Stage 5 saw the first quality finish of the 2013 Tour de France with Mark Cavendish taking his 24th stage win, and tonight’s stage looks like being another day out for the sprinters. We’ll have live stage updates from 10.00pm AEST.
Peter Sagan and Andre Greipel tried in vain as did Edvald Boasson Hagen to derail the British champion and they look like doing the same again today.
Matt Goss was dropped in the final climb but should be present in the sprint this time around.
Starting in Aix-En-Provence the riders will have a 9.9km neutral zone before the day’s break will form and most likely build a healthy lead in the road.
176.5kms later the bunch will arrive in Montpellier where the fast men will battle it out for victory.
With a single Cat 4 climb the only elevation to speak off the intermediate sprint point in Maussanae-Les-Alpilles will be a stage highlight but today is all about the finish line.
The mistral wind could play a role here but with Lotto-Belisol and Cannondale yet to record a win the sprinters team want a fast finish.
Simon Gerrans will have his second day in yellow andOrica-GreenEDGEwill will be decked out in yellow helmets again as the team classification leaders.
There is still the likelihood that Daryl Impey could take yellow after today courtesy of them sharing the same time.
Either way, Orica-GreenEDGE should hold onto yellow for Stage 7 and possibly Stage 8 before the race starts heading uphill.
In the break yesterday were several teams looking for sponsors for next season and today could see repeat offenders.
Pierre Rolland’s lead in the KOM is safe although Cav could theoretically be in green after the stage he takes maximum sprint points and Sagan fails to score.
Watch out for Orica-GreenEDGE once again controlling the race but today they will be looking for Goss to make it three wins.
The sprint will be fast with Marcel Kittel also likely to challenge.
This won’t be the most exciting stage of the 2013 Tour but with Gerrans in yellow and Goss in with a chance for victory, the beauty of the Mediterranean should tempt you.
Join us from 10.00pm AEST for all the action
Zeb Woodpower
Roar Guru
So Impey collects yellow and Greipel takes home his fifth Tour stage. Thanks for joining us and thanks in particular to Chad for covering the first hour. The stage was flat but the mistral added intrigue but the talk of the stage will be the first African to wear yellow. Night all and see you soon
Zeb Woodpower
Roar Guru
General classification after Stage 6: 1 Daryl Impey-Orica-GreenEdge 22:18:17 2 Edvald Boasson Hagen-Sky +03 3 Simon Gerrans-Orica-GreenEdge +05 4 Michael Albasini-Orica-GreenEdge +05 5 Michal Kwiatkowski-Omega Pharma-Quick Step +06 6 Sylvain Chavanel-Omega Pharma-Quick Step +06 7 Christopher Froome-Sky +08 8 Richie Porte-Sky +08 9 Nicolas Roche-Team Saxo-Tinkoff +14 10 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Team Saxo-Tinkoff 0:00:14
Zeb Woodpower
Roar Guru
Stage 6 Result: 1 André Greipel-Lotto Belisol 3:59:02 2 Peter Sagan-Cannondale 3 Marcel Kittel-Argos-Shimano 4 Mark Cavendish-Omega Pharma-Quick Step 5 Juan Jose Lobato-Euskaltel-Euskadi 6 Alexander Kristoff-Katusha 7 Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil-Movistar Team 8 Danny van Poppel-Vacansoleil-DCM 9 Roberto Ferrari-Lampre-Merida 10 Samuel Dumoulin-AG2R La Mondiale
Zeb Woodpower
Roar Guru
So the gorilla won both sprints of the day but no green jersey as Sagan retains his lead in the points classification
Zeb Woodpower
Roar Guru
No Goss in the final sprint but another Greenedge rider has a visit to the podium to collect yellow. Impey leads Boasson Hagen by three seconds and Gerrans by five seconds
Zeb Woodpower
Roar Guru
No Goss in the final sprint but another Greenedge rider has a visit to the podium to collect yellow
Zeb Woodpower
Roar Guru
The top five in Montpellier is: 1. André Greipel (GER) LTB 2. Peter Sagan (SLO) CAN 3. Marcel Kittel (GER) ARG 4. Mark Cavendish (GBR) OPQ 5. Lobato (ESP) EUS
Zeb Woodpower
Roar Guru
Gerro loses yellow to teammate Impey and South Africa has its first yellow jersey wearer
Zeb Woodpower
Roar Guru
Impey in YELLOW!!!
Zeb Woodpower
Roar Guru
So yesterday it was cav in the british skinsuit and today its Greipel in the german skinsuit
Zeb Woodpower
Roar Guru
Cav slowed up so Kittel was third and Cav in fourth
Zeb Woodpower
Roar Guru
Greipel 1st then its was Sagan as Cav left it late and was isolated
Zeb Woodpower
Roar Guru
Lotto lead it out
Zeb Woodpower
Roar Guru
Cav is on his own
Zeb Woodpower
Roar Guru
last km and Lotto are in the front
Zeb Woodpower
Roar Guru
Gerro is in about 20th wheel so yellow is probably safe for him
Zeb Woodpower
Roar Guru
cuddles is tucked in just behind Argos-Shimano with 2km to go
Zeb Woodpower
Roar Guru
3km and Argos-Shimano are driving the race home
Zeb Woodpower
Roar Guru
A few breaks in the peloton now as 3.5kms to race with Cannondale moving into position
Zeb Woodpower
Roar Guru
Its Argos-Shimano, Cannondale on the front now as they try to disrupt OPQS