Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) has taken out Stage 6 of the 2016 Criterium du Dauphine in a two up sprint with Romain Bardet (Ag2r La Mondiale) after a fascinating stage where Chris Froome (Sky) extended his lead in the yellow jersey.
At one point, it looked like Bardet – who was in the breakaway – would be able to run away with the yellow jersey thanks to some dedicated work from his teammates, but he simply didn’t have the legs as Mikel Landa and Sergio Henao opened the afterburners.
Earlier in the stage it was a massive 27 riders breakaway that went clear:
Ben Hermans (BMC), Robert Kiserlovski and Roman Kreuziger (Tinkoff), Thibaut Pinot and Jérémy Roy (FDJ), Laurens De Plus and Tony Martin (Etixx-Quick Step), Jan Bakelants, Mikaël Chérel and Ben Gastauer (AG2R-La Mondiale), Daryl Impey (Orica), Jurgen Van den Broeck (Katusha), Tony Gallopin and Louis Vervaecke (Lotto-Soudal), Serge Pauwels and Daniel Teklehaimanot (Dimension Data), Marc Soler (Movistar), Thomas Voeckler, Perrig Quémeneur and Romain Sicard (Direct Energie), George Bennett (LottoNL-Jumbo), Marco Minnaard (Wanty-Groupe Gobert), Cesare Benedetti and Patrick Konrad (Bora-Argon 18), Tsgabu Grmay (Lampre-Merida), Andriy Grivko. Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana)
That group absolutely split to pieces on the high point of the Dauphine – the Madeleine. For the next hour or two the race would be all over the place, following an Alberto Contador attack that would be caught and a Fabio Aru one that was allowed to go and join the front of the race.
Bardet would then use his teammates to push the gap to over 3 minutes as Fabio Aru was dropped on the second last climb and all the General Classification contenders bided their time behind the Sky train.
With 9 kilometres to go Bardet would attack the breakaway and the only one would could follow was Pinot, who eventually outsprinted him after answering a mountain of attacks.
Froome, back in the peloton would be left to set the tempo on his own through the final kilometre and it paved the way for a brutal Daniel Martin attack.
Froome was the only one able to follow as other riders scrambled to close the gap – the biggest loser being Richie Porte who came in at the back of the contenders group and lost 14 seconds to Froome, 17 to Martin as Contador lost seconds again.
At the end of the day though, a great one for the French with Thibaut Pinot taking the stage win after an awful day yesterday.
Top 10
1. Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) @ 4:24:16
2. Romain Bardet (Ag2r La Mondiale) + 0:00
3. Daniel Martin (Etixx-Quickstep) + 1:04
4. Chris Froome (Sky) + 1:07
5. Louis Meintjes (Lampre) + 1:15
6. Alberto Contador (Tinkoff) + 1:15
7. Deigo Rosa (Astana) + 1:17
8. Adam Yates (Orica) + 1:17
9. Julian Alaphilippe (Etixx-Quickstep) + 1:21
10. Richie Porte (Sky) + 1:21
General Classification
1. Chris Froome (Sky) @ 25:50:22
2. Richie Porte (BMC) + 0:21
3. Romain Bardet (Ag2r) + 0:21
4. Daniel Martin (Etixx-Quickstep) + 0:30
5. Alberto Contador (Tinkoff) + 0:35
6. Julian Alaphilippe (Etixx-Quickstep) + 0:56
7. Adam Yates (Oirca) + 1:02
8. Diego Rosa (Astana) + 1:18
9. Louis Meintjes (Lampre) + 1:35
10. Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) + 2:12
It might be the toughest stage of the Criterium du Dauphine, but it will far from decide the race with another day in the mountains still to come. Can Chris Froome retain yellow? Join The Roar to find out with live coverage of Stage 6 from 10pm (AEST).
After the first real day in the mountains yesterday where Chris Froome showed his dominance, attacking the rest of the peloton to take the victory and yellow, with only Richie Porte (BMC) able to hang on, we enter a sterner test today.
Stage 5 finished on a Category 2 ascent, without another climb in the final 50 kilometres of the stage, but today’s stage finishes with a pair of Category 1 climbs after crossing the high point of the Dauphine on the outside categorisation Col de la Madeleine.
Setting off in La Rochette there will be only 6 kilometres before the race gets going, with the first Category 1 climb of the day, straight up the Col de Champ-Laurent before a very small descent and the Category 2 climb of Col du Grand Cucheron.
