Stage 6 is the first of two stages for the puncheurs. Today’s stage features a lot of small climbs and might be better for the cobblers than tomorrow's which has longer climbs. Positioning will be important and a strong break could make it interesting. There are a bevy of KOM points available for whoever is in the break.
Higuita and Ardila top the favorites. Both the Colombians suffered on the cobbles but they are the best two all round climbers in the race.
8k of the 183k gone and the breakaway reaches the first KOM climb – a Cat 4. Sheehan takes maximum points ahead of Robeet and Blanca Pareja. Boros 33 seconds down. Peloton at 1’18. Anderberg made an escape attempt but was quickly shut down.
The four mentioned seem to be the break of the day and have 3’01 when the reach the 2nd climb, a Cat 3, with 167k to go. Boros caught up with the others, but is dropped on the climb. Sheehan take maximum points this time ahead of Blanca Pareja. Sheehan (11) already has a virtual KOM lead.
At the third categorized climb (Cat 4), with 133k to go Robeet (9) outduels Sheehan (14). Blanca Pareja third, Boros back with them. Peleton at 5’30, Everresting and Lidl helping Rabobank on the front.
With 126k to go the peloton crests the Mur de Huy for the second time. The race consists of 4.5 laps of a circuit that features the Côte de Ereffe (2.1k at 5.4%), Côte de Their-Marchin (1.2k at 5.5%), Montagne Corroy (1.5k at 7%) and Mur de Huy (1.4k at 9.5%), in that order. All the climbing is in the last quarter of each lap with different KOM points available each time round. Thomas on the front with 3 laps to go, the break 5’32 ahead.
The next KOM point is the Côte de Ereffe (cat 4), this climb marks the beginning of the climbing section. Blanca Pareja (11) wins this time ahead of Sheehan (17), Robeet (11). Peloton closed on the flat part of the lap and are 3’47 back. The next points are Cat 2 on the Mur de Huy to finish this lap.
Sheehan (27) hangs with the others and shows his kick to take maximum points on the Mur de Huy. Blanca Pareja (19), Boro (6) and Robeet (15) is the order behind. Still a lot of points on offer as all the climbs except the Côte de Ereffe carry points on the next lap. Peloton at 3’14.
Buttigieg (6) comes out of the pack to take the last 2 points. The break don’t contest the sprint point with 75k to go, their lead at 3’39.
As we head towards the climbing circuit again the pack splits for the first time and many of the cobblers that lost time yesterday are in trouble. 75 riders were dropped first including Van Hooydonck (18th on GC) and Anderberg (14th). Another 11 have been spat out the back now including Kung (16th) and Van Baarle (15th). Polanc (19th) is the last man still in the peloton.
The next points are at the Côte de Their-Marchin (Cat 4) and Robeet (20) takes the win, these riders are pretty evenly matched. Sheehan gets second (30), Blanca Pareja (20) is third. Peloton reformed but has split again and is 2’29 down, Polanc behind the split this time.
On the Montagne Corroy, Sheehan (36) is able to put a little daylight between himself and the others. Blanca Pareja (24) 2nd and Robeet (22) 3rd. Peloton at 2’03 with Ruiz on the front. All the previously mentioned cobblers are in a group of 11 which is 1’16 down, except Anderberg who is further back.
Sheehan (46) has 29 seconds on Blanca Pareja (32) as he secures the jersey by taking 10 more points on the Mur de Huy. He will also have heard the bell marking the final lap. Peloton at 2’12.
Lidl heavily represented at the front as they catch Robeet, Boros already caught. Sheehan still has 1’52 with 40k to go. Peloton at 80 riders, Polanc, Kung and Van Baarle are back in the peloton but will need to move up if they aren’t going to be dropped again.
31k to go, Blanca Pareja is caught, it won’t be long before Sheehan’s adventure is over as well. Orosco on the front of the peloton. The peloton has been splitting and reforming but now the first 94 have a more decisive 2’27 on the next group. In addition to Anderberg and Van Hooydonck the big victim is Senechal, who was 4th on GC. And in more bad news for Tinkoff, Kamyshev (13th) was also caught out at some point and is a long way back. Lampawog (17th) also dropped.
