Norwegian Good; Boasson Hagen Takes Stage, Hushovd Still Yellow – 98th Tour de France, Stage 6
Norwegian Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky Procycling) took a rain soaked affair ahead of Matthew Goss (HTC-Highroad) and countryman Thor Hushovd (Team Garmin-Cervelo), who finished in third and retained the maillot jaune as the race's overall leader.
Results - Stage 6
1. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky Procycling
2. Matthew Harley Goss (Aus) HTC-Highroad
3. Thor Hushovd (Nor) Team Garmin-Cervelo
General Classification After Stage 6
1. Thor Hushovd (Nor) Team Garmin-Cervelo
2. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team
3. Fränk Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek
4. David Millar (GBr) Team Garmin-Cervelo
5. Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team RadioShack
6. Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Procycling
7. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Sky Procycling 0:00:12
8. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky Procycling
9. Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Leopard Trek
10. Andy Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek
Jersey Leaders After Stage 6
maillot jaune - Thor Hushovd (Nor) Team Garmin-Cervelo
maillot vert - Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto
maillot a pois rouges - Johnny Hoogerland (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
maillot blanc - Geraint Thomas (GBr) Sky Procycling
Quick Stepping Through The Tour
After the chaotic fifth stage the riders had to cover 226 kilometres from Dinan to Lisieux, the longest stage of this Tour de France. A group of 5 riders attacked after 2 kilometres and animated the rest of the stage. The last escapee was caught with only 2 kilometres to go. After a thrilling sprint preparation Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team Sky) took the win in the bunch sprint. The Norwegian rider beated Matthew Goss (HTC-Highroad) and Thor Hushovd (Garmin-Cervelo). Gerald Ciolek was in the front too with our German sprinter finishing in the day`s top-10 in a 8th position.
A group of five riders attacked early in the stage. They opened a one minute gap, but the peloton didn`t let them go that easily. Jerome Pineau was one of the riders who launched the pursuit. Our Frenchman tried to bridge the gap with the escapees, but didn`t succeed in his try. The five escapees extended their lead opening a gap of 12 minutes.
The injured riders of yesterday`s crashes tried to gain some rest in the bunch. Tom Boonen, Sylvain Chavanel and Gert Steegmans weren`t feeling well all day long, but kept hanging on for a long time. Chavanel and Steegmans had to let the bunch go in the final part of the race and lost almost 13 minutes. "It's been a day I will remember for a long time. I'm still in the race thanks only to my sports directors. I even stopped during the stage, but they spurred me on by reminding me that this is the TOUR and that I'm carrying the symbol of my country on my shoulders. I stuck it out even though the mobility in my shoulder is really limited. I can't relaunch and every time I try to stand on my pedals I'm shot through with pain. To suffer like this while riding is no walk in the park, but I also wan't to stay tough for all the fans who have supported me, even today along the sides of the roads", said Chavanel after the stage.
Gert Steegmans also had a very difficult day. "A sufferance. In the beginning of the stage I was also having a hard time finding a hand position that would allow me to brake. It wasn't easy but I managed to finish the race. Tomorrow is also going to be hard, more than 200 kilometers. However I want to continue the race. My legs were good, even today." Boonen finished in a group at 2,5 minutes behind the first group. “It was a hard day. Today definitely was not the right stage to recuperate after a fall. The rain, the wind and the kilometers all made for a really hard race. I did my best. I was feeling the consequences of the fall but I got through one of the most difficult times that a rider can go through after a fall. Now all I want to do is recuperate some energy. I'm really looking forward to the rest day so I can try to recuperate better and then I'll try to do something good", said Boonen after the stage.
The last of the escapees was caught with 2 kilometers to go, so a group sprint had to bring the decision today. Boasson Hagen won his first stage in the Tour, beating Goss and Hushovd. Ciolek did well finishing 8th, though he was still feeling the effects of yesterday`s fall. "Today my legs weren't exceptional. I was feeling yesterday's fall a lot; at 20 km to go I had even a flat tire and I was forced to chase the group for few kilometers. In the sprint I got on Hushovd's wheel. I was in perfect position. I tried busting off his wheel but I didn't have any explosiveness. After a day like yesterday's and today's rain, I think it's a good result anyway, that helps me look forward to the next stages with confidence."
Next: Stage 7 - Le Mans to Châteauroux (215km)
Photo: (top: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images; bottom: © Tim de Waele - TDWSport.com)
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