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94th Tour de France - ProT
France, July 7-29, 2007
Main Page Results & report Stage Details Previous Stage Next Stage
Stage 6 - Friday, July 13: Semur-en-Auxois - Bourg-en-Bresse, 199.5km
Live commentary by Laura Weislo and Bjorn Haake
Complete live report
Live coverage starts: 13:00 CEST
Estimated finish: 17:30 CEST
Bonjour and welcome back to Cyclingnews' live coverage of stage
six in the 94th edition of the Tour de France. Today will be the last chance
for the sprinters to make a bunch gallop before the Alps will put the hammer
down on the fast men. The stage today is just shy of 200 kilometres and runs
from Semur-en-Auxois to Bourg en-Bresse. While there are a couple of category
four climbs in the way, the last 60 kilometres are run over flat terrain.
13:08 CEST
Bradley Wiggins is the first rider
to attack and quickly builds a lead of one minute.
13:10 CEST
Wiggins attacked at the two-kilometre
mark. The peloton is still in a lull and 16 minutes into the race the lead is
quickly building. The Cofidis rider has now over two minutes on the rest.
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13:13 CEST
Alexander Vinokourov of Astana spent
five hours in the hospital yesterday evening and despite his rather severe injuries
to his knees he has decided to start today. Hopefully he can make it to the
finish. It'd be a pity to have to abandon the Tour after a silly crash, especially
when you are the hot-on favourite.
13:13 CEST
We have six riders who have abandoned
the race so far. 183 riders remain following these withdrawals:
- Stage 1: DNF Eduardo Gonzalo Ramirez (Spa) Agritubel - broken collarbone
- Stage 3: DNS Tomas Vaitkus (Ltu) Discovery Channel - broken thumb stage
two
- Stage 4: DNF Xabier Zandio Echaide (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne - broken collarbone
- Stage 5: DNS Rémy Di Grégorio (Fra) Française des Jeux - broken elbow stage
four
- Stage 5: DNF Brett Lancaster (Aus) Team Milram - sciatica
- Stage 6: DNS Geoffroy Lequatre (Fra) Cofidis - multiple injuries
Current situation
- Bradley Wiggins (Cofidis)
- Andry Grivko (Team Milram)
- Peloton at 2.20
13:15 CEST
We departed from Semour-en-Auxois
a few minutes ago, the historic capital of the Auxois region. It is part of
the Côte-d'Or ('Gold coast') department, which is one of the original 83 departments
(today there are 96). The town of 5,000 inhabitants is situated next to the
river Armançon and has a medieval core with cobbled streets, picturesque staircases
and old gateways. Most streets lead to the centre of town, the 13th century
church of Notre-Dame.
13:18 CEST
Bradley Wiggin's is now in the virtual
leader jersey. He slipped into it at the 14 kilometre mark, when his lead was
already up to 5'40". It is quickly building, currently at 7'40"
13:19 CEST
Andriy Grivko (Milram) has counter
attacked and is chasing behind the Cofidis rider.
13:23 CEST
Geoffroy Lequatre (Cofidis) did make
it to the finish yesterday way outside the time limit. The limit was around
16 minutes off the winner's mark, whereas Lequatre made it almost 45 minutes
later. The jury reinstated him, following his unfortunate crash. However, his
injuries were too severe, so his directeur sportif indicated yesterday that
he will not be able to continue.
13:23 CEST
Bradley Wiggins isn't going for the
overall classification. He told our reporter John Trevorrow before stage five
that he wanted a stage win, something he'd have to change his standings to achieve.
"I probably need to lose a bit of time because I am too high up on GC to be
allowed any leeway," Wiggins explained. "But the Alps will probably help out
there."
He wasn't sure the Alpine stages would be as exciting as
the fans might hope. "I think the Alps will be quite disappointing. I don't
think they will live up to expectations. No one is going to have the bollocks
to do anything in those stages. Vinokourov, Moreau all those guys are going
to play it so cautiously. It's partly because the last days in the Pyrenees
are just so tough."
13:25 CEST
Grivko is currently a minute in front
of the field, but still 6'40" behind Wiggins. It will be a long chase for the
Milram rider before he can see the tail end of the British time trial specialist.
13:27 CEST 23.5km/176km to go
We are now 23 kilometres
into the race, with the first sprint coming up in another 30 kilometres.
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13:29 CEST
Wiggins might also be trying to pep
up the French crowds, which he viewed as a bit disappointing. Of the prologue
in London, he said, "It was a great day for cycling and the English crowds were
just brilliant." But upon entering French territory things aren't so exciting.
"It has been a bit disappointing coming back to France. The crowds here haven't
been as interested. Belgium was fantastic, but a bit of the same old in France,
the crowds yelling abuse, calling us slackers..."