About 20k to go and about 1k to the bottom of the Côte de Ereffe which marks the beginning the end, the first of the four climbs in the set on the final lap. Malecki launches a big attack followed by Stannard and Schmid.
Basso and Bettiol shut down that attack and the next attack comes as they reach the top of the Côte de Ereffe. This time it is Vansevenant, Storer, Geniets and Higuita.
As they hit the bottom of the Côte de Their-Marchin the front three have 16 seconds on Higuita who is 4 seconds ahead of the peloton led by Tesfaye Heyi. Vansevenant really pouring it on. Peloton is splitting again with 58 riders left in the front group. Nobody else from the GC top 20 has been dropped so far.
Vansevenant takes the KOM points at the top, he has opened a small gap on what is now a 7 man chase group with Higuita making it across as well as Pidcock, De Bie, Stannard and Skujins. This group has 33 seconds on the peloton which is being led by Hulgaard. 11k left in the stage, short flat section now before the final two climbs.
Over the top of the climb the peloton splits and 33 riders are dropped including all the cobblers who survived earlier plus Philipsen (10th). Aleotti takes over the chase in the reduced peloton. Up front, Stannard trying to bridge up to Vansevenant on this own.
7k to go, Stannard and the other 6 attackers have caught Vansevenant, behind work from Pedersen and Per has reduced the gap to 16 seconds.
The two front groups come together and Storer immediately counters. Schmid tried to follow but got blocked off. Geniets is more successful. Storer has 15 seconds on Geniets as the Australian begins the Montagne Corroy, another 7 seconds to the 24-rider chase group.
By the top Geniets has caught and passed Storer. Higuita third on the road leading a stretched-out chase group. The group has swelled for now with Van Baarle, Kung and Polanc all back across. Philipsen has not made it though.
Geniets (just round the corner in the picture) hits the final 1.4k and the ascent of the Mur de Hoy with a 20 second lead over a now 19 rider chase group. Once again Kung, Van Baarle and Polanc have been dropped along with Malecki (20th) although Kung and Malecki are just off the back. Defending champion Cosnefroy putting in a great ride to stay in the front group so far. There probably aren’t going to be big changes in the GC today but the stage win very much up for grabs.
700 meters, a 8 riders are almost up to Geniets. Included are Vansevenant, Higuita, De Bie, Schmid, Pidcock, Stannard, Skujins and Storer. They have 29 seconds on the next group which has the top GC guys. Pidcock up to a virtual 4th in GC right now.
400 meters. Stannard is half a wheel behind Geniets. Ardila has closed the gap to the front group but the gaps will be fluid from here.
200 meters, it looks to be Stannard versus Geniets. A gap has opened up behind the front 7 again with Skujins and Storer dropped to the second group.
Stannard wins stage 6 for the PCT, his team will be wondering where that performance was when there were points at stake. Geniets with a brave second. Vansevenant 3rd.
Higuita, Schmid, De Bie and Pidcock are the rest of the first group in, all finish on the same time.
Ardila ahead of Skujins for 8th. They lose 25 seconds.
Aleotti, Wirtgen and Romo get 10th to 12th. Those three lose 39 seconds.
Pedersen leads in the next group with the rest of the top GC contenders, they lose 53 seconds.
In the GC, Pidcock up to 4th, Vansevenant up to 6th. Gerts still has 2’05 over Pidcock. But Pedersen and Per with 1’41 and 0’40, respectively will need to be worried.
Gross holds a 1-point lead over Pidcock in the points competition. The Brit will hope to find the points he needs tomorrow.
Pidock also leads Vansevenant by 23 seconds in the best young rider competition, those two seem to have started a real rivalry.
EA now the best team ahead of Grieg and Gazelle as Tinkoff’s bad day pushes them down the standings.
Tour of Northern Europe 
