THE RACE LIVE

Lance Armstrong was held up by the crash but did not come down. He finished in 19th place and will wear the yellow jersey again in stage seven. There has been no significant change to the general classification after stage six.

The crash on the final turn has caused total chaos. All the usual winning candidates were taken out of the picture but nothing can be taken away from Lorenzo Bernucci who was in the right place at the right time.
The top 10 is:
1. Lorenzo Bernucci (FAS)
2. Alexandre Vinokourov (TMO)
3. Robert Forster (GST)
4. Angelo Furlan (DOM)
5. Thor Hushovd (C.A)
6. Kim Kirchen (FAS)
7. Gianluca Bortolami (LAM)
8. Egoi Martinez (EUS)
9. Gerrit Glomser (LAM)
10. Kurt Atle Arvesen (CSC)

Christophe Mengin crashed on the final sharp right hand turn of the stage. He was in a winning position but the wet road caused him to crash. Vinokourov had to unclip from his pedal to avoid the crash. Bernucci managed to escape the carnage and raced on to celebrate his win in complete surprise.

Lorenzo Bernucci only came to the front of the stage in the final 900m. He has never been at the head of the peloton until he was about to win his first stage of the Tour de France. He relegated Vinokourov to second place.
A crash in the closing kilometers has split the peloton into a hundred pieces. Riders are limping in in dribs and drabs while Bernucci celebrates his coup.

Lorenzo Bernucci has won the stage. He was the Fassa Bortolo rider who chased down Vinokourov’s counter attack...

Mengin has crashed on one of the final turns. There is carnage on the corner with a lot of riders also hitting the tarmac - McEwen included.

Vinokourov has Mengin in his sights. The Kazakh champion is about to catch the stage leader.

With 2km to go, Mengin has a lead of 10" on the peloton. Vinokourov has launched an attack off the front of the main pack.

Three FDJ riders have arrived at the head of the peloton. They are attempting to stall the bunch but now a Rabobank rider has nulified the ploy and has set up a new train on the right side of the road.

Mengin refuses to succumb to the peloton. With 4km to go he has a lead of 15" on the bunch that is now being led by a Davitamon-Lotto rider.

Cioni has been swallowed up by the peloton which is being led by a Phonak rider.

Mengin is 5km from the finish. His advantage on the peloton is 23".

The stage leader will benefit from local knowledge and the fact that he can negotiate the final turns without distraction. Mengin leads the peloton by 20". Cioni is still ahead of the pack but it appears only a matter of moments before he’s swallowed up by the fast-chasing pack.

Mengin has 7km to go to the finish in Nancy. He leads a counter attack by Cioni. The peloton is 23" behind the rider who began his attack at the 23km mark.

Rain continues to fall on the peloton. Mengin is coping with the conditions near his home town. He has a lead of 15" on Cioni and 23" on the peloton.

Dario Cioni has attacked the peloton. He is in pursuit of Mengin who is 20" ahead.

Mengin is on his own at the front of the stage. He is less than 10km from the finish. Kirsipuu and Gerosa have just been caught by the peloton.

Karsten Kroon has seven points in the climbing classification. It’s the same tally as Stephane Auge but because the Rabobank rider won two of today’s four climbs he will wear the polka-dot jersey in stage seven.

The points for the cat-four Cote de Maron were won by:
1. Christophe Mengin (FDJ) 3pts
2. Mauro Gerosa (LIQ) 2pts
3. Jaan Kirsipuu (C.A) 1pt

Christophe Mengin has crested the Cote de Maron on his own. He has added three points to his tally in the climbing classification. The peloton is 40" behind.

Kroon and Auge have been swallowed up by the peloton. There are now just three riders ahead of the pack. Mengin leads, then Kirsipuu and Gerosa... then the peloton.

The gradient of the final climb is causing numerous riders to drop off the back of the peloton. Mengin continues to set a good tempo at the front of the stage.

Mengin is going to claim first place points at the top of the Cote de Maron but the peloton is closing in quickly on the remnants of the escape group. The latest time check had the peloton at 50".

Near the top of the final climb, Mengin has dropped the other riders in the lead group. Kirsipuu was the last to lose contact with the FDJ rider who lives in this region.

There are signs of aggression at the front. Kirsipuu has attacked. He has been matched by Gerosa and Mengin.

Gerosa, Mengin, Auge, Kirsipuu and Kroon are on the Cote de Maron with a lead of 1’05" on the peloton.

Leon van Bon is the latest rider to get a flat tyre.

The five escapees continue to swap off with even turns. Each riders is in the wind for about 30-40 seconds before swinging off. This cooperation is likely to stop soon as they start to consider the final climb...

Sylvain Chavanel has puncture his front tyre. He has received a new wheels and is back racing again after a quick stop.