13:33 CEST
Grivko didn't make it and is back
in the field now, which has picked up the pace a little bit. The acceleration
also cut down the lead of Wiggins to 6'10"
13:34 CEST
We've got a few pretty banged up
riders in the peloton today, and they'll be happy to sit in and attempt to heal
up on this flat stage before the race hits the Alps this weekend. Andreas Klöden
(Astana) was said to have fractured his tailbone, just a hairline fracture,
so he is continuing. It's a very painful injury for a cyclist, but the tough
German is soldiering on.
Current situation
- Bradley Wiggins (Cofidis)
- Peloton at 7.40
13:38 CEST
Benjamin Noval (Discovery) was back
at the team car getting some attention. The Spaniard was the second rider to
crash into the back of a team car in this Tour after Xabier Zandio (Caisse d'Epargne)
did the same on stage one. Noval had to have stitches last night, and his cuts
were fairly deep.
13:41 CEST 31.5km/168km to go
The lead has gone
back out and the field has decided for now to let Wiggins do his solo effort
on the front. He is 8'40" ahead and will surely soon have a lead in the double
digits.
13:42 CEST
Besides hosting the start of stage
six, Semour-en-Auxois has also made a successful bid to host the French
National Championships in 2008, which will take place the last weekend of
June.
13:43 CEST
Astana has two injured team leaders,
and now they've lost another man. No, not a rider in the Tour, but the German
rider Matthias Kessler, who tested positive for testosterone in April. The team
has announced that the B sample was positive so Kessler is now "fired from the
Astana Cycling Team with immediate effect".
13:45 CEST
And the lead continues to increase
with every pedal stroke. It is now at 9'30".
13:47 CEST
The stage finish today is Bourg-en-Bresse
and one rider will have particularly fond memories of it: Thor Hushovd won
the stage into this town in Burgundy in 2002.
13:50 CEST
Discovery
Channel's DS Johan Bruyneel blamed Noval's crash on the Bouygues Telecom
team director. On the team's website, www.thepaceline.com, he explained that
the French team's car was hosting some media, and was not paying attention on
the rapid, technical descent. The team wasn't sure Noval would start, but managed
to depart for stage six.
Current situation
- Bradley Wiggins (Cofidis)
- Peloton at 9.30
13:53 CEST 38km/161.5km to go
Brad Wiggins is
at the 38 kilometre mark in Sainte Sabine, chugging away with 9'30 still. The
peloton is not too concerned about a single man being off the front.
13:56 CEST
Wiggins' lead is actually more than
eleven minutes now! The Cofidis team desperately wants a stage win. They've
had a man in the break nearly every day, but each time the move has been caught
by the sprinters.
14:03 CEST
There aren't as many prizes up the
road for Wiggins as his teammate Chavanel was able to pick up yesterday. While
Chavanel took seven of the eight climbs on stage five to move into the polka
dot jersey, Wiggins faces only two climbs and one intermediate sprint today.
The sprint comes at kilometre 51.5 in Bligny-Sur-Ouche, and is followed closely
by the first climb - the Cote de Grandmont at kilometre 55. The category four
hill is just2.4km long, averaging 5.1%.
He'll then have a long, hot
day in the saddle before he reaches the Col de Brancion at the 138km mark. This
one is also fourth category, and is 3.5km with a shallow 3.6% grade.
14:08 CEST 48km/151.5km to go
Well on his way
to the first sprint of the day, Wiggins has opened up an astonishing 14 minutes
on the peloton.
14:11 CEST
Bruce White reminds us that today
is the 40th anniversary of the death of Tom Simpson - the British rider who
collapsed on the Mont Ventoux in the 1967 Tour's 13th stage.
14:17 CEST 51km/148.5km to go
As Wiggins approaches
the first sprint, he won't have to worry about fighting anyone for the line
- they're napping in the warm summer sun some 15'40 behind!
We apologise
for the mistake on our stage description today - it is not, we are glad to report,
the Col de Briançon - but the Col de Brancion. Two extremely different things.
14:20 CEST
The race won't get to Briançon until
Tuesday, when stage nine finishes there. The riders will face a much more challenging
route to Briançon than they do to Brancion - they'll go over the Galibier, a
monster of a climb that shoots to 2645m. The first climb today is a mere 479m
high. Barely enough to notice.
14:21 CEST
Bradley Wiggins told Cyclingnews
before the start that the stage suits him and he will try to be in a break.
He also revealed that he is really popular in France with his 60's Paul McCartney
style haircut but less impressed with his French team's ability to find the
way in its own country. "We tend to get lost on the way to start or to the hotel."
14:23 CEST 55km/144.5km to go
Wiggins is still
moving away from the peloton as he approaches the climb - his maximum lead was
more than 17 minutes, but will surely start coming down soon... surely.
14:29 CEST
Wiggins is just out for a nice tempo
ride today, getting a bit of training and just spinning along in his small ring.
The peloton is saving its energy for the mountains which come tomorrow, and
in force on Sunday. With Wiggins not a serious threat for the overall classification,
it will be up to the sprinters to decide whether they want to battle for a stage
win or take a day off.
