Tour de France 2019: Stage 6

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January 1 - July 28, Mulhouse, France, Road - WorldTour

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Hello and welcome to our live coverage from stage 6 of the 2019 Tour de France.

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage from the Tour de France. It's stage 6 and today we go deep into the Vosges mountains - perhaps the best range in France - with a finish at La Planche des Belles Filles. It's the first summit finish of this year's race and this will provide a significant inspection on the GC candidates and their credentials for the yellow jersey. 160km of racing, seven categorized climbs and everything to play for - we should be in for a cracker.

We are about 30 minutes away from the official roll out but already you can sense the nerves within the start area. We had a bit of a warm up yesterday as the riders took on a few smaller climbs but today is going to be a much sterner test for all concerned. A bit of news: our first rider to leave the race is Patrick Bevin, who goes home injured and will not start today's action. 

Here's how things stand on GC coming into the race: 

 

Here are the major climbs listed for today's stage: 

 

At the start this morning there's quite a lot of cloud cover and it's around 19 degrees. Almost every rider has signed on and we can see a few mechanics making some last minute adjustments to bikes by the team buses. Some riders, clearly keen to start with a bang, have already warmed up on the rollers and it will be fascinating to see the calibre of the early break, and whether any of the GC teams will try and put men up the road. 

We'll also have to wait and see in terms of QuickStep and whether they will ride to protect Alaphilippe's yellow jersey. Surely, Team Ineos will do a lot of the work on the front even though they don't have the maillot jaune in their ranks (yet).

In news away from the Tour de France mayhem it looks as though Tom Dumoulin is edging away from Team Sunweb in order to join Jumbo Visma for 2020. He has a contract with Sunweb so at the moment his current team have all the power and they must decide if it's worth letting their star GC rider go (for a fee). Complex but crunch meetings are set for this week. Here's our story on the matter.

It shall be interesting to see who goes in the break today, especially with so many KOM points available. Another day for Wellens perhaps?

Whoever moves into yellow on the final climb has gone on to win the Tour. Wiggins in 2012, Nibali in 2014, and Froome in 2017. Ominous. 

Last winner here was Fabio Aru. He's back after surgery in the spring. Few people are talking about him given his time off and his average 2018 but this is a finish for a climbing specialist. It doesn't have to be a overall GC contender who wins. A climber who has lost time in the first week could feature. That said, the GC riders will not want to give an inch today, given that this is the first summit finish. 

Sticking with the Italian theme, Nibali is here and today will give us a really clear of his form after a taxing Giro d'Italia. He says he's here with no pressure but there's always pressure, especially when you're a former winner and you're the only GC rider in your team. Today will probably determine if Nibali is here for stage wins or a GC challenge. 

Totallly forgot: we have some quotes from Nibali. 

We're almost racing. 3.5km to go until Prudhomme waves his flag.

Roughly 30km of flat roads before the first climb. It's going to be non-stop attacking as soon as the flag drops. Lotto Soudal have two men near the front. Guess who is there? Thomas de Gendt and Tim Wellens. 

The flag has dropped and see a flurry of early attacks with CCC leading the charge. Wanty are there, and Cofidis. 

And De Gendt is leading the attacks. He has about 12 riders on his wheel, including Andre Greipel. 

There are maybe 15 riders off the front but the gap is only about 10 seconds. Teuns is there. Maybe Zakarin. 

No. It's Politt for Katusha. Trek Segafredo have tossed a couple of climbers into the mix with 154km to go.

And now the bunch sit up. There's another rider attacking. And then another CCC ride goes. Then Asgreen. Then Jensen and a Movistar rider, so the chase isn't over. Asgreen is shut that latest move down. Enough. He says.

152km remaining from 160km

Breaking news from our women's editor Kirsten Frattini:

147km remaining from 160km

 

 

A few drops of rain on the riders at the moment as we see Quickstep lead the peloton. The gap has gone out to 3'59 with 143km to go. The leaders are working well here and it's interesting that Trek have put climbing firepower in the break. 

A race within a race: It will be fascinating to see who comes out on top in terms of the internal battle at Movistar. Quintana and Landa have both said they're here to target yellow, while Valverde apparently has lost 5kg.Today could decide who really leads the team and then who isn't going to work for that leader going forward.

132km remaining from 160km

The leader are about to hit the intermediate sprint. Pasqualon takes it ahead of Politt and Greipel. 

