Late escape gives Sanchez stage victory

(CNN) -- Luis Leon Sanchez's late enterprise paid off with a flying solo escape in the final 5km to win the hilly seventh stage of the Tour de France from Brioude to Aurillac.

The 24-year-old Caisse d'Epargne rider was part of a group of four which broke away before the major climb of the day but was caught towards the end of the stage.

However, the Spaniard slipped away again and this time was able to hold on from a reduced peloton that contained most of the race favorites.

Sanchez came in six seconds ahead of a 21-strong group led by former yellow jersey wearer Stefan Schumacher of Germany, with Filippo Pozzato of Italy third and current race leader Kim Kirchen of Luxembourg in fourth position.

Sanchez, who also won a stage of Paris-Nice this year, pointed to the sky as he crossed the line to claim his first-ever win in the world's biggest race.

"I want to dedicate this victory to my brother who died in a motorbike accident three years ago," said Sanchez.

"We were really close, we rode together until the age of 21 and with my other brother, who plays football, we were always dedicating our victories to each other."

Sanchez insisted that from now on he is likely to stick to Caisse d'Epargne's gameplan of getting their team leader Alejandro Valverde, or 2006 winner Oscar Pereiro, back into the yellow jersey.

"We're here to help Alejandro or Oscar win yellow in Paris, and that's how we approach every stage of this race," he added. "Today I won mostly because of the circumstances of the race."

The 159km leg, over hilly terrain in the Massif Central, saw a number of crashes and retirements -- including that of former French champion Christophe Moreau.

Agritubel team leader Moreau, who was fourth overall in the 2001 edition, became the biggest name to drop out so far, abandoning shortly after he dropped off the back of the peloton.

French climber John Gadret was another to call it a day, while former Paris-Roubaix winner Magnus Backstedt is also out of the Tour after finishing outside the time limit.

Meanwhile, Francaise des Jeux's Lilian Jegou collided with a tree and was also forced out, two days after his heroic escape alongside Nicolas Vogondy from Cholet to Chateauroux.

The day's other big losers were 2004 Giro champion Damiano Cunego, who crashed after 60km, and fifth-placed Briton David Millar. Both finished in the second group to lose 33 seconds on the leaders.

Sylvain Chavanel of France also lost the polka-dot jersey for best climber to David de la Fuente of Spain, who was part of the four-man breakaway.

There was no change to the top of the overall standings, with Kirchen leading Cadel Evans of Australia by six seconds and Schumacher by 16 seconds.