- Bradley Wiggins (Cofidis)
- Peloton at 15.25
14:33 CEST
It looks as if the sprinters are
battling it out today, as there was action at the first intermediate sprint.
Tom Boonen (Quickstep) took the four points left after Wiggins took the maximum,
beating Barloworld's speedster Robert Hunter.
14:36 CEST 63.5km/136km to go
It's quite a warm
day - 22 degrees and nice and sunny. The riders will have plenty of sunblock
on today. They don't want to end up like Magnus Backstedt (Liquigas) who had
to have a bit of skin
cancer removed earlier this year.
14:38 CEST
Fabian Cancellara changed his bike
right on the top of the KOM. He is now fighting his way back to the peloton.
14:38 CEST 64.5km/135km to go
At the Grandmont
climb, polka dot jersey Sylvain Chavanel (Cofidis) took the points behind ahead
of Juan Manuel Garate (Quickstep).
Current situation
- Bradley Wiggins (Cofidis)
- Peloton at 15.25
14:41 CEST 66.5km/133km to go
The mood in the
peloton is rather relaxed at the moment. Several of the Cofidis riders are patrolling
the front, still taking it easy since their man is up the road - wa-aaaa-aaa-y
up the road: more than a quarter of an hour ahead!
14:41 CEST
The Cyclingnews crew is reporting
that the weather is finally living up to its July reputation. After the Belgian
winds and French thunder showers in the first few days, it is heating up and
we have currently 27 degrees.
The Australian fans are out in force,
recognised the Cyclingnews crew and in their true hospitality even when
travelling thousands of kilometres away from home immediately offered to help
out the troubled Cyclingnews, who's car had been broken into just before
the start. Brecht Decaluwé still hasn't shaved since the beginning of the Tour.
14:43 CEST
Now that the riders have entered
a relatively spectator-free area, they've taken advantage of the privacy to
have a mass natural break. Just about the entire Astana team stops.
Yellow jersey Cancellara switches back to his regular machine decked out with
ultra deep dish rims.
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14:45 CEST
Cancellara's Cervelo, complete with
deep dish Zipp 808 tubular wheels, was profiled
recently. Quite the flashy machine!
14:46 CEST
One rider after the other gets back
ton the peloton after the natural break. Christophe Moreau just has made it
back. Fabian Cancellara also is back after his double bike change. The pace
is rather slow right now.
14:51 CEST 73.5km/126km to go
As Wiggin's lead
reaches a new high of 18 minutes, we see Alexandre Vinokourov looking like a
mummy, all wrapped in gauze, coming back from his natural break. He's got Ivanov
alongside, and their pace is unhurried.
14:54 CEST
The peloton finally decided that
18 minutes was more than enough, and it's time to chase. Quickstep has put a
man on front and now the peloton, which had been bunched up and cruising along,
is suddenly single file on a rolling section of highway.
Current situation
- Bradley Wiggins (Cofidis)
- Peloton at 16.02
14:57 CEST 78.5km/121km to go
Now that the peloton
is chasing, Wiggins has put the chain into the big ring and is getting down
to work. He's got some seriously high socks on today - practically tube socks.
They're flashing bright white as he ticks over the pedals. He still has 16'03,
but his lead is coming down.
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15:00 CEST 80.5km/119km to go
Cédric Vasseur
(Quickstep) and Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Team CSC) are responsible for setting the
brisk tempo at the front of the peloton. These two work-horses have been on
the front for kilometre after kilometre this Tour - and they've brought the
gap down to 15'10.
15:02 CEST 81.5km/118km to go
Wiggins is in the
town of Chagny at the moment, while the peloton is still well outside any type
of civilisation. They're in the midst of endless stretches of farmland set on
rolling hills.
15:04 CEST
Mario Kummer, the directeur sportif
of Astana, chatted with Cyclingnews' Shane Stokes before the start and
confirmed that Vinokourov and Klöden have trouble with their injuries form
yesterday and there is always a chance either of them cannot finish the Tour.
He expects a bunch sprint for today as it is the last chance for the sprinters.
Kummer confirmed that the crash happened towards the end when the pace was already
high and people were trying win the stage and suggested it wasn't intentional
for the other teams to put his rider out of contention.
15:05 CEST
Chagny is the site of one of the
race bible's danger zones today - there is a narrowing in the road that we hope
all the rider will be aware of. Vinokourov is near the back with the entire
Astana team just trying to make it through the rest of the stage. He has most
of the team near him.
15:11 CEST 85.5km/114km to go
Lampre throws some
weight into the chase along with Vasseur and Arvesen - they're bringing Wiggins
back to 13'37 now. We'll probably see that gap go up temporarily while the peloton
has lunch in 4km at the feed zone in Fontaines.
They'll want to be
more careful while getting their musettes today - yesterday poor Geoffroy Lequatre
(Cofidis) crashed when a feed bag tangled in his wheel. It was just one of the
many mishaps that have befallen the peloton this year.
