kwc blog

Stage 6: Troyes-Nancy

Bernucci of Fassa wins the stage in a rainy, crash-filled final kilometer. Five people were in a breakaway and hometown boy Mengin managed to sprint away as the rest of the breakaway was being caught. Vino and Bernucci attacked from the peloton and were nearly catching Mengin when, just after the 1km banner, Mengin crashed on a wet ninety-degree turn. Bernucci scooted around but Vino had to slow up and take a foot out of his pedal. They both rode on but many riders at the front of the peloton slid through the turn behind them straight into poor Mengin, who suffered a black eye from one of the sliding bikes. The 3km crash rule applied, but the sprinters were taken out of the main event.

The smart attack by Vino means that he gained 16 seconds on Armstrong (12 second time bonus for finishing second) and now sits 1'05" back.

• Stage 6 Photo Gallery (Graham Watson)
• Stage 6 Summary (VeloNews)
• Stage 6 Results (Cycling News)
• Stage 6 Live Stage Log (Daily Peloton)
• Stage 6 Jambon Report (Daily Peloton)

Live Stage Log

TiVo-delayed live blogging

A few more Cat 4 climbs on this route, but still pretty flat. The 199k course is about the distance from Arlington VA to Philadelphia.

Prediction: I switch, I switch, and I switch and I keep missing it, but I'm gonna go with Tom Boonen hoping that he doesn't lead out McEwen again.

Breakaway has a 6:20 lead. Kirsipuu is the biggest name in the break. The peloton is chasing. Kirsipuu had a flat but is back up in the break. Gerosa, Kroone, Mengin, and Auge are the other riders. 77k to go.

The riders are getting a nice coating of rain.

The peloton is averaging around 49km/hr, which is a very fast pace (fastest ever was 50.355 km/hr). Current pace is 48km/hr. The Tour has been very fast so far: 48.2km/hr over the first five stages.

Armstrong is mugging for the camera crying "Where's the sun?" in English and French.

Kroon may be out to protect his team's control of the King of the Mountain, but he'll have to fight Auge, who could take the jersey if he wins the baby climbs today.

Kroon took the first climb and with it the KoM lead.

Break is 1:49 and falling. Just trying to make it to the final climb.

Lotto and Quick Step have been doing big work at the front.

1:32

The breakaway is breaking apart on the final climb. Semi-hometown kid Mengin is attacking.

Voeckler is falling off the back of the peloton.

Kroon and Auge are being caught.

CSC is now leading the peloton. The peloton is shattering under the high tempo.

Kirsipuu and Gerosa will be caught soon.

Cioni from Liquigas has attacked from the peloton. His attack is being pulled back but Mengin is still away.

0:16, 3.7km to go.

2.3k to go.

Vino is attacking the peloton, let's see if Armstrong responds to that one. He's closing on Mengin.

Less than a mile to go.

Mengin has crashed, big pileup into Mengin around the bend.

(AP Photo/Pierre Lablatiniere/Pool)

Lots of riders falling, incluing McEwen.

Bernucci of Fassa wins the stage and Vino is in second. Benuchi followed Vino's attack and better avoided Mengin's crash.