Tour de France: Stage 6 preview
Stage 6 map, profile and Chris Boardman video preview
Épernay – Metz
Distance: 207.5km
Highest point: 393m
Category: Flat
Last sprint before the hills
The race continues east with another stage that’s sure to be a sprint. There’s one categorised climb, soon after the day’s intermediate sprint, but the sprinters won’t be too troubled by it. Plus, they have the motivation of knowing that this will be their last moment in the spotlight for the best part of a week, so they won’t want to pass this chance up. With the mountains just ahead, the baroudeurs, who like nothing more than several hours out at the front of the race, will be evident too. Could this be a day when one of them goes the whole distance? Probably not, but that won’t stop them trying.
Sean Yates: "It is too early to be going for intermediate sprints so we won’t be trying keep it together. It’s the last flat stage and then we hit the mountains – the combination of us [Sky], Omega Pharma-Quick-Step and Lotto will surely lead to a sprint."
Maps and profiles courtesy of ASO
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
'Bonne soirée, Lille' - Parade of riders at Tour de France teams presentation delights crowd with new team kits, national colours and free bottles
Defending champion Tadej Pogačar impresses crowd surrounding Column of the Goddess statue with comments in local language -
'He's the best climber in the world' – Tadej Pogačar praises Tour de France rival Jonas Vingegaard as rivalry enters next chapter
World champion 'hopes to live up to expectations' in search of fourth yellow jersey -
WorldTour Ceratizit Pro and US powerhouses Aegis Cycling and Fount Cycling among final squads confirmed for Maryland Cycling Classic Women
Field of 15 teams with six riders each solidified for inaugural UCI race in Maryland in nine weeks -
'Without bad things, you don't know what the good things are' - Primož Roglič forlorn and philosophical about Tour de France chances
Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe reveals how much he suffered after Giro d'Italia crash