Young Norwegian sprinter Edvald Boasson Hagen upstaged his older fellow countryman, yellow jersey holder, Thor Hushovd and Australian, Matt Goss, to record his first win in a wet Stage 6 of the 2011 Tour de France.
Yesterday, it was HTC’s Mark Cavendish, today it was the 24 year old, Hagen, who used his Sky team mate Geraint Thomas as a launching pad to victory in the sprint to the finish.
A nasty little climb in the final few kilometres of the stage to Lisieux saw a change of strategy from the HTC-Highroad team. Yesterday’s stage had taken its toll on Mark Cavendish and today’s finish was better suited to team mate and Milan-San Remo winner, Matt Goss.
Unfortunately, for the Australian and his team, their efforts were not rewarded.
He was denied his first stage victory by the heir apparent to the 33 year old king of Scandinavian cycling, Thor Hushovd.
The heavyweights of the tour managed to stay out of trouble in the treacherous condition.
The overall standings were unchanged as Cadel Evan (12th), Andy Schleck (32th) and Alberto Contador (48th) all recorded the same time as the stage winner.
Stage seven of the tour is a 218km flat stage from Le Mans to Châteauroux.
The tour is heading to the Massif Central where on Saturday the overall contenders get their first chance to flex their muscles.
However, before we get there, tonight’s stage will present Mark Cavendish with an opportunity to add to his impressive tally of stage wins.
But, Cavendish and his team will have to watch out.
The organisers have not made it easy, again, by including a sharp left hand turn and then a less severe right turn inside the last kilometre of the stage.
The turns will force the peloton to string out as they prepare for the sprint to the finish.
Expect one of the more unpredictable finishes of the tour and a few riders to take a tumble.
Stage 6 Results
POS No. Name Team Time
1 114 Edvald Boasson HAGEN SKY 05:13:37
2 174 Matthew Harley GOSS THR 05:13:37
3 051 Thor HUSHOVD GRM 05:13:37
4 201 Romain FEILLU VCD 05:13:37
5 088 Jose Joaquin ROJAS MOV 05:13:37
6 139 Arthur VICHOT FDJ 05:13:37
7 032 Philippe GILBERT OLO 05:13:37
12 141 Cadel EVANS BMC 05:13:37
32 011 Andy SCHLECK LEO 05:13:37
48 001 Alberto CONTADOR SBS 05:13:37
Overall Standings
POS No. Name Team Time Gap
1 051 Thor HUSHOVD GRM 22:50:34 00:00:00
2 141 Cadel EVANS BMC 22:50:35 00:00:01
3 018 Frank SCHLECK LEO 22:50:38 00:00:04
4 056 David MILLAR GRM 22:50:42 00:00:08
5 074 Andréas KLÖDEN RSH 22:50:44 00:00:10
6 111 Bradley WIGGINS SKY 22:50:44 00:00:10
7 117 Geraint THOMAS SKY 22:50:46 00:00:12
8 114 Edvald Boasson HAGEN SKY 22:50:46 00:00:12
9 013 Jakob FUGLSANG LEO 22:50:46 00:00:12
10 011 Andy SCHLECK LEO 22:50:46 00:00:12
34 001 Alberto CONTADOR SBS 22:52:16 00:01:42
Overall Standings – Australians
POS No. Name Team Gap Time
2 141 Cadel EVANS BMC 00:00:00 22:50:35
73 174 Matthew Harley GOSS THR 00:04:53 22:55:28
83 113 Simon GERRANS SKY 00:06:15 22:56:50
98 016 Stuart O’GRADY LEO 00:08:32 22:59:07
160 005 Richie PORTE SBS 00:16:50 23:07:25
172 177 Mark RENSHAW THR 00:21:42 23:12:17
Green Sprint Jersey Standings
POS No. Name Team Points
1 032 Philippe GILBERT OLO 144
2 088 Jose Joaquin ROJAS MOV 143
3 051 Thor HUSHOVD GRM 112
4 141 Cadel EVANS BMC 98
5 171 Mark CAVENDISH THR 94
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