Czech Rider Uses Final Climb To Win Tour's Stage 6

With several small climbs in the 191.5 kilometer stage 6, it was doubtful that this would be a finish for the sprinters. But after the peloton caught the last breakaway rider with 3 kilometers to go, it looked like it could be a sprinter's finish after all. But it was not to be. Czech rider Zdenek Stybar used the last climb to the finish line to get a couple of seconds lead over the group of sprinters, and win the stage. Slovakian Peter Sagan finished second, and Frenchman Bryan Coquard was third.

A bit of history was made on the three category 4 climbs, as Eritrean rider Daniel Teklehaimanot won all three climbs. That makes him the first African rider to ever wear the Polka Dot jersey.

The tragedy of the day happened to German Peter Martin, who was the Yellow jersey wearer. He had a nasty crash about a kilometer from the finish -- and although he was able to finish and keep the Yellow jersey, he could not move his left arm. He was taken to the hospital after the race, and it is very doubtful he will be able to start stage 7.

Stage 7's 190.5 kilometer course has only one category 4 climb, and it's near the start of the race. It should be a good day for the sprinters.

Here are the standings after stage 6:

YELLOW JERSEY (Overall Leaders)
1. Tony Martin, Germany (ETIXX-Quick Step)
2. Christopher Froome, Great Britain (Team Sky)..........12"
3. Tejay Van Garderen, United States (BMC Racing)..........25"
4. Peter Sagan, Slovakia (Tinkoff-Saxo)..........27"
5. Tony Gallopin, France (Lotto-Soudal)..........38"
6. Greg Van Avermaet, Belgium (BMC Racing)..........40"
7. Rigiberto Uran Uran, Colombia (ETIXX-Quick Step)..........46"
8. Alberto Contador, Spain (Tinkoff-Saxo)..........48"
9. Zdenek Stybar, Czech Republic (ETIXX-Quick Step)..........1' 04"
10. Geraint Thomas, Great Britain (Team Sky)..........1' 15"

GREEN JERSEY (Best Sprinter)
1. Andre Greipel, Germany (Lotto-Soudal)..........161 pts
2. Peter Sagan, Slovakia (Tinkoff-Saxo)..........158 pts
3. John Degenkolb, Germany (Giant-Alpecin)..........120 pts
4. Mark Cavendish, Great Britain (ETIXX-Quick Step)..........94 puts
5. Bryan Coquard, Francee (Europcar)..........86 pts

POLKA DOT JERSEY (Best Climber)
1. Daniel Teklehaimanot, Eritrea (MTN-Qhubeka)..........3 pts2. Joachim Rodriguez Oliver, Spain (Team Katusha)..........2 pts
3. Michael Schar, Switzerland (BMC Racing)..........1 pt
4. Rafal Majka, Poland (Tinkoff-Saxo)..........1 pt
5. Thomas De Gendt, Belgium (Lotto-Soudal)..........1 pt
6. Christopher Froome, Great Britain (Team Sky)..........1 pt

WHITE JERSEY (Best Young Rider)
1. Peter Sagan, Slovakia (Tinkoff-Saxo)
2. Warren Barguil, France (Giant-Alpecin)..........52"
3. Nairo Alenander Quintano Rojas, Columbia (Movistar)..........1' 41"

TEAM LEADERS
1. BMC Racing (United States)
2. ETIXX-Quick Step (Belgium)..........22"
3. Tinkoff-Saxo (Russia).........1' 44"
4. Team Sky (Great Britain)..........3' 14"
5. AG2R La Mondiale (France)..........5' 44"