Going gets tough for Thomas

Les Rousses: Tour de France contender Andy Schleck dispossessed Welshman Geraint Thomas of the race's white jersey on Saturday as the race headed into the mountains.

Team Sky's Thomas began the 165.5km seventh stage with a 49second lead on Schleck and only 23sec off the pace of overnight leader Fabian Cancellara.

It was believed race debutant Thomas might give his team a boost by racing into the yellow jersey but instead he had to hand over the white jersey, for the best placed rider aged 25 or under, after finishing a massive 5:18 behind stage winner Sylvain Chavanel of France.