The Tour de France delivered its first successful breakaway of the edition on a demanding stage 6 from Bayeux to Vire Normandie. Covering 201 kilometers with 3550 meters of elevation gain spread across six climbs, the day saw an aggressive start and a blistering pace, culminating in a solo victory for Irish talent Ben Healy.
Healy, riding for EF Education-EasyPost, launched his decisive attack from a strong eight-rider breakaway group with 41 kilometers remaining. He powered away to claim a magnificent solo win, finishing 2 minutes and 43 seconds ahead of Quinn Simmons, with Simon Storer in third at 2 minutes and 50 seconds. Dunbar and Simon Yates rounded out the top five from the escape group.
The breakaway featured notable names including Mathieu van der Poel and Simon Yates – the latter perhaps serving as an unexpected assistant for Jonas Vingegaard by joining the move. The peloton, led by Tadej Pogacar in the yellow jersey, initially controlled the gap, which ballooned to over 5 minutes at one point.
However, the real drama unfolded in the final kilometers behind Healy. While Van der Poel faded from the front group, losing nearly 4 minutes to Healy in the closing stages, the main peloton also made significant inroads. Notably, Vingegaard`s teammates accelerated the pace in the bunch, reducing the gap to Van der Poel`s group. This acceleration had a peculiar effect: it brought Van der Poel, who had started the day 1 minute and 28 seconds behind Pogacar, close enough in time that he could potentially regain the yellow jersey.
The peloton containing Pogacar, Vingegaard, and Evenepoel finished 1 minute and 29 seconds behind Van der Poel`s group. When the sums were done, Mathieu van der Poel, despite not winning the stage or even finishing high within the breakaway, found himself back in the coveted Maillot Jaune, holding a slender 1-second lead over Tadej Pogacar. Evenepoel is now third at 43 seconds.
Pogacar`s final sprint across the line, a slightly petulant kick, suggested his displeasure at the tactical maneuver by rival teams that cost him the jersey and the associated podium duties, interviews, and anti-doping controls. This marks the first time this Tour that Pogacar has not worn the yellow jersey. He also lost the green points jersey to Jonathan Milan and the polka dot mountain jersey to teammate Tim Wellens.
For Ben Healy, the win is a testament to his attacking style and growing pedigree. Known for his strong performances in hilly classics, the 24-year-old Irishman adds this Tour stage win to previous successes, including a stage at the 2023 Giro d`Italia and podium finishes in races like the Amstel Gold Race and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
Looking ahead, stage 7 takes the Tour to cycling heartland in Brittany, concluding atop the Mur de Bretagne after 197 kilometers. This stage is dedicated to French cycling legend Bernard Hinault and passes through his hometown. The Mur de Bretagne climb itself, often called the `Breton Alpe d`Huez` (a designation met with knowing smiles by those who`ve tackled both), is a short but steep test (2 km at 6.9% with pitches up to 15%). It`s a climb where Van der Poel famously won in 2021, taking his first yellow jersey, and where powerful, explosive riders like Pogacar are expected to thrive, potentially reigniting the battle with Vingegaard on Breton soil.
Elton Marrow