Tour De France 2016: Stage 6 Route, Live-Stream Schedule and TV Info for July 7
After crossing the Massif Central on Wednesday, the riders will be afforded some respite on Stage 6 of the 2016 Tour de France with the Pyrenees looming.
The run from Arpajon-sur-Cere to Montauban is likely to be another chance for the sprinters to show what they can do, with the stage flattening out after a sharp descent and some categorised ascents. It’s a stage that also looks primed for a punchy breakaway rider to grab a victory, with plenty in the peloton likely to be hesitant to chase given what’s to come.
Either way, after the excitement of Wednesday’s section, expect another fascinating day on the tour. Here are all the key viewing details ahead of this one and a closer examination of how the 190.5 kilometres on Thursday are likely to pan out.
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Date: Thursday, July 7
Time: Noon (BST), 1 p.m. (Local), 7 a.m. (ET)
Live Stream: ITV Hub (UK), NBC Sports App (U.S.)
TV Info: ITV 4 (UK), NBC Sports Gold (U.S.)
Riders to Take Stock Ahead of Pyrenees
Here is a look at what is a lumpy profile for Stage 6, courtesy of Twitter user Tanja:
"Tomorrow's stage #TDF2016 pic.twitter.com/mzaCpm2xLf
— Tanja (@bambula) July 6, 2016"
Although this is a profile that looks a little lumpy, the ascents are not sharp nor long enough to grind down the sprinters. With some sharp climbs to come in the mountains over the next few days, expect the quick men to try to take this opportunity to get another stage win on the board.
This stage will pose an intriguing tactical conundrum for those men who are looking for the victory, too. There are some small climbs, categorised at three and four, in the first section of the stage, while another third in the latter stages shouldn’t pose too many problems.
A competitor like Peter Sagan will see this one as an ideal opportunity to get another win on the board. The rolling terrain suits the versatility of the Tinkoff man, who could approach this one in a variety of ways. Neal Rogers of Cycling Tips has been impressed by his efforts in the tour so far:
But it could also be a chance for breakaway rider to prosper, given what’s gone before and what’s to come.
Wednesday was the first real test for the general-classification riders, with the first concerted attempts at putting some time gaps between one another; the stage was won after a well-constructed break as well. This one is likely to be at a more pedestrian pace.
That means the peloton could be reluctant to bound after down any surges; three punishing days of climbing follow and you anticipate there will be a concerted effort to save energy.
The peloton have shown already in this tour they have no problems taking things easy, as was the case on Monday, per the Etixx - Quick-Step Twitter feed:
Greg Van Avermaet will begin the day in the yellow jersey after he was part of a fine breakaway on Wednesday, and he’ll be confident of keeping the garment on this stage. The 31-year-old has more than five minutes on his nearest rival and will want to preserve that gap ahead of what will not be a relaxing weekend for any of the riders.
It's a big day for the Tinkoff team, too. Sagan struggled on the ascent on Wednesday, relinquishing control of the maillot jaune; Alberto Contador also continued to toil, as he was left trailing by an elite set of GC riders late in the stage. Both men need a positive performance to boost morale in the camp.
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