Tour de France 2021: Alexey Lutsenko wins stage six as Adam Yates retains yellow jersey

Editorial TeamSeptember 3, 2020

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Tour de France 2020: Alexey Lutsenko wins stage six as Adam Yates retains yellow jersey

Astana's Alexey Lutsenko raises his arms in celebration after winning stage six of the 2021 Tour de France — Alexey Lutsenko received a stage of the Vuelta a Espana in 2017

Astana’s Alexey Lutsenko claimed the most important success of his profession with victory in stage six of the Tour de France as Britain’s Adam Yates retained the chief’s yellow jersey.

Lutsenko left the remainder of the breakaway behind on a steep climb with 17km to go and completed alone on Mont Aigoual.

Yates completed within the bunch, with the primary favourites content material to save lots of their assaults for one more day.

“We defended effectively and I get one other day in yellow,” stated Yates.

“I acquired the jersey in a wierd scenario however hopefully we did it proud.”

France’s Julian Alaphilippe, who misplaced the yellow jersey to Yates on Wednesday after he was docked 20 seconds for taking a bottle inside the ultimate 20km, sprinted late on to seize one second again in a present of defiance.

Mitchelton-Scott rider Yates, who stated earlier than the race he’s focusing on stage wins as a substitute of the general title this yr, leads Slovenia’s Primoz Roglic by three seconds.

He ought to hold the jersey after Friday’s stage seven, which is one for the sprinters, earlier than going through two powerful days within the Pyrenees that lead into Monday’s first relaxation day.

“These two phases are going to be actually powerful however we have an excellent robust crew so I am wanting ahead to it,” added Yates.

“I nonetheless need to win a stage however it’s onerous to throw away time within the lead so I will play it day-to-day and set what occurs.”

A powerful eight-man breakaway, that included Olympic champion Greg van Avermaet and Eire’s Nicolas Roche, constructed up a six-minute lead on the flat begin to the 191km stage from Le Teil, suggesting the winner would emerge from that group.

Jumbo-Visma, Ineos Grenadiers and Mitchelton-Scott all labored on the entrance to chop that deficit to about three minutes after the primary two climbs of the day to convey the primary favourites again into competition, however Lutsenko proved too robust.

The Kazakh champion saved upping the tempo on the Col de la Lusette, which options sections of 10% gradient, to shed riders till simply he and American Neilson Powless have been left.

Lutsenko quickly dropped him too to take the summit alone earlier than comfortably driving up the ultimate drag to Mont Aigoual for his first Tour stage win.

Cofidis’ Jesus Herrada, who fought again after being distanced earlier on the climb, completed second, whereas Van Avermaet sprinted away from Powless for third.

“This victory is essential for me – I’ve labored so onerous to get this win,” stated Lutsenko.

“I rode my tempo and gave it my all to create a niche sufficiently big to win.”

Eire’s Sam Bennett elevated his lead over Peter Sagan within the inexperienced jersey factors classification by beating the Slovakian on the intermediate dash and can look to increase his benefit additional on Friday.