Stage 6 Preview – Tour de France 2025

Date: Thursday, 10 July 2025
Route: Bateaux → Vire Normandie
Distance: 201.5 km
Stage Type: Rolling / Hilly – early sprint, 5 categorised climbs, explosive finale

Directeur Sportif Insights – Stage 6

Stage Summary:
Stage 6 opens flat and fast before shifting into rough terrain — five categorised climbs in the middle section will drain legs and set up a fierce finish. Riders hoping for a quiet day will be disappointed.

DS Tactical Preview:

– Roglič & Vingegaard: Under Pressure
  After losing 2′30″ and 1′13″ in the TT, their GC ambitions took a hit. Expect Visma and BORA to throw early punches or set up long-range attacks to destabilize UAE. Waiting for the Alps may be too late.

– Pogačar: Controlled Aggression
  In Yellow, Green, and Polka Dot, Pogačar will mark threats but not chase everything. UAE will ride tempo and protect the jersey, letting breakaways go if they’re harmless to GC.

– Breakaway of the Day: Highly Likely
  The course rewards aggressive racing. Look for Ben Healy, Alaphilippe, or Kämna to animate the stage. A strong move before the fourth climb could stay away.

– Finale in Vire Normandie:
  The finish is sharp, technical, and puncheur-friendly — perfect for van der Poel, Skjelmose, or Warren Barguil if they get freedom. Don’t rule out a reduced bunch kick if the peloton reels in the late attackers.

DS Focus:

With Roglič and Vingegaard having disastrous time trials, they must attack. This is no longer about pacing — it’s about pressure. With a sprint start and five categorised climbs, this won’t be a day for hiding wheels. The GC is cracking open — and someone’s going to drive in a wedge.