128km remaining from 160km

Sagan and Matthews go head-to-head for the single point on offer. Sagan was chatting with Viviani and Matthews uses the chance to go early. The Australian takes the all-important point. Sagan shrugs his shoulders and the pair drift back into the comfort of the main field.

The leaders are now at the foot of the first climb of La Markstein. It's 10.8km in length with an average of 5.4 per cent. It's the first 1st cat climb of the race. 

125km remaining from 160km

The leaders still have 6.5km to climb as Asgreen does all the work on the front of the chase. Ineos have everyone on his wheel for now, including Bernal and Thomas. 123km to go and the gap is at 7'04.

The race has settled down but I'd be really interested in the two Trek riders in the break and whether this is part of a plan to take the stage or set something up for Porte later on.

Wellens is going through at the front and this is a huge chance for him to take more points. He will need to watch Trek Ciccone's though, who won the KOM title and a stage in the Giro. Not sure who was the last rider to win the KOM in both the Giro and the Tour in the same season. Help?

Edet has been dropped. Not sure what the problem is but the Cofidis rider is in trouble. He has 120km to go and he could be alone for the rest of the day. 

Last rider to win the KOM in the Giro and the Tour in the same year....

Near the top of the climb and Politt and Greipel are in trouble. Wellens leads over the top and who is on his wheel? Ciccone. Third was Meurisse, who nabbed some late points on stage 5. The plot thickens. 

115km remaining from 160km

De Gendt is leading the break on the climb as Wellens looks to snaffle up more points like a polka-dot hungry hippo. 

De Gendt kicks first and Lotto look to work over Ciccone. 

De Gendt is first, Ciccone was second and Cosnefroy was third after Wellens sits up. Lotto have gone into the stage with a real plan but they need to watch Ciccone like a hawk. I wonder who would win in a fight between a hippo and a hawk..

Christoffer Fischer
‏ @PilleFischer
8m8 minutes ago

Bike change for Barguil. He's annoyed with team cars but there's no sign of a fall. The bunch have just gone over the Ballon climb. 

99km remaining from 160km

Turgis has problems on the descent. He overcooks a corner and goes onto the crash. He stays up but he's in a spot of bother as he links up with Barguil. 

The break have reached the lower slopes of the Col du Hundsruck. Greipel is still there and digging in but there are clearly some tired legs out there. The gap is still just over seven minutes as we see Wout Van Aert at the back of the bunch. 89km to go. 

Alaphilippe's team have come to the front with more riders and intent as the bunch start to climb but Ineos remain huddled just behind them. It's only matter of time before the defending champions take control of the stage. 

Don't forget you can download - for free - all our Tour de France podcast, right here. Subscribe and you can win a signed EF-Education First Tour de France jersey. 

A mechanical for Pasqualon and he takes a new bike as up ahead DeGendt leads the break on behalf of Wellens. 86km to go.

400m to go and we're going to have a sprint at the top of the Hundsruck

Berhane takes the points, with Wellens and Ciccone second and third. This is a decent little battle we've got going on for the KOM competition.

The bunch remain at a distant 7'178 with Asgreen still doing all the work. 

Big news from this morning is that Tom Dumoulin is edging closer to a move away from Team Subweb and is keen to join Jumbo Visma and break his current contract. The story and all the details can be found here.

At the start of this race in Brussels, Andre Greipel told CN that he was going to treat this race as if it was his final Tour. He's having 'fun' out there today in break in the mountains, and he's hanging in there at the moment with 76km to go. The Col des Croix is next and it might be a bridge too far for the popular German. 

The gap to the break is up to 7'49 as the leaders heads towards the feedzone. Asgeen looks like a spent force at the moment but would you be smiling if you'd crashed at 50kph and were then asked to work on the front just a few days later? The young Dane has put in a huge shift today for his team and there's Mas just a few wheels back. Let's see how the Spaniard handles the climb today as it should suit him.

67km remaining from 160km

No passengers in the break today, they've all committed when they could but Greipel now has drifted to the back as we race towards the Ballon d’Alsace. That's the next climb and it's a first cat climb. The race will split there as we see Ineos move up with Kwiatkowski on the front of their train.

The break are on the 11km climb and they instantly line out De Gendt once again takes over with a long pull as we see Arndt at the back. Greipel has been dropped. 

Greipel is about 10m back from the break and just riding at his own pace at the moment as we see Van Baarle and Moscon pick up lunch for their leaders - Bernal and Thomas - in the feedzone.

Our readers love wheels it seems and this is the second most popular story on the today. Wheels. 

In the finish there is a dirt road from -800 metres to -300. The road is then flat after the old finish  and then rises gradually. It gets much steeper once road turns to tarmac.

