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1620: Pack sprint for the peloton, with O'Grady still looking for time bonuses. Lance Armstrong finishes safely in the main pack.

1617: Jalabert takes his second stage win to huge ovation from the French crowd. It looks as though Voigt will take the yellow jersey.

1615: Just two kilometres to go and Jalabert enters Colmar with the promise of a festive French win. Basso has picked himself up from a fall, but trails Cuesta, Voigt and Roux in the chasing pack.

1610: Taking advantage of a tricky descent, Jalabert accelerates away again and looks set to take a French stage victory on Bastille Day.

The peloton is unlikely to have an impact now and will need to slow down on narrow roads in these slippery conditions.

1605: As the advantage of the leading five drops below four minutes, the two riders with the most to gain - Jalabert and Voigt - are talking while on the descent from the Collet du Ligne.

1600: Roberto Heras is now at the front of the peloton, leading George Hincapie with their US Postal leader, Lance Armstrong, not far back. They are 4:45secs behind the five leaders with 25km to race.

1555: After winning the last three climbs of the stage, Laurent Jalabert has earned 50 points in the climbing classification and will take the polka-dot jersey.

1550: The pace on the Col du Calvaire has split the main pack into two pelotons. Some of the riders in the second group include Zabel, Pena and Brard.

1545: Jalabert rejoins the other four breakaway riders, as the pace quickens in the chasing main pack, which is being urged on by yellow jersey-wearer, Stuart O'Grady.

1540: Crowds fill the road as the peloton passes the summit five minutes back. Stage seven may be one for the breakaway group of five.

Jalabert attacks, leaving the lead group on the descent.

1535: The summit is scaled and Voigt now looks favourite to snatch the overall lead from O'Grady, with the main pack still distant and a largely downhill run to the finish.

Franch hope, Jalabert, will be desperate to take his second Bastille Day Tour stage.

1530: The gap is over five minutes as Roux fights his way back to the front. Jens Voigt is struggling to keep up, but knows that he will likely take the yellow jersey if he can stay with Jalabert and company.

1525: As the climb continues, the chances of the lead group staying away appear to grow. Massive crowds - at places 20 people deep - await the riders at the summit.

Laurent Roux drops out of the lead group with a tire puncture. Four men lead the way now.

1520: The five leaders now have an advantage of 4mins 45secs over the peloton.

The two riders who stand to benefit the most from the escape are Jens Voigt - who began the day in 2nd overall, 26secs off Stuart O'Grady's lead - and Laurent Jalabert, who started the day in 25th place.

1510: To the joy of the French crowds, strong local climber, Laurent Jalabert, is one of five riders in a lead group, more than three minutes ahead of the peloton.

The riders are on the second grade two climb of the day, the Col du Calvaire, and Lance Armstrong's US Postal team is spearheading the chasing pack.

1500: As all of France celebrates Bastille Day, cycling fans can look forward to a spectacular finish to the seventh stage of the Tour de France.

It is the first of the mountain stages and the field has already fragmented as most riders head towards the last 50km.