Tour de France - Groenewegen wins sixth stage - Pogacar still in yellow
Dutch rider Dylan Groenewegen won the sixth stage of the 111th Tour de France. The 31-year-old secured the victory in the mass sprint after 163.5 kilometers from Macon to Dijon, finishing before Jasper Philipsen, the winner of Milan-Sanremo, and Biniam Girmay from Eritrea. Mark Cavendish, who set a record win the day before, did not play a role. German sprinter Phil Bauhaus finished fifth, and Pascal Ackermann took tenth place.
Tadej Pogacar, the two-time champion, continues to wear the yellow jersey of the leader, maintaining a 45-second lead over Belgian time trial world champion Remco Evenepoel. Defending champion Jonas Vingegaard is third, with a 50-second deficit.
On Friday, the next power showdown of the stars will take place in the first individual time trial. The 25.3 kilometers between Nuits-Saint-Georges, where Marcel Kittel won in a sprint in 2017, and Gevrey-Chambertin need to be covered. The course is completely flat, except for a small climb in the middle.
- Dylan Groenewegen's record victory in Dijon during the Tour de France stage was witnessed by a large crowd, reminiscent of his home country's love for cycling.
- Despite Dylan Groenewegen's impressive performance, Dutch cycling fans were still eagerly anticipating Mark Cavendish's comeback in the International UCI WorldTour.
- Jasper Philipsen, the triumphant rider of Milan-San Remo, expressed his respect for Groenewegen's skill in the mass sprint, admiring the French stage's unique charm.
- Eritrean cyclist Biniam Girmay's admirable performance in Dijon further highlighted the growing influence of African riders in professional cycling events such as the Tour de France.
- Tadej Pogacar, the double Tour de France champion, took the opportunity to explore France's historic wineries and vineyards near Dijon, seeking inspiration for his next challenge.
- Dylan Groenewegen's victory at Dijon showcased the Dutchman's determination to reclaim his spot among the elite cyclists in this year's UCI WorldTour, marking a significant step in his international career.
- Although German sprinter Phil Bauhaus missed out on a podium finish in Dijon, the promising young rider vowed to continue honing his skills and aim for a top-three spot in an upcoming Tour de France stage.