Okay so the break have 8'03 with 60km to go so they have a chance of competing for the stage. Ciccone is the best placed rider at 1'43 off the yellow jersey and he's the best placed rider in the break. We're still climbing the Ballon d’Alsace, as we see Politt start to struggle. 

59km remaining from 160km

More problems for Barguil. First he takes a wheel from a teammate and then he goes back to the cars for a chat. The French champion is at least getting himself noticed. 

De Gendt is leading us towards the top of the first cat climb with Wellens on his wheel. Berhane is looking to get in the mix too.

That was close but it looked like Wellens took it. Ciccone was either second or third.

All change at the front of the peloton as Movistar lead the way. It's not their responsibility to work with 53km to go.

The  move from Movistar has brought others out to play with Mitchelton and AG2R raising their game as we see Greipel crest the climb on his own. 

The gap is down to 7'08 so the break have lost a minute since the top of the climb and since Movistar began to ride. We're on the long descent off the Ballon d’Alsace and it's Bora who are now leading the peloton. QuickStep have retreated to inside the main field.

Three more climbs and 42km to go as we see Teuns take a long turn on the front. He won a stage in the Dauphine and wore yellow, so he's in good form at the moment as the break reach the flat roads before the next climb of the Col  des  Croix.

The bunch has split on the descent and there are around 50 riders clear. It should come back together but some riders  are going to suffer in the chase. 

Movistar and Bora put the hammer down and it's FDJ who have to close that gap. The French squad need to pay attention at moment like this, as we move into the final 40km. The gap is at 6'40 with 38km to go. The Wanty riders in the break are putting a very good showing today.

Teuns is doing more and more work at the front of the break as they hit the Col  des Croix and they've only lost Griepel so far. 

Huge turn from Bernard but then De Gendt attacks for the points and perhaps the stage 2ith 37km to go. He will not sit up. 

De Gendt has the gap and he's clear. Lotto Soudal have executed their plan to perfection today, they really have. 

Greipel has just been caught by the bunch with 31km to go as Movistar and Ineos lead the peloton but Nibali and his men are close by too as the descent is started.

Just the final two climbs to go and the break have just 5'35. The Col des Chevrères is short but brutal and it's going to blow the race apart before we even hit the final ascent. No time gap yet on De Gendt but he continues to press on for the stage win.

Politt has been dropped by the break but that's been coming for a while now. Katusha have been in the break for the last two days, so the intent is there.

De Gendt reaches the lower slopes of the Col des Chevrères and powers up the early slopes. Part of the climb reaches 20 percent but the Belgian breakaway specialist looks at ease for now and he has over  five minutes on the main field.

Trek are going to try and respond for both the stage and the KOM. Bernard leads Ciccone up to the front and it looks like Wellens is going to mark moves as we see a batch of riders from the break drop out of contention. Down to about 8 riders chasing De Gendt. 

21km remaining from 160km

Cosnefroy is the latest rider to lose contact on the climb but Movistar are doing splitting the main field on the ascent too. 20km to go. 

Bernard is toast.

Berhane and Pauwles are losing contact as well.

20km remaining from 160km

Wellens, Ciccone, Meurisse and Teuns are all that's left from the break with 19.9km to go. The peloton are at 4'37 with Movistar still doing all the chasing.

Teuns stamps on the pedals and the rest of those that remain in contention are put under pressure. This climb is short but it's a real brute as we see Valverde called into action for Movistar. The gap is at 4'15 and it's coming down rapidly. 

Ciccone has come into his own as the stage has worn on and he's seen off the Lotto challenge as he crests the 3rd cat climb in first place ahead of Tim Wellens.

The four leaders have four minutes and they need to press on, even with just 17km to go. They have descent ahead of them before the final climb and they need every single second. 

Van Garderen has been dropped. Earlier than perhaps expected as we see Valverde turn the screw. 

Alaphilippe digs in and holds the pace set by Valverde as the maillot jaune group crest the penultimate climb. The world champion then drifts back into second wheel as the gap holds at 4'00 with 11km to go.

The break could make it and Ciccone could be in yellow but that might be a big ask. 

9km remaining from 160km

Movistar come off the descent and keep the pressure on but the gap is holding at just over four minutes with 6.7km to go. The final climb rises to 20 per cent at times and it's about to kick up to 13 per cent. The break can do this. 

The yellow jersey group is down to around 40 riders but there's no sign of Ineos or Bernal just yet. Still early days though. Pinot, Bardet, Porte, and Thomas are all in contention with the gap down to 3'56 with 6km to go.