After about 25 kilometres descending into the valley below, the riders will head up the Madeleine, 1992 metres above sea level, which is 19.2 kilometres at 7.9 per cent and fairly consistent all the way to the top.
Following a 25-kilometre descent and another 10 kilometres of valley roads, the peloton take on the Category 1 Montee des Frasses, reached just 28 kilometres from the finish line. The road is then lumpy but gradually downhill for about 15 kilometres before the final climb into Meribel.
Unlike yesterday’s final climb, this one stays consistent nearly all the way to the finish line, with 12.3 kilometres at 6.6 per cent. In saying that, the fourth kilometre is over 10 per cent, and the final ramp to the line is the hardest of the climb at 11.2 per cent.
Considering how well Froome rode yesterday on a climb that wasn’t overly suited to him, he should be able to do a good job today, just setting tempo and riding on his limit all the way to the top.
It will be the responsibility of others around him to launch the attacks – Porte will more than likely mark attacks until he is in sight of the finish line and then try to distance Froome, but for others who have lost time it is up to them to attack early.
Fabio Aru and Thibaut Pinot, who both were distanced yesterday could even try to attack on the Madeline or Frasses, knowing they will be given a big chunk of leeway.
Prediction
Froome and Porte looked strong yesterday, as did Adam Yates with a big attack to catch the Contador group. I expect those four to be the last in the lead group and the winner to come out of that group.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of Stage 6 at the Criterium du Dauphine from 10pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add your own comments in the section below.
Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde
Scott Pryde
Expert
Stage Results: Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) has taken out Stage 6 of the 2016 Criterium du Dauphine in a two up sprint with Romain Bardet (Ag2r La Mondiale) after a fascinating stage where Chris Froome (Sky) extended his lead in the yellow jersey. At one point, it looked like Bardet - who was in the breakaway - would be able to run away with the yellow jersey thanks to some dedicated work from his teammates, but he simply didn't have the legs as Mikel Landa and Sergio Henao opened the afterburners. Earlier in the stage it was a massive 27 riders breakaway that went clear: Ben Hermans (BMC), Robert Kiserlovski and Roman Kreuziger (Tinkoff), Thibaut Pinot and Jérémy Roy (FDJ), Laurens De Plus and Tony Martin (Etixx-Quick Step), Jan Bakelants, Mikaël Chérel and Ben Gastauer (AG2R-La Mondiale), Daryl Impey (Orica), Jurgen Van den Broeck (Katusha), Tony Gallopin and Louis Vervaecke (Lotto-Soudal), Serge Pauwels and Daniel Teklehaimanot (Dimension Data), Marc Soler (Movistar), Thomas Voeckler, Perrig Quémeneur and Romain Sicard (Direct Energie), George Bennett (LottoNL-Jumbo), Marco Minnaard (Wanty-Groupe Gobert), Cesare Benedetti and Patrick Konrad (Bora-Argon 18), Tsgabu Grmay (Lampre-Merida), Andriy Grivko. Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana) That group absolutely split to pieces on the high point of the Dauphine - the Madeleine. For the next hour or two the race would be all over the place, following an Alberto Contador attack that would be caught and a Fabio Aru one that was allowed to go and join the front of the race. Bardet would then use his teammates to push the gap to over 3 minutes as Fabio Aru was dropped on the second last climb and all the General Classification contenders bided their time behind the Sky train. With 9 kilometres to go Bardet would attack the breakaway and the only one would could follow was Pinot, who eventually outsprinted him after answering a mountain of attacks. Froome, back in the peloton would be left to set the tempo on his own through the final kilometre and it paved the way for a brutal Daniel Martin attack. Froome was the only one able to follow as other riders scrambled to close the gap - the biggest loser being Richie Porte who came in at the back of the contenders group and lost 14 seconds to Froome, 17 to Martin as Contador lost seconds again. At the end of the day though, a great one for the French with Thibaut Pinot taking the stage win after an awful day yesterday. Top 10: 1. Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) @ 4:24:16 2. Romain Bardet (Ag2r La Mondiale) + 0:00 3. Daniel Martin (Etixx-Quickstep) + 1:04 4. Chris Froome (Sky) + 1:07 5. Louis Meintjes (Lampre) + 1:15 6. Alberto Contador (Tinkoff) + 1:15 7. Deigo Rosa (Astana) + 1:17 8. Adam Yates (Orica) + 1:17 9. Julian Alaphilippe (Etixx-Quickstep) + 1:21 10. Richie Porte (Sky) + 1:21 General Classification 1. Chris Froome (Sky) @ 25:50:22 2. Richie Porte (BMC) + 0:21 3. Romain Bardet (Ag2r) + 0:21 4. Daniel Martin (Etixx-Quickstep) + 0:30 5. Alberto Contador (Tinkoff) + 0:35 6. Julian Alaphilippe (Etixx-Quickstep) + 0:56 7. Adam Yates (Oirca) + 1:02 8. Diego Rosa (Astana) + 1:18 9. Louis Meintjes (Lampre) + 1:35 10. Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) + 2:12
