Cycling: Marcel Kittel (Quick-Step Floors) won the sixth stage of the Tour de France today. The German prevailed in the mass sprint in Troyes ahead of Arnaud Démare (FDJ) and André Greipel (Lotto Soudal). There were no significant changes in the overall standings. Chris Froome (Sky) retains the yellow jersey, which he won on yesterday fifth stage could secure.
No doubt about the bunch sprint in Troyes
At 216 kilometers, the second longest stage of this year's Tour de France was on the program today. This led the riders from Vesoul to Troyes, where Erik Zabel was victorious in 2000. It was here of all places that André Greipel (Lotto Soudal) wanted to catch up with Erik Zabel with his twelfth victory of the day. First, however, the required mass sprint had to be enforced. Three drivers formed the breakaway group of the day: Frederik Backaert (Wanty-Groupe Gobert), Perrig Quemeneur (Direct Energie) and Vegard Stake Langen (UAE) were only able to open up a maximum lead of around four minutes. The sprinter teams controlled the pace in the peloton and provided the necessary follow-up work. For a short time, Laurent Pichon (Fortuneo-Oscaro) tried to catch up with the leading trio, but a little later he had to give up the attempt, which was quite senseless at least from a sporting point of view.
The expected three-way battle: Kittel vs. Démare vs. Greipel
Three kilometers from the finish, it also happened to the breakaway trio. There was nothing more she could get today than the intermediate rankings and the red back number. The sprinter teams had everything under control at all times. After second part and the fourth stage So today should be the third mass sprint of the 2017 Tour de France. Team Dimension Data pulled on the sprint despite the absence of Mark Cavendish. Mark Renshaw drove for Edvald Boasson Hagen. Katusha-Alpecin was up front with Rick Zabel for captain Alexander Kristoff. However, no team was able to build up a classic sprint train again. For a long time it looked like André Greipel would win. However, the German was too early in the wind. Arnaud Démare was able to pass him on the right. But someone on his left was faster: Marcel Kittel wins in Troyes! Marcel Kittel now has eleven stage victories in the Tour de France to his credit, just as many as André Greipel. This step was also important in the fight for the green jersey: Marcel Kittel is only 27 points behind Arnaud Démare in the points classification.