Afer his puncture, Hushovd has rejoined the peloton which is now just 20km from the finish and 1’30" behind the escapees.

The rider in second place in the points classification at the start of the stage, Thor Hushovd has punctured. He has a new wheel and is chasing the peloton.

The Cote de Maron is a 3.2km ascent with an average gradient of 5.2 per cent. The summit of this cat-4 rise is 13.5km before the finish of the sixth stage.
Currently both Karsten Kroon and Stephane Auge have seven points in the climbing classification. We can expect to see these two try to stay clear of the peloton until the climb. The have about 7km to go but the peloton is now just 1’40" behind their group of five.

As it passed under the 25km to go banner, the peloton was 1’50" behind the leading quintet.

Stephane Auge is the first rider to attack the lead group. His surge has been match by all others in the escape group but the action is hotting up.

The leaders are less than 25km from the finish. There have been no signs of aggression up front yet but we can expect to see Mengin launch an attack some time soon. His home town is just around the next corner.

Gerosa, Mengin, Auge, Kirsipuu and Kroon are now 2’05" ahead of the peloton. The pace of the bunch is causing some riders to drop off the back. The latest victim of the rapid chase is Sebastian Joly of the Credit Agricole team.

As the peloton crossed the line for the third intermediate sprint (at the 169.5km mark) it was 2’20" behind the leading quintet.

The points for the third sprint of the stage were won by:
1. Stephane Auge (COF) 6pts/6"
2. Mauro Gerosa (LIQ) 4pts/4"
3. Christophe Mengin (FDJ) 2pts/2"

The escapees are near the site of the third intermediate sprint of the stage. They continue to share the workload but we can expect to see some aggression soon as only 30km remain in the stage and the peloton is closing in fast.

Mengin, Gerosa, Kirsipuu, Kroon and Auge are now just 2’55" ahead of the peloton (which is at the 160km mark). The leading quintet had a maximum advantage of 8’30" at the 81km mark.

The rider who instigated today’s escape, Christophe Mengin (FDJ) lives in Villey-le-Sec a town that the Tour visits today at the 174km mark.

The peloton is now 3’25" behind five escapees. The Quickstep and Davitamon teams have been in charge of the peloton since the feedzone at the 90km mark.

The latest rider to puncture is Ivan Basso. There have been numerous flat tyres today (something that’s common on wet days). The leader of the CSC team has two colleagues along to help him back to the peloton. Before they start chasing in earnest, however, the mechanic of the team is doing some "work" on Basso’s bike...

The peloton is at the 150km mark with a deficit to the three leaders of 3’55".

Karsten Kroon is one of three riders in today’s escape who has previously won a stage of the Tour. When in Plouay on Bastille Day in 2002 he was a member of an seven-man escape group in stage eight. Also in the group that day was Stephane Auge who is present today.
Kroon won the sprint ahead of Servais Knaven (who is one rider currently setting the tempo of the peloton). Auge finished sixth while riding for the Jean Delatour team three years ago.

The peloton crossed the line for the 2nd intermediate sprint (at 144.5km) 4’15" behind the five escapees.
Mauro Gerosa is no longer the virtual leader of the Tour.

The leading quintet have passed the site of the second intermediate sprint. The points in Chalaines (at 144.5km) were won by:
1. Mauro Gerosa (LIQ) 6pts/6"
2. Jaan Kirsipuu (C.A) 4pts/4"
3. Stephane Auge (COF) 2pts/2"

The average speed for the third hour of racing is 45.1km/h. The average for the first three hours is 47.5km/h.

Two of the riders in today’s escape group - Karsten Kroon and Stephane Auge - both have seven points in the climbing classification. There is one climb yet to come but one thing seems certain, there will be a new rider in the polka-dot jersey for stage seven.
Kroon and Auge both have seven points while Dekker, who led the classification at the start of the stage, has six.

The points for the Cote de Montigny were won by:
1. Karsten Kroon (RAB) 3pts
2. Stephane Auge (COF) 2pts
3. Christophe Mengin (FDJ) 1pt

Karsten Kroon has led Stephane Auge over the line of the third climb.

Gerosa is leading the escape group on the third climb. Kroon is paying close attention to Auge but the attack has come from Mengin.

Mengin, Gerosa, Kirsipuu, Kroon and Auge are now on the Cote de Montigny - a cat-4 climb that rises for 1.4km at an average gradient of 5.2 per cent.

Two riders from Saunier Duval have puncture in the last kilometer. Both Chris Horner and David Canada have been given new wheels from the team car and are now chasing the peloton.

With the peloton at the 134km mark, it is 4’45" behind the five escapees.