Scott Pryde
Expert
General Classification 1. Chris Froome (Sky) @ 25:50:22 2. Richie Porte (BMC) + 0:21 3. Romain Bardet (Ag2r) + 0:21 4. Daniel Martin (Etixx-Quickstep) + 0:30 5. Alberto Contador (Tinkoff) + 0:35 6. Julian Alaphilippe (Etixx-Quickstep) + 0:56 7. Adam Yates (Oirca) + 1:02 8. Diego Rosa (Astana) + 1:18 9. Louis Meintjes (Lampre) + 1:35 10. Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) + 2:12
Scott Pryde
Expert
Top 10: 1. Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) @ 4:24:16 2. Romain Bardet (Ag2r La Mondiale) + 0:00 3. Daniel Martin (Etixx-Quickstep) + 1:04 4. Chris Froome (Sky) + 1:07 5. Louis Meintjes (Lampre) + 1:15 6. Alberto Contador (Tinkoff) + 1:15 7. Deigo Rosa (Astana) + 1:17 8. Adam Yates (Orica) + 1:17 9. Julian Alaphilippe (Etixx-Quickstep) + 1:21 10. Richie Porte (Sky) + 1:21
Scott Pryde
Expert
Full report and Stage results to come. Thanks for joining me this evening for The Roar's live coverage of the 2016 Criterium du Dauphine as Thibaut Pinot took the stage win ahead of Romain Bardet, and Chris Froome managed to hold the yellow jersey. Hopefully you enjoyed the coverage. Brendon Vella will be with you this evening from the early time of 9:30pm (AEST) for the final stage of the race. Be sure to join him then. Until next time, It's bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Well, the race isn't all over just yet with another day in the mountains tomorrow but it looks like Froome is going to be very hard to beat.
Scott Pryde
Expert
So Porte has lost 14 seconds to Froome, Contador 8
Scott Pryde
Expert
So Pinot with the win, Bardet badly ruined that after the work of his team and a great effort from Froome to hold yellow. Incredible ride from Landa to close the gap. Full credit to Daniel Martin for that brutal attack.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Martin leads Froome up to the line, and Froome drops off at the end there in fact. Martin at 1:04, then Froome 1:07. Mientjes at 1:15 with Contador, then Rosa and Yates. Porte looked to be about 1:21 down at the back of that group there. Great attack from Martin.
Scott Pryde
Expert
DAN MARTIN! Bang. He has attacked and Froome into the wheel. Contador trying to close it down, but Porte doesn't have the legs. He is stuck with Yates and the others.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Back at the front and Bardet looks like he is trying to ride for the stage win rather than the jersey now. Pinot in the wheel and as Pinot opens up, Bardet does the same. Bardet leads but Pint comes around, closes the door and takes the win ahead of Bardet. PINOT WINS.
Scott Pryde
Expert
500 metres to go up in front and it is still Bardet in front of Pinot.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Henao pulls over and Froome takes over the pace making into the final kilometre. He is just going to get to the line as fast as possible. Can anyone attack him?
Scott Pryde
Expert
Henao still leading the contenders group here as Froome has Porte and Contador in the wheel.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Inside 1km to go and Pinot just staying glued to the wheel of Bardet.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Bardet with another attack but Pinot is not going anywhere.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Henao right out of the saddle here, trying to keep the pace up and ward off attacks. Bardet and Pinot still together with 1.3km to go.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Kreuziger heading back to the peloton- Will he be able to hang on?
Scott Pryde
Expert
Froome is back into the virtual lead of the race, although there is a 10 second time bonus on the line. 2km to go.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Landa is finally out of gas. Henao on the front and the gap is 1:31 with 2.3km to go.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Van Den Broeck shoved out the back and Ben Hermans disappearing as well.