Stage 6, Thursday, July 10th
Bayou – Ville Normandy (hills)
Distance: 201.5km
Obtained elevation difference: 3,550m
Weather: Sunny
Temperature: 26 degrees
The altitude gain is 3,550m, but the course classification is Hill Stage. The reason why race director Christian Prudom describes it as “the most harsh “flat” stage in the history of the Tour” is that no serious mountains appear. As you run around the south side of the Bayou through a region called “Switzerland Normandy (Switzerland of Normandy),” there are a series of ups and downs that look like the Ardenne Classic.
The course is scattered with six low-category mountains, and the final climb, the 4th grade mountain vodry (distance of 1.2km/average 7.2%), is a huge slope with a maximum slope of 11%. Therefore, it was predicted that the top players in the overall race, which has continued to be so harsh, would accept a runaway in order to rest their legs.
The group at the start of the starting lineup were Tadey Pogachar (Slovenia, UAE Team Emirates XRG), who was ranked first in the three-award jersey rankings, including Maillot Blanc (Young Rider Awards), as well as Maillot Jaune. The race also began at 12:45pm, amidst the Bayou native Kevin Vauclan (Alkea B&B Hotels, France), who is currently third in the overall rankings. Shortly after that, Entermarche Wanty began to pull together at a high pace.
The aim is to take the mid-sprint, which is only 22.2km away, with ace Binyam Gilmai (Antermarche Wanty, Eritrea). Gillmai, third in the ranking, ran out from the leadout, but Jonathan Milan (Ridol Trek, Italy) passed the lead. On this day, Milan, who was retiring in a Maillot Veil (Point Award jersey), showed off his speed at the beginning of the race.
The players who took advantage of the offense and defense were the lead actors of the day, Quinn Simmons (U.S., Riddle Trek) and Ben Healy (Ireland, EF Education Easy Post). Julian Alaphilippe (France, Tudor Pro Cycling) and others are aiming to join the two, and Visma Liesuabik’s persistent checks bring Simmons and others back into the main group once. However, when Simmons headed through the first 4th grade mountains, after a fierce attack battle, an escape group of eight people was formed.
Eight people escaped on stage 6
Simon Yates (Visma Reesabik, UK)
Ben Healy (EF Education Easy Post, Ireland)
Quinn Simmons (Ridl Trek, USA)
Mathieu van derpool (Alpesin dekunink, Netherlands)
Michael Stoller (Tudor Pro Cycling, Australia)
Eddie Dunbar (Jaco Alurer, Ireland)
William Balta (Movistar, USA)
Arold Tejada (Colombia, XDS Astana)
The escape group, which had finally formed around the race, comes with Van derpool, who lost the Maylot Jaune the day before, and Simon Yates, who lost overall time on the first day. Simmons and Healy also rode well, and Eddie Dunbar (Ireland, Jaco Alurer) gained freedom from the role of the overall ace in this tournament. In response to the escape of the spectacular team worthy of the world’s biggest race, UAE Team Emirates XRG led the main group and fulfilled their duties as a leader team.
Three people, including an Irish duo called Healy and Dunbar, an Australian staller, were interested in the mountain points set on the third grade mountains. By the time the 50km remaining, the escape gained a 3 minute and 37 seconds lead over Proton. Then, as the chances of a victory gradually increased, Healy jumped out of the escape group with a 42.5km remaining.
The players who escaped this move remained silent, and the former Irish champion quickly gained a lead. In the chasing group, which allowed Healy to 47 seconds behind in 10km, Simmons finally jumped out with 29km remaining, and Stoller and two others chased Healy one minute away. The two players were steadily rotating, but from here on, Healy, who finished second in the Amstel Gold Race, showed an amazing pace boost.
With 15km remaining, the difference extended to 1 minute 27 seconds, and with 10km remaining, the difference extended to 1 minute 48 seconds, and by the time the last 4th grade mountain vodry (distance of 1.2km/average 7.2%), it expanded to 2 minutes 25 seconds. Healy, who had run alone for 42.5km, arrived at Ville Normandy, where the crowd was waiting. He won his first tool stage victory without letting down the pedal force until the end.
“It’s really unbelievable. I’ve been working hard not only this year, but forever, to win here. It’s a truly amazing moment, and it’s not just me, but also thanks to everyone on the team who worked hard together. Today’s stage was aimed at from the start, but I can’t believe I was able to win the first stage with a circle,” he said with joy. He was 24 years old, making his professional debut in EF in 2022 from the prestigious Trinity Racing, and last year, when he made his first appearance at Tour, he ran many times, aiming to win with his natural aggressive running. And this year, his second appearance, he finally won his first victory.
Simmons finished second, 2 minutes and 44 seconds behind. Van derpool lost victory in the second half, but the race ended 3 minutes and 58 seconds behind, and Proton, led by Pogachar, finished 5 minutes 27 seconds behind, regaining the Maylot Jaune, which he had lost the day before, just one second behind.
The special prize jersey that Pogachard had monopolized was passed on by Maillot Vert and Maillot Apois to teammate Tim Wellence (Belgium, UAE Team Emirates XRG).
