani (Liquigas-Cannondale) and Allan Davis (Orica-GreenEDGE) for the stage win,
Steegmans finished 12th on the stage, and Stybar 19th.
"If you don't try than you cannot win," Rabon said about his effort in the break today. "We have a good team here with all-rounders, so Tony already tried, Kristoff yesterday tried. So today was a chance for us again. I'm happy to try. All my other Grand Tours I had to work really hard for a sprinter, or a GC, so this is a nice opportunity to show myself. You never know. Sometimes the peloton miscalculates, or something happens, and the break can arrive. For example, a crash like today in the peloton. So we will just keep trying. Tomorrow the stage, I knew it wouldn't suit me, so that is why I tried today. We got information from behind they were trying to make an echelon. We wanted to make a bonification sprint, then we started attacking each other. Then you never know what can happen with the wind sometimes. The wind can turn to your back and you can go 60km/h and they don't catch you. That is why I tried!"
According to Press Officer Alessandro Tegner (@AleTegner on Twitter), Tony Martin, who crashed with 57km to go in the stage, has a little pain on his right knee. The injury is "nothing serious," but certainly bad luck for Martin today. He finished the stage 50th.