Current situation
- Bradley Wiggins (Cofidis)
- Peloton at 11.48
15:19 CEST
The pace today is once again well
below the scheduled speed. The slowest predicted speed of 43 km/h would have
put the peloton in the feed zone 25 minutes ago, and Wiggins just went through.
15:21 CEST
Leif Hoste (Predictor - Lotto), gauze
on his left elbow from a crash earlier this week, is adjusting his own handlebars
while riding at 35km/h - certainly not a wise move. He's got the 4mm allen wrench
in hand and is adjusting the angle. Surely he could get a mechanic to do that
for him, but he's an independent kind of guy.
15:22 CEST 92.5km/107km to go
10'24 for Wiggins
now, and our pursuit World Champion is out of the saddle and stretching his
legs on a small incline. We had a reader ask if he could get his time trial
machine for his long pursuit today, but that would be against the rules. Riders
aren't allowed to have aero bars on non time-trial stages.
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15:28 CEST 94.5km/105km to go
The lead of Wiggins
is down to 9'00 on the nose as the peloton enters the feed zone. And we have
another crash! Enrico Degano (Barloworld), the man who started first in the
prologue in London is down.
15:30 CEST
The feed zones are a dangerous place
where riders have to balance their attention between steering their machines
and sifting through their bags. The yellow jersey and the whole CSC team were
among the first to get their feed - the safest position.
15:30 CEST
The rolling hills in the wine region
host many castles along the route. The riders who just passed the feed zone,
will not find any wine, however, in their musettes. The liquid consist more
of water and sports drinks that will replenish the riders' energy.
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15:32 CEST
Degano stayed seated on the road
for several minutes getting medical attention.
15:38 CEST
Cyclingnews' Gregor Brown
talked with yesterday's stage winner, Filippo Pozzato. Pozzato had predicted
his stage win to Cyclingnews a day ahead of time. When asked about stage
12, which is another good finish for the Italian from Liquigas, he said "Well,
it's one thing to say it and another to do it."
15:39 CEST
Daniele Bennati also had a good day
yesterday, finishing third. But he told Gregor Brown that he didn't think today
would be a good day for him as he's not a pure sprinter.
15:47 CEST 106.5km/93km to go
Wiggins is passing
the town of Buxy, where many people have come out to cheer him on. If he'd have
more time he could enjoy the scenery of this medieval town, but the field is
chasing and he has to press on.
15:48 CEST 107.5km/92km to go
So far, Wiggins
is holding on strong - but his gap is 7'52 and hovering. We've had a few emails
regarding the slow speeds of the Tour this year, and wondering if this is an
indication that the riders are 'clean' now. Our calculations are putting the
average for the Tour so far at around 40.5km/h - on par with average speeds
of the past few years: 2006 was 40.78, and back in 2002 the final average was
39.56km/h. Of course those average speeds include all the mountain passes, while
our stages have been relatively flat so far.
The slow speeds probably
have little to do with whether riders are doped or not, but rather it likely
has more to do with team tactics.
Current situation
- Bradley Wiggins (Cofidis)
- Peloton at 7.52
15:52 CEST 109.5km/90km to go
Wiggins is passing
a lovely vineyard - one of the many here in Burgundy. He's starting to look
a little fatigued after more than 100km alone in front - understandably so.
Last we heard on our crash victim Degano, he was up and riding but we will be
sure to confirm as soon as we hear more.
15:55 CEST
In the moment we have no more news
on Enrico Degano of Barloworld, who crashed in the feed zone. He is reported
to be behind the field, but still in the race. We hope it won't be the seventh
abandoning in this year's Tour. 33 riders have already crashed and everybody
is waiting for the mountains to start where there is less danger of entangling
with others in the big field. Just the danger of going down one of the ravines
at 90 km/h.
15:56 CEST 112.5km/87km to go
The sprinters are
showing more interest in the stage now, with Quickstep putting six men near
the front to chase for Tom Boonen. Thor Hushovd hasn't sent his men forward
yet, but he knows this is his last chance to win a stage for a while. He's been
suffering from some back pain, and was dropped on the climb early yesterday.
6'46 for Wiggins.
16:03 CEST
Wiggins is out of the saddle, but
it is more to stretch his body a bit. The hard part about such a solo break
is the monotony of pedaling along in the same position for hours on end. Lance
Armstrong was even annoyed at having to ride the 20 kilometres in stage one
of the 2005 Tour in the same position. "I was looking for something, a turn
or an uphill, to be able to get out of my position," he said at the time. At
least he passed Ullrich after a while.
16:04 CEST 116.5km/83km to go
Yesterday's breakaway
man Philippe Gilbert (Française des Jeux) is trying to get rid of his 'farmer's'
tan - he's got his sleeves rolled up a la Mario Cipollini.