Kruijswijk is there too. He could be in yellow at the end of the stage. Uran is present as well as we see van Garderen make it back. 3'46 with Soler on the front. This is too close to call at the moment.

5.8km to go and Valverde takes over as up the Ciccone does most of the work. He calls for help though and they're playing games already. 3'33.

Valverde rises from the saddle with Landa and Quintana on his wheel. Which GC rider will attack first? Cherel has been dropped. 

Kruijswijk is quite far back actually.

3'17 with 5.1km to go.

Simon Yates is the next to go. (off the back).

3'13 as Ciccone again comes to the front. He looks the freshest from the four leaders as Valverde just chips away at the lead and then he swings over with 4.7km to go. 

Adam Yates and Dan Martin are a bit far back. 4.5km to go with the gap now down to 3'05.

4.4km to go and Wellens is cracking. He's cracked as Ciccone pushes on. 

4.1km to go and the gap is at 2'46 as Ciccone brings Teuns with him. Just two leaders. 

Valverde is back and smiling at Ineos who are not setting fastest possible pace at the moment.

Bernal is second wheel and just waiting and waiting as Barguil attacks with 3.5km to go. 

The Frenchman quickly finds 50m but Ineos just hold him there.

Attack from Movistar. Landa 3km to go.

He goes by Barguil with utter ease and kicks clear. Ineos need to chase now. 

Three Ineos riders left but two of them are Bernal and Thomas.

The yellow jersey group are cutting through the early break riders and Land keeps looking back but if he just puts his head down... 

Only 2.4km to go and the two leaders are going to decide the stage. Landa presses on again as Sky just continue with their brisk tempo so FDJ take over for Pinot. 

And the pace goes up right away.

Now we have a race as Valverde is dropped by the FDJ pace setting. Pinot is second wheel. 

Landa has 15 seconds on the yellow jersey. 

Barguil is dropped. Aru too.

No real cracks from the real GC riders yet. 1.3km to go and Ciccone still looks like he's out on a club run.

FDJ continue to set a brisk pace and the gap is at 2'17. It's touch and go for the yellow jersey as the leaders reach the gravel section.

Bernal is on Pinot's wheel and it looks like Porte is struggling. 

They have Landa in their sights as Kruijswijk and Bardet struggle.

400m and still two leaders. Teuns leads. 

Teuns goes early. 

He can't drop Ciccone. 300m to go as Alaphilppe attacks.

Bardet has been dropped. 

Teuns has it. He grinds clear and takes the stage with Ciccone cracking in the final 100m. 

Now can Ciccone take yellow?

Alaphilipe has attacked and he's fighting for yellow with no response from the GC contenders. 

Thomas is close to the QuickStep rider with Pinot and Quintana chasing.

Thomas leads them home. Bernal, Yates, Uran, Woods and several others lost time there. Kruijswijk finishes later, and Nibali too. 

We're still waiting for Bardet. He's taken another hit today in his GC ambitions. 

In all of that I'm not sure if Alaphilippe has yellow. We'll have to wait for confirmation. 

It's going to be really close as we need to factor in bonus seconds and my terrible maths. 

I think that Ciccone has it because of the bonus seconds. We have a new yellow jersey. 

Here are the stage results:

Ciccone leads the Tour de France by six seconds. This is his Tour debut in what has been an incredible season for the Trek rider.

And here is the new GC:

So much to talk about, so many topics but lets start with the winner. Teuns played the right card today because he didn't have a teammate in the break but he allowed Trek and Lotto to drive things along in the pursuit of mountain points and then he made the key selection. Ciccone did a lot of work on the final climb but Teuns simply had better legs in the end. A huge win in his career. 

As for Ciccone he can console himself with the yellow jersey. He will also wear white and has moved into contention for the KOM competition behind Tim Wellens. Not a day out for a Tour de France debutant. 

A valiant effort from Alaphilippe too. Many expected him to lose yellow but perhaps not in these circumstances. He attacked from the bunch in order to save his jersey but came up short. 

Bardet is now 2'57 down on GC. He lost significant time today on a stage that should have suited him. He'll be gutted and will need to go on the attack in order to turn around his Tour. Jumbo Visma and Mas also lost more time than they would have liked.

You can find our report, results, photos and soon to be added, video highlights right here.

Steven Kruijswijk (Jumbo-Visma) - Finished 20th on stage 6
"This was to be expected, but there is still a lot to come.

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