Dario Cioni (LIQ) is the latest rider to puncture. The wet conditions have caused plenty of flat tyres today, including one for Jaan Kirsipuu - one of the riders in today’s escape group.

The peloton is closing in rapidly on the five stage leaders. At the 129km mark, the bunch was 5’00" behind Mengin, Gerosa, Kirsipuu, Kroon and Auge.

Louis Trousselier, Rene Pottier and Bernard Hinault are three other Tour champions to have won a stage in Nancy. Trousselier won the stage here in 1905, Rene Pottier won in 1906 and Bernard Hinault claimed his first yellow jersey thanks to his victory in Nancy 1978.

Today is the 14th time that a stage of the Tour de France has concluded in Nancy. The winners list from this city includes three former Tour champions - Fausto Coppi won the stage to Nancy in both 1949 and 1952, Louison Bobet won here in 1954 while Joop Zoetemelk won the second of his 10 Tour stages here in 1973.

Mauro Gerosa may never have won a professional race in his seven year career, but at least he can say that he was once the virtual leader of the Tour de France. He began the day 4’22" behind Armstrong but the advantage of his escape group is now down to 5’35"... and it seems almost certain that his time of glory won’t last the day.

The five escapees are losing time quickly now. The peloton is closing in fast thanks to the efforts of Quickstep and Davitamon. The latest time check has Mengin, Gerosa, Kirsipuu, Kroon and Auge 5’50" ahead of the bunch.

The peloton is down to 187 riders. The second retirement of the 2005 Tour is Claudio Corioni of the Fassa Bortolo team.

The peloton is at the 114km mark and continues to be led by the Quickstep and Davitamon teams. The deficit of the main group to the five escapees has dropped to 6’05".

After his puncture, Kirsipuu has rejoined Mengin, Gerosa, Kroon and Auge at the front of the stage.

The Estonian champion has a new wheel after his puncture. Jaan Kirsipuu is now working his way back through the convoy of cars following his four day-long escape companions.

One of the riders in the lead group has punctured. Jaan Kirsipuu is waiting on the side of the road for a new wheel.

At the 103.5km mark, the peloton is 6’45" behind the five escapees. The Davitamon-Lotto and Quickstep teams continue to cooperate at the head of the pack.
Up ahead Kroon, Kirsipuu, Gerosa, Auge and Mengin are swapping even turns although there have been signs of aggression, namely at the top of the climbs. Kroon is doing what he can to protect his team-mate’s lead in the race for the polka-dot jersey but Auge appears determined to wrestle the lead from the Rabobank rider today.

Stephane Auge (Cofidis) has gained five points from the two climbs in today’s stage. He is now just one point behind Erik Dekker’s lead in the race for the polka-dot jersey.

The peloton is now in Thonnance-les-Moulins (at the 100.5km mark). It is 6’50" behind Mengin, Gerosa, Kirsipuu, Kroon and Auge.

The points at the summit of the Cote de Brouthieres (at 104km) were won by:
1. Karsten Kroon (NED - RAB) 3pts
2. Stephane Auge (FRA - COF) 2pts
3. Mauro Gerosa (ITA - LIQ) 1pt

The Cofidis rider in the lead group has attacked on the 2nd climb of the stage. He wanted the points at the summit of the Cote de Brouthieres but could not hold off Karsten Kroon of the Rabobank team.

The peloton is at the 97km mark and is 7’30" behind the five escapees.

The maximum gain of Mengin, Gerosa, Kirsipuu, Kroon and Auge was 8’30" when the peloton was at the 81km mark.
The Davitamon-Lotto and Quickstep teams have been leading the peloton since that time. The bunch is now at the 94.5km mark and is 7’50" behind the five escapees.

One of the French riders in today’s escape, Christophe Mengin, lives in the city that’s hosting the stage finish. This is his ninth Tour de France. He has won stage win to his name. He claimed his victory in Fribourg in his debut Tour in 1997.

The second hour of stage six was raced at an average speed of 45.9km/h. The average for the first two hours is 48.7km/h.

The teams of Tom Boonen and Robbie McEwen have decided that it’s time to try and reel in the five escapees. The maximum gain of Mengin, Gerosa, Kirsipuu, Kroon and Auge was 8’30" (when the peloton was at the 81km mark).
The bunch is now being led by Quickstep and Davitamon-Lotto and is 8’10" behind the fugitives.

Race radio has just confirmed the minor places at the summit of the first climb today at the 83.5km mark. The points were won by:
1. Stephane Auge (COF) 3pts
2. Christophe Mengin (FDJ) 2pts
3. Karsten Kroon (RAB) 1pt
The peloton was 8’15" behind the five escapees at the top of the Cote de Joinville.

