2022 Tour de France: Stage 6 Results

Wout Van Aert did not survive a break attempt, and ended Stage 6 of the 2022 Tour de France more than seven minutes out of contention while UAE Team Emirates made the move of the day and moved Tadej Pogacar into the maillot jaune.

After yesterday’s cobbled stage, the Tour de France today entered the Ardennes, with 219.9km from Blinche to Longwy.

The break of the day featured race leader Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma), who was brought back with 15km to go as the the teams lifted the pace in the peloton.

In a classic finish of the Ardennes, the riders tackled the Cote Montingny sur Chiers in quick succession, 1.6 kilometers at 4.4%, then Cote de Pulventeux, 800 meters at 12.3% which crested at five to the finish, and finally the Cote Religieuses, 1.6 kilometers at 5.8%.

UAE Team Emirates moved well with Majka and McNulty accompanying Pogačar on all bumps, allowing the young Slovenian to first neutralise Vuillermoz’s attack (TotalEnergies), and finally to unleash a turn of speed in the last 500 meters .

“Winning here at Le Tour is more beautiful every time,” said Pogačar at the finish line. “Today was really tough from the start, with strong riders making moves and the whole group always pushing to reduce the gap. I didn’t even know if we were going to make it in the end but, with the great teamwork, we managed to get to the front and I was well escorted to the top positions right in the final. After the fatigue of the last few climbs it was really hard to overtake everyone at speed, but obviously I had good legs. I am super happy with this victory and to be able to wear the Yellow Jersey.”

Three-time Tour de France stage winner Michael Matthews came close to snatching his fourth stage victory today, as the 31-year-old Australian sprinted to a superb second place.

“I tried, I tried everything today and in the end it was second,” Matthews told reporters. “The team did a great job positioning me into the final and all day long. It was hard out there and in the final, I just had to believe in myself and try to fight for that victory.

“I knew the wheel to be on was Tadej’s and I think it was Pidcock fighting me for the wheels I thought we were maybe at the front a little too early so I let him in, and he couldn’t follow the wheel in the final and so Tadej got a gap and I had to try and run at him, but it was too late in the end.”

With today’s stage success, Pogacar also takes the Yellow Jersey, which he will wear tomorrow on the first real day dedicated to climbers.

2022 Tour de France: Stage 6 Brief Results:

1. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) at 4h 27’ 13“
2. Michael Matthews (Time BikeExchange-Jayco) s.t.
3. David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) s.t.

General classification after Stage 6

1. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) at 20h 44’ 44“
2. Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost) at 4”
3. Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) at 31“