Tour de France Stage Report: On a transition day that not much happened, stage 6 came down to a fast, straight sprint into Dijon. Netherland road champion, Dylan Groenewegen (Jayco AlUla) had the fastest finish and beat Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) by only centimetres. Green jersey, Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty) was third. The overall stayed the same. *** Philipsen was declassed after the stage.***
Stage 6 final
The Dutch national champion, Dylan Groenewegen, won the sixth stage of the 2024 Tour de France. There wasn’t much excitement during the day and in the end the stage ended in a bunch sprint. Groenewegen was faster than Jasper Philipsen in Dijon. All the GC favourites finished in the peloton.
Yes Dylan, you won!
Christian Prudhomme, Tour de France general director: “Fans of medieval architecture will be treated to aerial images of Cluny Abbey and much more. The breakaway will set off with the ambition of holding off the peloton’s pursuit though the vineyards of the Côte Chalonnaise, but the sprinters should have the last word on the 800-metre straight into the prefecture of the Côte-d’Or.”
Stage 6 profile
Another chance for the sprinters on stage six from Mâcon to Dijon, over 163 kilometres. The only climb of the day, the Col du Bois Clair (1.8km at 5.7%), comes 153 kilometres from the finish. A perfect stage for a break to go early on the climb, to then be brought back by the sprinter’s teams in time for a bunch kick. After the climb the road is almost flat and the finishing straight is 800 meters long, just right for the fast-finishers.
The hero of stage 5 and 34 other stages – Mark Cavendish
Bini Girmay in green and history
The peloton stayed together until the Col du Bois Clair (1.8km at 5.7%), but on the Cat.4 climb, polka dot jersey wearer Jonas Abrahamsen attacked. The Norwegian of Uno-X Mobility was joined by Axel Zingle, the Frenchman who bunny hopped over the crashed Mads Pedersen. Abrahamsen took the 1 KOM point. After the climb the two rode on for a while, but before the intermediate sprint in Cormat they were caught. The sprinters would fight for the points.
The leaders on the start line with Cavendish
Jonas Abrahamsen lost the green jersey on stage 5, but still has the KOM
It was Jasper Philipsen who scored the most points. He was first across the line ahead of green jersey wearer Biniam Girmay and Mads Pedersen. The teams of the GC favourites worked together at the front, for fear of echelons.
The fan(s) were out in Màcon to see the start for the 163 kilometre stage to Dijon
Those echelons didn’t happen at that point, but just over 80 kilometres from the finish, just after Mark Cavendish had a puncture, the nervousness increased in the peloton. Visma | Lease a Bike took the lead and pulled the peloton onto a long line. This led to splits. A small peloton remained at the front, with only one rider from UAE Team Emirates: Tadej Pogačar. The yellow jersey was isolated, while Remco Evenepoel, Jonas Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel still had men with them.
No one seemed interested in an escape today
A precarious situation for Pogačar, but he didn’t have to fear for long. There was a bit of a lull at the front, allowing the group including Juan Ayuso and João Almeida to return. Everyone was now watching for the crosswinds. Although it remained nervous, no one was surprised. The peloton remained together. There was a small crash 45 kilometres from the finish, which included Abrahamsen. However, the Norwegian and the others were able to continue.
More vineyards
The classification teams continued to ride at the head of the peloton, but it wasn’t as fast as before. The sprint preparation really got going about 10 kilometres from the finish, but Marijn van den Berg crashed. The Dutchman of EF Education-EasyPost landed on his face, but was able to continue, although printing for victory was no longer an option.
Maybe not the most exciting stage to watch on TV, but the fans on the roadside were happy
Alexander Kristoff started the last 3 kilometres in a good position. He had several Uno-X Mobility teammates ahead of him. The Norwegian looked to be at the front a little too early, but with 500 metres to go he still had two lead-out men. Then Mathieu van der Poel came past, with Jasper Philipsen on his wheel. The World champion placed his Alpecin-Deceuninck sprinter perfectly for the last kick.
A long finish straight and a battle for the line went to Dylan Groenewegen
This wasn’t a success. Philipsen was wheel for wheel next to the Dutch champion Groenewegen for a long time, but at the line it was the Jayco AlUla rider by a tyres width. Groenewegen took his seventh Tour de France stage victory. Philipsen was second, Biniam Girmay third.
*** Philipsen finished second, but the Belgian was later declassed. The jury ruled that he had hindered Wout van Aert during the sprint. Green jersey wearer, Biniam Girmay, crossed the line in third place, but has moved up to second, which is good for his points lead. Fernando Gaviria is now third.***
Stage win No.7 for Dylan Groenewegen – A long way to 35
Stage winner, Dylan Groenewegen (Jayco AlUla): “I’m really happy. The feeling is so amazing and to do it in the red, white and blue jersey, I said it would be a beautiful picture, but it was so close I couldn’t celebrate it on the line! I know my legs are fantastic. Yesterday I was a bit disappointed with myself because the team did a really good job. Today we nailed it again. In the final kilometres, we stayed calm and I found the right moment to go. I don’t know exactly what happened, but I was first! Jasper Philipsen was a tough nut to crack today, but we pulled it off in the end. It’s really important to us. I love these rough sprints. There are loads of great sprinters this year, it’s hard to win and, of course, even harder in the Tour, the biggest race on Earth. And now, Uno-X Mobility and Alpecin-Deceuninck have amazing trains. Almost everyone has a great train. You need to get it down to a T. And I’m mighty proud of what we did.”
Will Tadej Pogačar be in yellow tomorrow after the important time trial?
Overall leader, Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates): “Today was a great example of how the Tour can get ugly even when the wind isn’t blowing too hard. It was a rather stressful day. At the end of the day, I was happy the stage wasn’t too long. I already recced the time trial a long time ago. I must say I love this course, it’s a fantastic time trial. It’ll be fast, but aerodynamics alone won’t cut it, you need some oomph too. It’ll be interesting to see how it plays out. I see Remco as the clear favourite. He’s the world champion and has shown time and again that he can beat anyone he likes. He’ll be the man to beat tomorrow, but I think I can do well too. Of course, he’s a serious contender for GC. I think he’s had this goal in mind since December.”
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Tour de France Stage 6 Result:
1. Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) Jayco AlUla in 3:32:31
2. Biniam Girmay Hailu (Eri) Intermarché-Wanty
3. Fernando Gaviria Rendon (Col) Movistar
4. Phil Bauhaus (Ger) Bahrain Victorious
5. Arnaud De Lie (Bel) Lotto Dstny
6. Wout Van Aert (Bel) Visma | Lease a Bike
7. Arnaud Démare (Fra) Arkéa-B&B Hotels
8. Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Uno-X Mobility
9. Pascal Ackermann (Ger) Israel-Premier Tech
10. Piet Allegaert (Bel) Cofidis.
Tour de France Overall After Stage 6:
1. Tadej Pogacar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates in 26:47:19
2. Remco Evenepoel (Bel) Soudal Quick-Step at 0:45
3. Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Visma | Lease a Bike at 50
4. Juan Ayuso Pesquera (Spa) UAE Team Emirates at 1:10
5. Primož Roglič (Slo) Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe at 1:14
6. Carlos Rodriguez Cano (Spa) INEOS Grenadiers at 1:16
7. Mikel Landa Meana (Spa) Soudal Quick-Step at 1:32
8. João Almeida (Por) UAE Team Emirates
9. Giulio Ciccone (Ita) Lidl-Trek at 3:20
10. Egan Arley Bernal Gomez (Col) INEOS Grenadiers at 3:21.
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