It was a relatively sedate day at the Tour de France for Stage 6. Despite the presence of Col de la Lusette, a category 1 climb, in the final followed by a rise to the finish line, a pitched climbing battle failed to eventuate.
“It was a good day to get done," said Porte after the finish. "I don’t think it was as hard as everyone predicted. There wasn’t a big GC battle. It’s another day closer to Paris and it’s a good one to get done."
The penultimate climb, the Col de la Lusette, 11.8 kilometres at 7.2 per cent, was expected to be the scene of attacks by the general classification contenders. In the end a venture up the road by lowly-placed Fabio Aru was the closest the race for the main bunch got to serious action.
“I think they have two teams like INEOS and Visma to control and that deters attacks," said Porte of the negative racing. "It’s good to see the breakaway arrive.”
Porte had been in middling form entering the Tour de France, but has looked assured when the pressure has been applied on the climbs. He currently sits 15th overall, just 13 seconds behind race leader Adam Yates (Mitchelton-Scott).
The next big stage for the climbers comes on Stage 8 as the peloton hits the Pyrenees with climbs of the Port de Bales and the Col de Peyresourde before the finish in Loudenvielle.
The Tour de France continues with the 168km seventh stage from Millau to Lavaur which should be one for the sprinters but might entice the opportunists.
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