Tour de France 2021: Sprint triumph Cavendish, Van der Poel stays in yellow

foto: Cor VosCav doubles up in the streets of Châteauroux ahead of Jasper Philipsen and Nacer Bouhanni. Mathieu van der Poel retains the yellow jersey. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 6th stage Tour de France 2021

1. Mark Cavendish (gbr)
2. Jasper Philipsen (bel) s.t.
3. Nacer Bouhanni (fra) s.t.
4. Arnaud Démare (fra) s.t.
5. Peter Sagan (svk) s.t.
6. Cees Bol (nld) s.t.
7. Tim Merlier (bel) s.t.
8. Wout van Aert (bel) s.t.
9. Michael Matthews (aus) s.t.
10. Mads Pedersen (den) s.t.

GC after stage 6
1. Mathieu van der Poel (nld)
2. Tadej Pogacar (slo) + 0.08
3. Wout van Aert (bel) + 0.30
4. Julian Alaphilippe (fra) + 0.48
5. Alexey Lutsenko (kaz) + 1.21
6. Pierre Latour (fra) + 1.28
7. Rigoberto Uran (col) + 1.29
8. Jonas Vingegaard (den) + 1.43
9. Richard Carapaz (ecu) + 1.44
10. Primoz Roglic (slo) + 1.48

12. Geraint Thomas (gbr) + 1.54
13. Wilco Kelderman (nld) + 1.56
14. Enric Mas (spa) + 1.58
15. Bauke Mollema (nld) + 2.08
17. David Gaudu (fra) + 2.35
18. Nairo Quintana (col) + 2.45

Race report
A strong group with Greg Van Avermaet, Thomas De Gendt, Kasper Asgreen, Søren Kragh Andersen, Jonas Rickaert, Toms Skujins, Nils Politt and Georg Zimmermann opens up a gap early on. FDJ and Arkéa Samsic chase in the peloton and when they almost make the catch, after 31 kilometres, Van Avermaet goes alone. Roger Kluge joins the Olympic champion, but the gap never exceeds 2 minutes.

The peloton brings back the attackers with almost 3 kilometres remaining.

In the ensuing sprint Cavendish adds another victory to his tally of 31 Tour de France stage wins, while Van der Poel keeps the yellow jersey.

Another interesting read: route 6th stage 2021 Tour de France.