16:05 CEST
As stated earlier it is warm today
and Philippe Gilbert has his sleeves rolled up all the way. He has to be careful
to not get sunburned. The riders are very dark on the exposed skin, but really
pale everywhere else. Those are the parts that are really sensitive to the sun.
Current situation
- Bradley Wiggins (Cofidis)
- Peloton at 5.51
16:09 CEST
Andreas Klöden has a big pink therapeutic
tape on his left leg. It runs from the thigh across the knee down to his shin.
It should help stabilize his knee a bit, although he is no doubt mostly worried
about his tail bone.
16:10 CEST
Andreas Klöden is currently inside
the team cars and is getting helped back into the field by teammate Gregory
Rast.
16:13 CEST
There is a separate road on the right
hand side of the main road where the field is pedaling and a few people are
roller blading along, trying to match the speed of the peloton. The recreational
'riders' can't do it, however, as the field is, while not going all out, riding
along at a brisk tempo.
16:13 CEST 119.5km/80km to go
The lead for Wiggins
is coming down steadily now as the sprinters start feeling the rumble of hunger
for green jersey points. Boonen trails Zabel by just four points, and McEwen
is a further 14 back in third, tied with Freire. South African sprinter Robert
Hunter is one point behind that pair - a fine result for his Pro Continental
Barloworld team.
Hunter has been showing his speed and fearlessness
in the past few stages, but doesn't have the lead-out train of Lampre or Quickstep,
so it's been hard for him to get in the right position, but a 4th, 5th and 2nd
place is not bad!
16:13 CEST
Andreas Klöden is back in the field.
Current situation
- Bradley Wiggins (Cofidis)
- Peloton at 4.49
16:17 CEST
Quickstep is having a bit of a discussion,
while Gilbert, with the sleeves still rolled up, is stretching his leg. The
outcome of the discussion on the front is that the pace is lowered and everyone
gets to enjoy the country side a bit more.
16:18 CEST
Bradley Wiggins is waving his team
car up to his right hand side. He is taking on another drink and is chatting
with his directeur sportif. His lead is now past the 5 minutes again.
16:20 CEST 126.5km/73km to go
Wiggins has less
than 1km to go to the sprint in Cormatin, and while he's holding 4'34 now, it's
dropping now that Quickstep has put their team on the front to chase.
16:22 CEST
Quickstep is on the front with their
complete squad and they likely want Boonen to take out some points of Erik Zabel.
Wiggins takes the sprint without contest.
16:23 CEST
Quickstep really hammering now, the
lead down to 3.24.
16:24 CEST
Tom Boonen launches his sprint, with
Zabel on his wheel!
16:24 CEST
Zabel is desperately trying to get
around the Belgian, but he can't do it.
16:27 CEST
Boonen and Zabel were tied in the
points classification after the first intermediate sprint where Zabel was shut
out by Robert Hunter from getting any points. With Boonen's four points for
second (behind Wiggins), Zabel was still holding the lead because of his higher
standing on GC.
However, with Boonen's four additional points to
Zabel's two in that second sprint, the Belgian is now two points ahead in the
green jersey competition.
16:28 CEST
The acceleration before the sprint
has deeply cut into the lead of Wiggins, but no doubt that the peloton will
take it a bit easy again now. Zabel looks like he needs to catch his breath
a bit. He was right on Boonen's wheel, but just couldn't get out and past the
Belgian, letting his head hang in frustration. The lead is now back out to 3'38".
16:34 CEST
Alessandro Cortinovis, the Italian
on the Milram team, revealed his strategy for stage 5 this morning to Gregor
Brown. "My job was to take care of Erik [Zabel] in the last 20 kilometres and
ride for him until I am cooked. He wanted to get the stage and the Green Jersey
and the whole teams was at his disposal."
Unfortunately, today didn't
go so well, and with the two points collected so far by Zabel, the points' jersey
is back on Boonen's shoulders, who got eight points today. There are still 35
points on the line for the winner in Bourg-en-Bresse.
16:36 CEST
Wiggins is approaching the climb.
It is 3.5 kilometres long and averages 3.6%.
16:37 CEST
Poor Klödi, in addition to his crash
his directeur sportif is saying that he also suffers from stomach trouble. He
is currently seen at the back of the field.
16:37 CEST 136.5km/63km to go
The domestiques
are important on a long and warm day like today's 199.5 kilometre stage. Lilian
Jégou (Française des Jeux) is coming back from the team car with his jersey
full of bottles - he hands one off to Gilbert and then heads up through the
peloton to find more teammates.
16:38 CEST
many spectators are lining the roads
on the climb. A beautiful day out in the French country side. Wiggins goes up
ion a steady rhythm. He has one more kilometre to the top.
16:40 CEST
Wiggins is out of the saddle, going
up the last 250 metres.
16:41 CEST 138km/61.5km to go
Wiggins passes
the top, where the barriers prevent any accidents with the enthusiastic spectators
16:42 CEST
Cofidis is going to the front now.
