Bredouilles since the start of this Tour, the breakaways have for the first time been rewarded this Thursday during the sixth stage between Le Teil and Mont Aigoual (191 km). It must be said that the eight men who composed it, left as soon as the flag was lowered, were rather the type not to look at the expense.
There were, among others, Rémi Cavagna (Deceuninck-Quick Step), Greg Van Avermaet (CCC), Alexey Lutsenko (Astana) and Neilson Powless (EF Pro Cycling). With a maximum gap above six minutes and the very rugged terrain of the final, their destiny seemed golden.
A big acceleration of the Jumbo-Visma in the small Col de Coste (km 146) then a sustained tempo of the Ineos Grenadiers (but for what?) In the magnificent and unprecedented Col de la Lusette brought the package back to around 2’30 ” . But the pace dropped steadily and ahead, four kilometers from the summit, Lutsenko attacked his last companion Powless to fly to victory at Mont Aigoual. At 27, the Kazakh puncher, world champion in 2012, won his first Tour victory in his fifth participation.
Behind, none of the favorites moved an ear and Briton Adam Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) kept his yellow jersey without trembling.
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