PREVIEW | Tour de France 2023 stage 6 - Jai Hindley's first day in yellow, Cauterets summit finish threatens new attack from Jonas Vingegaard

Preview. With Jai Hindley now in the lead, the Tour de France has gained new shape, with Jonas Vingegaard taking significant time on Tadej Pogacar and opening up the fight for the yellow jersey into a whole new level.

The second day in the Pyrenees at the Tour de France will see some more famous climbs on the menu. Perhaps a classical day, with plenty difficult climbs where differences can be made, but it will be all about the riders' attitudes. A short 145 kilometers with a flat start makes for an easy start to the day, the last 100 kilometers will be the ones where most of the action is expected.

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Estimated start and finish times for Tour de France stage 6: 13:10-17:10CET

That will start with the Col d'Aspin. It's 12 kilometers long at 6.6%, a warm-up for what's to come next, it summits with 77 kilometers to go but after a short the descent the riders are directly at the base of the Col du Tourmalet.

This is the toughest ascent of the day, a Tour classic - at this point, perhaps the most used climb in pro cycling. It will be climbed via Sainte-Marie de Campan it's 17 kilometers at a constant 7.4%, an ascent where the gradients never truly change much, it summits with 47 kilometers to go and the summit is at an altitude of 2112 meters.

After the descent into the valley the destination will be Cauterets-Cambasque, at the end of a very short stage. It will be at the end of a rough day so differences can be made, but with 16 kilometers at 5.4% it is unlikely to be an ascent with many serious moves within a normal race, however every mountain stage is an opportunity. In the final 5 kilometers there are a few ramps over 10% and it could see some action.

The Weather

The wind won't be felt but the rain may. The weather conditions will be far from ideal in the Pyrenees on this stage, although not high there are chances of rain which grow as the riders head deeper into the day. The summit finish will be a blessing to some, although the descents may be tense.

The Favourites

Jonas Vingegaard - Vingegaard has made a mark. He won over one minute on Tadej Pogacar, a gap which would've been even bigger if there hadn't been a good collaboration in the chasing group. I argued Vingegaard and Pogacar above all others, it may not be far from that, but it feels very much like it's Vingegaard above all others now as it stands. He has not moved into the yellow jersey, but I believe he will be confident in his chances of distancing Hindley later in the race. I think he won't be thinking of an attack here as Jumbo may benefit from a few more days away from yellow - at Puy de Dôme gaps are certain in the GC fight - however if he has legs as good as today he could very well seize and put in more time on the competition.

Tadej Pogacar - Pogacar and UAE need a reset after today. Firstly, before the gap grows too big, they have to think of how they can use Adam Yates to put pressure on Vingegaard. It seems that every mountain stage will see Yates' potential become smaller, here there are climbs to put in pressure, but UAE have to attack from early on with men in the breakaway. As for Pogacar there isn't a guide, surely he won't attack after today, he most likely has to pick his days more now and look to find Vingegaard on a bad day, and then attack. In the meanwhile don't poke the beehive, try to keep the gap within reasonable distance of getting yellow with a single attack.

Jai Hindley - Hindley getting yellow today was a surprise, let's admit it. Simultaneously, him taking the stage win from that group, and looking as good as he did was not. The Australian can climb superbly specially when it's a constant ascent such as Marie Blanque, he was in good form at the Dauphiné and has set himself as a major podium favourite after today. For victory, I think he won't yet dream of that, Vingegaard looked terrifying today, however he can certainly keep yellow deep into the race. He wasn't in a direct battle today with the rest, but I am sure he will be able to follow the very best on the next mountain challenges. Perhaps he will have to try and defend his jersey in Cauterets already.

The rest of the field, as was the case today, is about survival. It's easy to forget but we're only racing into stage 6, the GC is already well defined by now, but a few riders are above the rest. If Jumbo-Visma sets the pace, no-one attacks. If UAE sets the pace no-one attacks, except Pogacar or Vingegaard. The rest of the GC field will race by pace, as with Jumbo-Visma (and BORA) in control there won't be freedom for a big group to go up the road as was the case today.

You have Giulio Ciccone and Emanuel Buchmann who benefited from today's breakaway, sit third and fourth, will try to remain high in the GC for now as it favours them. Simon Yates, Mattias Skjelmose, Carlos Rodríguez and David Gaudu continue to ride very well and will be among the best ones, out of the survivors, certainly.

The breakaway does stand chances of winning, Some, riders who have thrived today, such as Felix Gall or Valentin Madouas for example. As was shown today it has to be a very strong climber to race up these mountains and have a shot at winning, this is the Tour de France and luck alone won't do. The KOM fight is gaining shape too, Neilson Powless and Daniel Martínez will also be seeking points. Thibaut Pinot, Esteban Chaves, Tobias Johannessen and Ruben Guerreiro could also shoot their shot on a very favourable day.

Prediction Tour de France 2023 stage 6:

*** Jonas Vingegaard
** Tadej Pogacar, Felix Gall, Daniel Martínez
* Jai Hindley, Mattias Skjelmose, Adam Yates, Simon Yates, Carlos Rodríguez, David Gaudu, Valentin Madouas, Neilson Powless, Thibaut Pinot, Ruben Guerreiro

Pick: Jonas Vingegaard