Join us for live coverage of Stage 6 of the Criterium du Dauphine from 5:00pm AEST, with comments added throughout the stage.
After a thrilling stage five where French young gun Arthur Vichot pulled away from the successful breakaway group to steal the stage win, the fireworks are about to go off just in time for the second mountainous stage; which is stage 6.
Stage 6 is set to be an exciting and race defining stage, with the likes of Tour de France winner, Cadel Evans, Australian Michael Rogers and German superstar Tony Martin all trying to gain time on British sensation Bradley Wiggins in their quest for the yellow jersey.
Evans, Rogers and Martin will certainly have plenty of chances to attack the peloton with stage 6 comprising of six categorised climbs including an HC categorised climb that concludes only 12km from the finish.
These tough climbs in the midst of the French Alps will be a great indication to us all on the real form that General classification contenders Bradley Wiggins and Cadel Evans are carrying heading into the prestigious Tour de France which is now only 21 days away.
Another point of interest for this thrilling upcoming stage is Omega rider, Germany’s Tony Martin. The time trial specialist, who won the time trial at the world championships last September, is looking to make the jump to a General Classification rider at the increasingly near Tour de France and this mountainous stage should be a real test of his queried form on the climbs.
Please join in me in live blogging of what should be an exhilarating stage. All comments are welcome and live blogging will commence around 5:00pm AEST.
zacbrygel
Roar Guru
Thanks for following my coverage everyone. What did everyone make of last night's stage?
zacbrygel
Roar Guru
Stage results: 1.QUINTANA ROJAS N. MOV 4h 46' 12" 2.EVANS C. BMC 00' 16" 3.MORENO FERNANDEZ D. KAT 00' 24" 4.WIGGINS B. SKY 00' 24" 5.WEENING P. OGE 00' 24" 6.FROOME C. SKY 00' 24" 7.KIRYIENKA V. MOV 00' 24" 8.VAN DEN BROECK J. LTB 00' 24" 9.ROGERS M. SKY 00' 24" 10.ZUBELDIA H. RNT 00' 24"
zacbrygel
Roar Guru
The general classification at the end of the stage is as follows with Evans moving up to third: 1.WIGGINS B. SKY 23h 40' 59" 2.ROGERS M. SKY 01' 20" 3.EVANS C. BMC 01' 36" 4.FROOME C. SKY 01' 48" 5.VAN DEN BROECK J. LTB 02' 22" 6.KIRYIENKA V. MOV 02' 58" 7.BRAJKOVIC J. AST 03' 07" 8.KELDERMAN W. RAB 03' 26" 9.PORTE R. SKY 03' 44" 10.VAN GARDEREN T. BMC 03' 51"
zacbrygel
Roar Guru
What a great stage we have just witnessed. The relentless pace of the SKY team was too much for many with under 10 riders surviving till the end of the stage in the Peloton. Quintana Rojas of Columbia showed his Tour credentials with a couragous stage win that was done solo and Evans brought back 8 seconds from Wiggins overall lead with his solo brake from the Peloton in the final kilometres. Stage results and the General classification standings are coming shortly. What did everyone think of the exhilerating stage?
zacbrygel
Roar Guru
Thanks for your support Darryl. I hope Cadel can steal the win tomorrow, however I reckon Wiggins lead will be too much for Evans to bridge. Should be great to watch though.
zacbrygel
Roar Guru
The rest of the Peloton has come in only 8 seconds behind Evans. Evans has only gained 8 seconds over Wiggins but a great show of solo riding from the Australian.
Darryl Kotyk
Roar Pro
Great coverage today, Zac. So what do you think will happen tomorrow?
zacbrygel
Roar Guru
Quintana Rojas wins the stage!
zacbrygel
Roar Guru
Quintana Rojas is about to win the stage. 26 seconds ahead of Evans, and only 500m to go. Well done mate.
zacbrygel
Roar Guru
Evans is giving everything he can! A great show of mental strength from the Aussie!
zacbrygel
Roar Guru
Evans is about 7 seconds ahead of the Pelton and 23 seconds behind Quintana Rojas. Rojas looks as if he will hold unless Evans can catch him.
zacbrygel
Roar Guru
Evans is riding strongly off the Peloton. He is gaining more and more seconds.
zacbrygel
Roar Guru
Evans has about a 4 second gap over the Peloton and he is only speeding up!
zacbrygel
Roar Guru
Evans has attacked again! I told you so. Only 5km to go!
zacbrygel
Roar Guru
Quintana Rojas is still 15 seconds ahead of the Peloton. Only 7km to go!
zacbrygel
Roar Guru
Quintana Rojas is still 12 seconds ahead of the Peloton.
zacbrygel
Roar Guru
Evans has been caught by the Peloton. However I'm sure that will not be the last of his attacks.
zacbrygel
Roar Guru
Cadel Evans has just attacked. Here we go!!!!!!
zacbrygel
Roar Guru
Quontana Rojas has increased his lead to 21 seconds over the main bunch.
zacbrygel
Roar Guru
The peloton is now less than a kilometre from the top of this seemingly never ending climb. The action is starting to heat up.