After the Boonen- Zabel showdown it is the turn of Sylvain Chavanel to get the
glory.
16:44 CEST
Wiggins comes down the hill at a
fast speed and almost can't make the sharp right turn at the bottom. He comes
desperately close to the hay balls that have been put at the bottom.
16:46 CEST
The field comes up and it is Garate,
Chavanel and probably Cheula sprinting it out. Garate beats Chavanel over the
line.
16:48 CEST
The col de Brancion is accompanied
by the château of the same name, overlooking the valley.
16:51 CEST
Charteau is now on the front for
Crédit Agricole. Obviously, Thor Hushovd wants to repeat his sprint victory
in Bourg-en-Bresse, something he achieved in a two-up sprint in 2002.
16:53 CEST
The peloton is now on straight roads
and the pace is going up. This spells bad news for Wiggins, who is still pedaling
ahead of the field.
16:55 CEST
Patrice Halgand has flatted. Even
with the higher speed of the peloton, he should be getting back easily. CSC
is now going to the front and Jens Voigt is ahead of his teammates by a few
metres.
16:56 CEST
But it is not an attack, they are
just taking control one more time of the peloton. Last chance for a natural
break. Chavanel, who lost the sprint for second at the KOM against Garate, is
back at the team car and taking on some more fluids.
16:59 CEST
Wiggins flatted and he throws his
wheel into the ditch.
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17:00 CEST 150.5km/49km to go
This happened with
49 kilometres to go. He gets going quickly again, but nonetheless loses some
precious time that he'd rather spent riding.
17:01 CEST
While Sylvain Chavanel is done with
his work for the day, the guy he shares the last name with, Sébastien Chavanel
of Française Des Jeux, is looking forward for another fast end to the day's
activities. He wants to finally get a sprint win, though he admits that the
finale is always very nervous here at the Tour.
17:02 CEST
T-Mobile is gathering at the front
as well. They have two sprinters, Mark Cavendish and Bernhard Eisel, to choose
from. The lead of Wiggins is still at 5'01"
17:07 CEST 155.5km/44km to go
The predicted finish
time with the slowest schedule is at 17:28. With still 44 kilometres they will
be late again. But the field has realized the urgency of the situation and the
lead drops quickly, it's now at 3'50"
17:07 CEST 155.5km/44km to go
It's five o'clock
and it's time for happy hour - there is a group of young men on the side of
the road as Wiggins passes who look as if they've been celebrating happy hour
for quite some time. They're stripped to the waist and jumping up and down while
waving a French flag. A few of the more enthusiastic fans we've seen so far!
Current situation
- Bradley Wiggins (Cofidis)
- Peloton at 3.39
17:12 CEST
Thomas Dekker and Michael Rasmussen
are towards the back of the field. Rasmussen is looking forward to tomorrow.
17:13 CEST 159.5km/40km to go
Milram is now also
on the front, it's another 40 kilometres for the sprinters to take back the
3'41" that Wiggins is ahead.
17:16 CEST 161.5km/38km to go
Just 38 kilometres
to go for Wiggins, and he's got 3'34 on the field at the last intermediate sprint
in Pont-de-Vaux. There are quite a few fans cheering the speeding Brit on, and
this time he takes the hard right bend a little more carefully.
17:16 CEST
The field is heading over the Sâone
river, crossing it via a steel bridge. A small boat is passing underneath the
bridge at the same time the peloton is atop.
17:17 CEST
Wiggins goes through a very narrow
stretch of road after the sprint - we hope the peloton knows about this narrowing
because we do not need any more crashes! Our delicate hearts can't take any
more shocks.
17:18 CEST
While the chase is full on now at
the back, the fisherman is not too disturbed. Hopefully the noise of the bicycles
doesn't chase away the fish.
17:18 CEST 163.5km/36km to go
The peloton came
in to the sprint with Quickstep on the front. Zabel didn't even try to contest
it, and Boonen took the four points ahead of his team-mate.
17:20 CEST
Correction, it was Boonen's Doppelganger
Steven De Jongh and Gert Steegmans taking second and third - mopping up points
to keep Zabel from gaining any ground.
17:22 CEST 165.5km/34km to go
It's been a long,
hard chase for the domestiques in the field - T-Mobile's Burghardt is looking
taxed. Wiggins meanwhile is still looking determined, although he's breathing
a bit harder than he was 100km ago.
We've received word that Enrico
Degano, the Barloworld rider who crashed in the feed zone, has abandoned.
17:24 CEST
The lead is dropping quickly now
and Wiggins is likely swallowed up by the field to open up the way for the sprinters.
The peloton is strung out.
Current situation
- Bradley Wiggins (Cofidis)
- Peloton at 2.21
17:26 CEST 168.5km/31km to go
The lead has now
dropped under the two-minute mark. Since the riders are behind schedule again,
they have more spectators. People coming home from work are able to watch the
end of the race.
