Critérium du Dauphiné 2015 Stage 6: Brilliant stage-win Costa, Nibali yellow jersey

Stage 6 is teeming with climbs and that inspires the riders to an exciting race. Attacks galore and eventually Nibali, Valverde, Gallopin and Rui Costa decide on the stage win after being in the front group for over 100 kilometres. Nibali seems to be heading for glory, but he is caught by Rui Costa with a few hundred metres left. Nevertheless, the Italian will be pleased as he is the new overall leader. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 6th stage Critérium du Dauphiné

1. Rui Costa (por)
2. Vincenzo Nibali (ita) + 0.05
3. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 0.38
4. Tony Gallopin (fra) + 0.39
5. Simon Yates (gbr) + 1.24
6. Daniel Martin (irl) + 1.46
7. John Gadret (fra) + 1.48
8. Tiesj Benoot (bel) + 1.59
9. Chris Froome (gbr) + 2.12
10. Beñat Intxausti (spa) s.t.

GC after stage 6
1. Vincenzo Nibali (ita)
2. Rui Costa (por) + 0.29
3. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 0.30
4. Simon Yates (gbr) + 0.35
5. Tejay van Garderen (fra) + 0.42
6. Beñat Intxausti (spa) + 0.57
7. Chris Froome (gbr) + 1.21
8. Tony Gallopin (fra) + 1.29
9. Daniel Martin (irl) + 1.30
10. Andrew Talansky (usa) + 2.07

Race report
In rainy conditions the peloton has left St. Bonnet en Champsaur. And not only it it raining from the heavens, it is raining attack as well. Andriy Grivko is one of the most active riders and at the moment he is racing in the front group with Péraud, Adam Yates, Gallopin, Castroviejo, Izagirre, Losada, Alaphilippe, Gautier and Cummings. The front group is buil on the remains of a big break that featured the likes of Nibali, Bardet and leader Van Garderen.

With 50 km’s done the pack is bunched again, but not for long as Tony Martin decides it is time for some private time and he attacks on his own. He forges on for kilometres without getting much of a lead and just before cresting Col de la Croix-Haut he is brought back. Nibali is the second rider at the top and in the short descent he attacks, giving him a 0’20” bonus on the Col de Grimone.

In the long descent following the Grimone Nibali is accompanied by Tony Gallopin, Alejandro Valverde, Tony Martin en Rui Costa. They enjoy a 3 minutes advantage at the slopes of the Col du Rousset, the only 1st category climb of the day. Nibali attacks 3 km’s under the top and Rui Costa reacts with Valverde also making the junction. When cresting the trio are 3’30” ahead of the peloton.

In the descent the front group is back to five, but at one of many climbs Tony Martin is dropped and it will be up to Nibali, Valverde, Costa and Gallopin. The latter escapes with 4 km’s left, but on the closing climb is chasing hin down and looks to heading for the win, but in the dying moments of the race Rui Costa sneaks up to him to gobble up the stage win.

What a race!