Tour de France 2018 Stage 6: Dan Martin wins on Mûr-de-Bretagne, Greg Van Avermaet still leader

The Tour de France's 6th stage is perfect for puncheurs. The finale takes in two hauls up the steep Mûr-de-Bretagne. Daniel Martin attacks with 1,2 kilometres out and powers to victory, while Romain Bardet and Tom Dumoulin lose time after mechanicals. Greg Van Avermaet is still leading the overall classification. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 6th stage 2018 Tour de France

1. Daniel Martin (irl)
2. Pierre Latour (fra) + 0.01
3. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 0.03
4. Julian Alaphilippe (fra) s.t.
5. Rafal Majka (pol) s.t.
6. Adam Yates (gbr) s.t.
7. Bauke Mollema (nld) s.t.
8. Peter Sagan (svk) s.t.
9. Geraint Thomas (gbr) s.t.
10. Primoz Roglic (slo)

11. Richie Porte (aus) s.t.
12. Greg Van Avermaet (bel) s.t.
13. Nairo Quintana (col) s.t.
14. Vincenzo Nibali (ita) s.t.
15. Jakob Fuglsang (den) s.t.
16. Mikel Landa (spa) s.t.
18. Chris Froome (gbr) + 0.08
19. Rigoberto Uran (col) + 0.11
21. Bob Jungels (lux) + 0.12
23. Ilnur Zakarin (rus) s.t.
25. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) s.t.
33. Romain Bardet (fra) + 0.31
46. Tom Dumoulin (nld) + 0.53

GC after the 6th stage
1. Greg Van Avermaet (bel)
2. Geraint Thomas (gbr) + 0.03
3. Tejay van Garderen (usa) + 0.05
4. Julian Alaphilippe (fra) + 0.06
5. Philippe Gilbert (bel) + 0.12
6. Bob Jungels (lux) + 0.18
7. Rigoberto Uran (col) + 0.45
8. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 0.51
9. Rafal Majka (pol) + 0.52
10. Jakob Fuglsang (den) + 0.53

11. Richie Porte (aus) s.t.
12. Mikel Landa (spa) + 0.55
13. Adam Yates (gbr) + 1.02
14. Chris Froome (gbr) s.t.
16. Vincenzo Nibali (ita) + 1.08
17. Primoz Roglic (slo) + 1.17
18. Bauke Mollema (nld) + 1.18
19. Tom Dumoulin (nld) + 1.23
20. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) + 1.26
21. Daniel Martin (irl) + 1.27
23. Romain Bardet (fra) + 1.45
25. Ilnur Zakarin (rus) + 2.02
27. Nairo Quintana (col) + 2.10

Race report
Damien Gaudin jumps clear once the flag drops and Fabien Grellier, Anthony Turgis, Laurent Pichon and Dion Smith join him. The five race to a lead of 7 minutes.

With 100 kms remaining Quick-Step ups the pace in the cross winds and the peloton break. Nibali and Quintana are in the second group, but they manage to return in contrast to Roglic, who is chasing for 25 kms to make it back to the main group.

With 40 kms to go Gaudin heads out alone. He is brought back after a 10 kms solo.

Grellier is the last attacker to be reeled in on the first climb up the Mûr-de-Bretagne. KOM leader Toms Skujiņš pockets most mountain points.

Jack Bauer goes solo and takes a time bonus of 3 seconds at the intermediate sprint, while Geraint Thomas crosses the line second to win 2 seconds.

With 6 kms to go Tom Dumoulin punctures. He continues with a deficit of 40 seconds, while another GC contender, Romain Bardet, is also plagued by a mechanical.

Bauer is reeled in 4 kms before the line, while the peloton remains closed in the steep first kilometre of the Mûr. Then Daniel Martin strikes to open up a gap. Pierre Latour jumps away in pursuit of the Irishman, who kicks again to hold off the Frenchman. He crosses the line 1 second ahead of his chaser, while Alejandro Valverde wins the group sprint another 2 seconds back.

GC contenders Chris Froome, Rigoberto Uran, Ilunr Zakarin and Steven Kruijswijk can’t follow the main group and lose seconds, while Bardet and Dumoulin fair even worse – respectively crossing the line 31 seconds and 53 seconds after Martin. The Giro d’Italia runner-up was given a further 20-seconds time penalty for riding behind by the team car in pursuit of the peloton.

Greg Van Avermaet finishes in the first group to hold to the maillot jaune.