17:29 CEST
Wiggins has been passing vineyard
after vineyard today, along with hay fields and forests which form a patchwork
quilt of various greens that make this landscape so lovely from above.
Wiggins is struggling now, with Credit Agricole doing the lion's share of the
work in the peloton for Big Thor 'thunder thighs' Hushovd.
17:31 CEST
Our mountain leader today is also
our most aggressive rider. Sylvain Chavanel, team-mate of Mr. Wiggins up front,
has the red backnumber that distinguishes the rider who spent the most time
off the front on the previous stage. Chavanel initiated the breakaway on stage
five.
17:32 CEST 172.5km/27km to go
Wiggins' lead is
really starting to fall as the day wears on. Charteau is still pulling along
with Predictor-Lotto, and they've brought it down to 1'13.
|
17:33 CEST
We hope nobody has any allergies
in the peloton because a dried hay field has been disturbed by the television
helicopter, and there are bits of hay flying everywhere.
17:33 CEST
Robbie McEwen also has sent some
of his teammates towards the front. He must be feeling better today, following
his bad luck in the first week. After the crash in stage 1, he also was boxed
in a couple of times and has not been able to come close to a second win.
17:35 CEST 174.5km/25km to go
The peloton is
just over a minute behind Wiggins, and Chavanel is sitting at the back of the
bunch, looking a little bored. He is swerving around and standing up on the
pedals and coasting along in the draft.
Current situation
- Bradley Wiggins (Cofidis)
- Peloton at 1.08
17:39 CEST 176.5km/23km to go
The sprinters'
teams aren't quite ready to bring back Wiggins, and they've completely sat up.
The peloton, once a long thin line that stretched far down the road is now compact.
Saunier Duval is up front with four, one T-Mobile, two Predictor-Lotto riders
and a Milram thrown in for good measure. They're just setting tempo now, waiting
to pounce.
Wiggins' lead is up to 1'36 now that they've eased.
17:40 CEST 177.5km/22km to go
The refreshment
moto comes alongside Wiggins, who apparently is not thirsty and doesn't even
give it a second glance. He looks over his opposite shoulder in dismay - where
are they? Surely the peloton is coming, no?
17:41 CEST
Robbie McEwen was certain before
the start that it would be a sprint. Talking to Cyclingnews' Shane Stokes
he mentioned yesterday's stage was really hard and because of it he expected
everyone to be a bit tired today. Since it is a flat stage it will be last chance
for the sprinters, "so all those things together should make it a sprint."
Asked about the chances of Zabel contending for green in Paris, the multi-lingual
Australian said that Zabel "hasn't won a stage but he has been consistent every
day. He is in the green because he survived the climb yesterday and got some
points."
Current situation
- Bradley Wiggins (Cofidis)
- Peloton at 1.47
17:43 CEST 178.5km/21km to go
Lampre is bringing
up Bennati now as Gerolsteiner puts three men near the front. However nobody
is taking the place of Charteau on the very front of the peloton which is still
lined across the road.
17:44 CEST 179.5km/20km to go
Wiggins is passing
under the 20km banner, a full 40 minutes behind the slowest schedule. Merde!
We want our happy hour!
17:46 CEST 180.5km/19km to go
Cat, meet Mr. Mouse.
Mr. Mouse? Meet Mr. Cat. The peloton is gambling now, playing games, call it
what you may but Wiggins still has 1'44 as the peloton passes the 20km banner
and sees the Devil finally on the side of the road.
17:47 CEST 181.5km/18km to go
Gerolsteiner has
put two men in front of Charteau, and are starting to string out the bunch,
but we're afraid it's just because of a short descent. Milram rolls through
now, followed by T-Mobile. 1'38 still for Wiggins and his sideburns.
17:49 CEST 183km/16.5km to go
Wiggins, the winner
of Olympic gold in the pursuit in Athens as well as silver in team pursuit,
is putting those abilities to good use here in Montrevel-en-Bresse. The gap
is coming down a bit more quickly now - just 1'17 with Charteau back leading
the chase.
17:50 CEST 183.5km/16km to go
Charteau gets a
bottle from a team-mate, no more feeding from the cars as they're inside the
last 20km. The peloton is weaving through town and take a hard right. The speed
is picking up now - 1'09 for Wiggins with Milram taking over the chase.
Current situation
- Bradley Wiggins (Cofidis)
- Peloton at 1.01
17:51 CEST
The lead is dropping quickly now
and is now under the one-minute mark.
17:52 CEST 184.5km/15km to go
The peloton is
again waiting until they're good and ready to make the catch, and are across
the road and slowing up.
17:53 CEST 185.5km/14km to go
The bunch splits
at a traffic median - still keeping a steady tempo as Wiggins is out of the
saddle trying to hold the 50" lead. He's hurting now, lips dry, breathing laboured...
not a comfortable time for Wiggins.
17:54 CEST 186.5km/13km to go
The camera comes
up alongside Wiggins for a last bit of video before the cars are pulled out
of the gap - the peloton has him in sight now just 30" behind.
