Boasson Hagen had to hold off charges from experienced sprinters Matt Goss and, yellow jersey holder and compatriot, Thor Hushovd. Despite controlling the bunch several times, over the last few stages, this is Team Sky’s first victory of the 2011 Tour. The Norwegian took his opportunity, as the bunch was recovering from a series of attacks. He stayed behind his teammate and white jersey wearer, Geraint Thomas, until just the right moment to slingshot him to the line.
As the remnants of the breakaway were being pulled back Alberto Contador launched an attack, in an attempt to save his Tour, while Jurgen Van Den Broeck went on the other side of the road. Frenchman, Thomas Voeckler decided to follow suit soon after and got on the back of the wheel of the Belgian. It wasn’t long before they were caught, as Alexander Vinokorov decided to go it alone with less than a kilometre to go.
Despite the rain there was only one crash during the entire stage, when Levi Leipheimer slipped on a white line and hit a roadside barrier. Yesterday’s victor Mark Cavendish was nowhere to be seen in the bunch sprint, as he finished 1 minute 44 behind the main group.
The rain didn’t dampen the rider’s spirits and energiser bunny Johnny Hoogerland followed his teammate Lieuwe Westra to form part of a five-man breakaway, only 12km in to the stage. The leaders soon had a substantial lead, while the peloton where happy to let them stay out. The high pace allowed them to build a gap of over 11 minutes; it only seemed to dip during the brief showers during the day. Hoogerland’s aggression earned him at least a day in the climber’s jersey with a one point lead over, fellow breakaway rider, Anthony Roux.
After the feeding zone, at 111km to go, the gap to the peloton began to drop quickly, as the main group began to organise. The weather seemed to time it to perfection, as the rain began to clear soon after. Robert Gesink didn’t seem to be enjoying the improving weather, as he was forced to change bikes after a technical problem. The Dutchman, who is riding injured after a crash in Stage 5, threw his bike to the ground in disgust, while he was waiting for his mechanics.
As the breakaway group began to feel the impending peloton on them, they began to launch their own attacks. This spelt the end for the leaders, leaving it for Adriano Malori and Westra to go it alone. The hills also ended some riders’ chances of contending in the final sprint, with Mark Cavendish, Mark Renshaw and Sylvain Chavanel, who crashed yesterday, falling off the back.
Thor Hushovd has retained his lead over Cadel Evans, in the GC, while Philip Gilbert has moved one point ahead of Jose Joaquin Rojas, in the green jersey competition.
Tomorrow’s stage 7 is the last chance for the sprinters to shine, before the Tour reaches the mountains. With no hills to speak of, there is very little chance of a breakaway succeeding and every chance of a bunch sprint.
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