Tour de France 2022 Favourites stage 6: Lumpy race for attackers

image: Cor VosAt 220 kilometres, the 6th stage of the Tour de France is the longest race of this edition. The hilly route reaches its zenit in a challenging finale. (Slideshow route/profile)

The only flat section of the entire race appears between 100 and 60 kilometres from the finish line. During the rest of the day the riders travel from one hill to the next. The climbs are never long, nor steep, but the endless succession is sure to wear the peloton out.

GC riders will only be interested in reaching the finish line, as there is hardly anything to be gained for them, so chances are that breakaway specialists will try to have it their way. A hard battle to be part of it is to expected. Who’ll eventually turn out on top is to be decided upon in the promising finale.

The finale opens with 17 kilometres remaining on the first of four short climbs. The penultimate uphill toil is likely to be decisive, as it features 800 metres at 12.3%. At the top there are 5 kilometres to go. The riders descend to the foot of the last uphill drag: 1.6 kilometres at 5.8% with a ramp at 11% halfway up.

The route suits attackers, while the likes of Mathieu van der Poel, Tom Pidcock and Wout van Aert will be savouring in anticipation when looking at the finale. So they will want to be part of the breakaway and, if not, their teams are likely to keep the attackers on a leash. Which will not be easy on this lumpy terrain.

Favourites 6th stage 2022 Tour de France

*** Wout van Aert, Tom Pidcock, Alberto Bettiol
** Lennard Kämna, Michael Matthews, Tim Wellens, Matej Mohoric
* Mads Pedersen, Mathieu van der Poel, Marc Hirschi, Magnus Cort

Another interesting read: route 6th stage 2022 Tour de France.