17:55 CEST 187km/12.5km to go
The road is long
and perfectly straight heading into Bourg-en-Bresse. They've got some high corn
fields on the right and a long expanse of asphalt to traverse. Just 25" for
Wiggins now, and he's looking back to see where they are.
17:56 CEST 188km/11.5km to go
Like many roads
near the Tour's finishing towns the roads have been freshly paved, and area
deep, dark black highlighted by fresh white lines. The peloton is taking its
time - keeping 24" between itself and Wiggins with 11.5 km to go.
17:58 CEST 189.5km/10km to go
There are several
traffic islands on the way into the finish today, and all of them are protected
by bales clad in red and white stripes. The peloton should have no trouble getting
through safely as they are going at a steady but not hectic pace at the 10km
banner - still 20" back.
17:59 CEST
Now Quickstep has brought a line
of men to the front to take control Milram and Predictor keep going on the left,
and the train of blue takes the right side along with T-Mobile.
18:00 CEST 191km/8.5km to go
T-Mobile gets the
front while Quickstep is trapped on the far right. Wiggins is sight of them
all - it has to be less than 15" now.
18:02 CEST 192km/7.5km to go
Bottles are being
thrown to the side of the road as the peloton reaches the 8km to go mark just
behind Wiggins. No team has picked up the pace enough to reel the lone leader
in yet - he's putting in a good effort.
18:03 CEST 192.5km/7km to go
Vino is at the back
looking unhappy. He gives a sign - a slice across the throat - perhaps indicating
that he's done.
18:03 CEST 192.5km/7km to go
Wiggins is done
- he comes back into the fold after 190km. Now T-Mobile takes the lead.
18:04 CEST 193.5km/6km to go
Milram, T-Mob, Lampre
and now Liquigas are all gathering near the front with the Quickstep team trying
to get organised.
18:04 CEST 194km/5.5km to go
Rabobank has a man
up there, too while the climber's team of Euskaltel can be seen all at the back.
Predictor takes the lead for McEwen.
18:05 CEST 194.5km/5km to go
Theres' a bit of
switching and diving going on as the sprinters try to get into position. The
peloton is still bunched up at the 5km to go banner and T-Mobile and Milram
are at the front. Quickstep has been swamped.
18:06 CEST 195km/4.5km to go
QS, FdJ and Lampre
are trying to get organised - moving up on the right.
18:06 CEST 195.5km/4km to go
Wiggins has dropped
off the back now as the pace picks up. 4km to go and still no organisation -
the bunch is spread across the road.
18:07 CEST 196km/3.5km to go
The finish looks
to be a straight shot, and P-L takes the lead and then Wegmann goes!
18:08 CEST 196.5km/3km to go
Wegmann was trying
to lead his men up but lost them and got too far ahead. He came back and is
leading Quickstep and Milram at 3km to go.
18:08 CEST
Wegmann pulls off and it's Tosatto
now, hammering but not stringing out the bunch.
18:08 CEST 197km/2.5km to go
Around a roundabout,
all get around safely. Credit Agricole is second and Zabel and Dean are near
the front.
18:09 CEST
Tosatto gets out of the saddle and
sprints, then pulls off - Boonen coming up on the right.
18:09 CEST 197.7km/1.8km to go
Milram takes over
with two in front of Zabel in green.
18:10 CEST 198.3km/1.2km to go
Quickstep coming
up on the right and it's Rabobank and Dean coming on...
18:10 CEST 198.5km/1km to go
Milram has control
but Rabobank is going now - Rabo takes the front and Quickstep has their man
18:10 CEST 199km/0.5km to go
Dean takes the lead
on the right and T-Mobile comes past!
18:11 CEST
Gerolsteiner has the lead now and
here comes Zabel
18:11 CEST
Quickstep comes outside on the right
and the dash to the line is ...
18:11 CEST
Hunter gets chopped and Boonen takes
the stage!
18:12 CEST
Freire was coming up fast but is
denied again.
18:12 CEST
Bennati and Hunter were also right
up there, but Boonen gets his win at last!
18:13 CEST
Sébastien Chavanel was 4th behind
Zabel, beating Hushovd to the line on the opposite side of the road.
18:18 CEST
That was a long day in the saddle
for Wiggins, who is looking almost as red as his Cofidis jersey at the finish.
That's it for another marathon stage in the Tour. Come back for stage seven when we hit the Alps and the real action begins!
Provisional Results
1 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quickstep - Innergetic 5.20.59 (37.29 km/h) 2 Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank 3 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram 4 Sébastien Chavanel (Fra) Française des Jeux 5 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole 6 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Lampre - Fondital 7 Robert Förster (Ger) Gerolsteiner 8 Robert Hunter (RSA) Barloworld 9 Romain Feillu (Fra) Agritubel 10 Murilo Fischer (Bra) Liquigas
