SAM BENNETT RETAINED the green jersey as Alexey Lutsenko struck out from a breakaway to claim his first career Tour de France stage win on the climb to Mont Aigoual.
Adam Yates, who on Wednesday became the ninth Briton to take yellow in the Tour after Julian Alaphilippe was hit with a time penalty, enjoyed a fairly relaxed day in the leader’s jersey, and was able to mark his rivals in the climbs late on the 191km stage six from Le Teil.
Though Alalphilippe made a point of attacking in the final metres, picking up a single second over the main pack, Yates was 10th over the line on the day to remain three seconds ahead of Jumbo-Visma’s Primoz Roglic in the overall battle.
The peloton crossed the line a little under three minutes after Lutsenko, who added to his 2017 Vuelta a Espana stage win with a strong effort out of the break.
🏆 🇰🇿 @AlexeyLutsenko3 claims the win! 🏆
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) September 3, 2020
🏆 🇰🇿 @AlexeyLutsenko3 s’impose en solitaire ! 🏆#TDF2020 #TDFUnited pic.twitter.com/ZAyEyJkkqY
An eight-strong group of escapees that included Irishman Nicolas Roche began to splinter on the main climb of the day, the Col de la Lusette, that formed part of the long drag up to the summit finish.
EF Education First’s Neilson Powless struck out in search of glory on his 24th birthday but Lutsenko followed and then left the others behind on the steepest sections of the climb before soloing to victory.
Earlier in the stage Bennett had used the intermediate sprint to stretch his advantage over Peter Sagan to 12 in the points classification, ensuring the Deceuninck-QuickStep rider will enjoy another day in the green jersey.
And Team Sunweb’s Roche joined his compatriot on the podium at the end of the day, named the most aggressive rider after driving the formation of the breakaway.
🎙️ 🇮🇪 @nicholasroche
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) September 3, 2020
"When I saw the quality of the guys in the breakaway, I thought to myself; these are good lads, we're going to get along."#TDF2020 pic.twitter.com/ZTTdfovsM1
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Well done Sam!
Roche reeling back the years today. Great to see him in leading group.
@Ardmore02: I used to wonder why he always got seats with big teams, he was to me at least the cycling equivalent of nick barmby. But of late its obvious that he is a fantastic road captain and can still push hard when he needs to. Monetarily, and having regard to inflation etc and all things being equal, he has had a much better career than his dad.
@The Great Cornholio: if you know anything by about cycling you would know these lads don’t get into it for the money. Better career than his dad?!!! Only 1 other person in the history of the sport did what Stephen did in ‘87, and he was the great Eddie Merckx. To say Nico had a better career than his father is a ludicrous comment. Troll away, but I would find it hard to find anyone who believes you.
@The Great Cornholio: did you actually say he had a better career than his dad??? As for the other drivel you wrote before that….You should go back to looking at Nick Barmby’s top 10 goals.
@The Great Cornholio: he has had a more prolonged career then his dad. he is more nicky butt then nicky barmby. Happy to be helping the team out not the most gifted
@Ardmore02: no. He said monetarily. He qualified it as to money earned.
@Jonathan Nolan: he says nico earned more than his dad. Which is probably true.
@Andrew Tuite: but that’s pointless. then you could say that Nick Barmby earned more than Pele? what’s the point in that?
@Ardmore02: its probably not pointless to their respective bank managers or ex wives.
Jokes aside I see his point. I think its ironic but at the same time we are talking about two different era’s so I see where you are coming from also. A debate for another day. Dumoulin is keeping his powder dry i see. I’m wondering if he’s a dark horse for this if roglic starts to slip
@Andrew Tuite: all relative :-)
Not sure Roglic will slip though, but yeah Jumbo looking very strong this year.
Bennett for the win tomorrow. Stage looks made for him
@Jonathan Nolan: I hope so. Tomorrow does look like a day that there’ll be a breakaway that will go all the way.
Eh guys what is meant is that nico has made more money than his dad from cycling despite the fact that his father has won far far more. I dont think anyone would realistically suggest nico has, in terms of successes, a better career than his father. The point regarding money in cycling is a valid one though. The prize money still lags behind alot of other sports despite the exposure it gets