Photography by BrakeThrough Media, Jered & Ashley Gruber, Cor Vos
Mark Cavendish (Dimension Date) continued to roll back the clock at the 2016 Tour de France, sprinting to his third victory of this year’s edition on stage 6 into Montauban and pulling on the green jersey as leader of the points classification
The victory, the 29th Tour stage of Cavendish’s career, moved “The Manx Missile” solely into second in all-time Tour stage wins. The great Eddy Merckx has the most Tour stage victories with 34.
Cavendish was able to out-foxed Marcel Kittel (Etixx-QuickStep) and Tour-rookie Dan Mclay (Fortuneo-Vital Concept) to take the victory, showing his time spent on the velodrome this spring has not hurt his sprinting, but has helped it.
“Today I sprinted like in the old days,” Cavendish said. “I stayed safe in the fast long run-in. It was slightly downhill. I needed to do the right thing. I agree with [Dimension Data performance manager] Rolf Aldag when he says that my return to the track has helped me take the split-second decisions.”
Read the full stage 6 race report, highlight video and results here.
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- With the team hotels nearby, Tom Doumoulin and his Giant-Alepcin teammates simply rode over to start with their suitcases. Photo: Cor Vos
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- Team BMC riders had special yellow rimmed Oakleys to represent their lead in the teams classification. Photo: Gruber Images
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- Greg Van Avermaet (BMC Racing) was calm at the start of stage 6 before he began for his day in the maillot jaune. Photo: Gruber Images
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- BMC Racing received a final pep talk from team manager Jim Ochowicz before the start. Photo: Cor Vos
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- Nairo Quintana (Movistar) signed autographs before the start in Arpajon-sur-Cère. Photo: Cor Vos
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- The sun was already blazing by the time the riders began the stage shortly after noon local time. Photo: Cor Vos
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- Jan Barta (Bora-Argon 18) and Yukiya Arashiro (Lampre Merida) formed the day’s breakaway. Photo: Cor Vos
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- A long straight road to the Pyrenees. Photo: Cor Vos
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- A hot day meant many trips back to the team car to collect bidons for the domestiques. Photo: Cor Vos
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- On the category 3 Cote de Saint Antonin Noble Val the peloton whittled the breakaway’s lead to under a minute Photo: Cor Vos
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- This canopy of branches provided the peloton a brief moment of respite from the blazing sun. Photo: Cor Vos
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- Cavendish lunged for the line and beat Marcel Kittel (Etixx-QuickStep) by half a wheel for his 29th career Tour stage win. Photo: Cor Vos
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- “The Manx Missile” was delighted to take the win in Montauban. Photo: Gruber images
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- Cavendish gave fellow countryman Mclay a sporting handshake after the finish line.
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- The former world champion was a bit cheeky at the finish of stage 6. He now has a hat-trick of wins at the 2016 Tour. Photo: Gruber images
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- A sprinter can’t win alone and Cavendish made sure to thank his teammates for their hard work. Photo: Gruber images
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- Cavendish is back in the green jersey, but stated after the stage it would be hard to hold off Sagan in order to ride into Paris wearing it. Photo: Gruber Images
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- Julian Alaphilippe (Etixx-QuickStep) continues to shine in his maiden Tour, leading the Best Young Rider’s classification. Photo: Cor Vos
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- De Gendt has vowed to defend the King of the Mountains jersey into the Pyrenees. However, he also stated he suffered on stage 6 from the effects of his effort in the breakaway the day before. Photo: Gruber Images
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- Another day in the maillot jaune means possibly another golden lion for Van Avemaet’s young daughter watching back at home. Photo: Cor Vos
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- Cavendish has popped the victory champagne a few times this Tour. Photo: Gruber images
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- Daniel Teklehaimanot and Cavendish enjoyed their victory champagne with the France v. Germany futbol match on the screen in the background. France won 2-0. Photo: Gruber images