Tour de France 2017: Kittel outsprints Démare and Greipel, Froome still in yellow

At 216 kilometres, the 6th stage of the Tour de France is one the longest in this year's edition. The route is played out on flat roads and in the ensuing sprint Marcel Kittel is in a class of his own, besting Démare and Greipel by a bike length. Leader Chris Froome finishes safely in the bunch. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 6th stage 2017 Tour de France

1. Marcel Kittel (ger)
2. Arnaud Démare (fra) s.t.
3. André Greipel (ger) s.t.
4. Alexander Kristoff (nor) s.t.
5. Nacer Bouhanni (FRa) s.t.
6. Dylan Groenewegen (nld) s.t.
7. Michael Matthews (aus) s.t.
8. Daniel McLay (gbr) s.t.
9. Rüdiger Selig (ger) s.t.
10. John Degenkolb (ger) s.t.

GC after the 6th stage
1. Chris Froome (gbr)
2. Geraint Thomas (gbr) + 0.12
3. Fabio Aru (ita) + 0.14
4. Daniel Martin (irl) + 0.25
5. Richie Porte (aus) + 0.39
6. Simon Yates (gbr) + 0.43
7. Romain Bardet (fra) + 0.47
8. Alberto Contador (spa) + 0.52
9. Nairo Quintana (col) + 0.54
10. Rafal Majka (pol) + 1.01

11. Rigoberto Uran (col) s.t.
12. Pierre Latour (fra) + 1.07
13. Louis Meintjes (rsa) + 1.24
14. Emanuel Buchmann (ger) + 1.29
15. Jakob Fuglsang (den) + 1.33
30. Esteban Chaves (col) + 2.44

Race report
Once the flag is dropped Perrig Quemeneur, Vegard Stake Laengen and Frederik Backaert jump clear to race to a maximum lead of more than 4 minutes. Then the peloton takes them on a leash and with 3 kms left the break is reeled in.

In the technical finale the trains disappear and once again we see a disorganised bunch finish. Greipel and Démare seems to be battling it out in the last 50 metres, but then Kittel produces a powerful effort from way back to storm past and win the race by a bike length.

Chris Froome finishes in the main group to retain the maillot jaune.

Interesting reads
– route of the 6th stage
– GC after the 5th stage
– favourites to win the stage