Mauro Gerosa of the Liquigas-Bianchi team is the virtual leader of the Tour. He is part of a five-man escape group that’s now 8’30" ahead of the peloton.
The 30-year-old from Oggioni has not won a race in his seven years as a professional. He turned pro for Mapei in 1999 and has since ridden for Amica Chips, Tacconi Sport and Vini Caldirola.
This is his first attempt at the Tour de France.

The points for the first climb of the sixth stage, the Cote de Joinville (83.5km) were won by
1. Stephane Auge (COF) 3pts
(We await confirmation of the minor places from race radio.)

As the peloton pass the 77km mark, it is 8’00" behind the five escapees.

Mengin, Gerosa, Kirsipuu, Kroon and Auge are less than 1,000m from the top of the first climb today, the Cote de Joinville (at 83.5km).

The current group of escapees has established the biggest lead of this year’s Tour. They are currently almost seven minutes ahead of the peloton.
The move was instigated by Christophe Mengin at the 23km mark. He was chased down first by Mauro Gerosa. Then by Karsten Kroon, Stephane Auge and Jaan Kirsipuu. The junction was at the 38km mark.

The roads are wet for the sixth stage. The riders are clad in jackets and light rain is falling on the peloton in the second hour of racing.

The peloton is at the 70km mark. It is being led by the Discovery Channel team but there’s a bit of apathy in the chase. The main pack is now 6’50" behind the five escapees (Mengin, Gerosa, Kirsipuu, Kroon and Auge).

Mengin, Gerosa, Kirsipuu, Kroon and Auge are in Dommartin-le-Franc at the 72km mark of the stage. The last time check had them 6’00" ahead of the peloton. This is the biggest advantage of any escape in the 2005 Tour. (Before today the biggest leading margin of an escape group was 5’30" in stage three when Portal, Bertogliati and Dekker were the escapees.)

The peloton is now 5’25" behind the five escapees who joined forces at the 38km mark of today’s 199km stage.

The peloton is at the 59km mark of today’s stage. It is being led by the Discovery Channel team and is 4’50" behind the five escapees.

When Jaan Kirsipuu won the fifth stage of the 2002 Tour it was after he was involved in an escape with four other riders.
Along with Ludo Dierckxsens, Michael Sandstod, Stefano Casagrande and Christophe Edaleine, the Estonian champion escaped the peloton with 90km to go in the stage to Rouen. They built up a maximum lead of around four and a half minutes and eventually contested the race for line honors 38 seconds ahead of the peloton.
Kirsipuu won the sprint ahead of Sandstodt.

As the peloton crossed the line used for the first intermediate sprint of the sixth stage, it was 4’40" behind Mengin, Gerosa, Kirsipuu, Kroon and Auge.

The peloton was 4’25" behind at the first intermediate sprint (at the 56km mark). This means that Mauro Gerosa is the virtual leader of the Tour. He began the stage in 84th place, 4’22" behind Armstrong in the general classification.

The points for the intermediate sprint in Nully were won by:
1. Christophe Mengin (FDJ) 6pts/6"
2. Jaan Kirsipuu (C.A) 4pts/4"
3. Stephane Auge (COF) 2pts/2"

Mengin, Gerosa, Kirsipuu, Kroon and Auge are now 4’00" ahead of the peloton which is being led by the Discovery Channel team.

The pace at the start of the sixth stage is rapid. The average speed is 51.5km/h.

Of the five riders who are in the escape group that’s currently 3’35" ahead of the peloton three have previously won a stage of the Tour de France.
Jaan Kirsipuu has won in Challans (in 1999), Strasbourg (in 2001), Rouen (in 2002) and Charleroi (in 2004).
Karsten Kroon won his only Tour stage on Bastille Day in 2002 in Plouay.
And Christophe Mengin won in Fribourg back in 1997.

Of the five riders who are currently on the attack, the best place in the general classification is Mauro Gerosa (LIQ). He began the day in 84th place, 4’22" behind Armstrong (DSC).

The five stage leaders are 2’30" ahead of the peloton at the 43km mark.

The five escapees have pushed their advantage on the peloton up to 1’30" at the 41.5km mark. It appears that the peloton is content to allow Mengin, Gerosa, Kirsipuu, Kroon and Auge to establish an advantage as there are a number of riders in the bunch who are now answering the call of nature.

Mengin, Gerosa, Kirsipuu, Kroon and Auge are 1’10" ahead of the peloton which is now at the 40km mark.

At the 39km mark Mengin, Gerosa, Kirsipuu, Kroon and Auge have a lead on the peloton of 55".

The five escapees have built a lead on the peloton of 40" at the 38km mark.

Mengin and Gerosa have been caught by Kroon (RAB), Kirsipuu (C.A) and Auge (COF). This group of five now lead the peloton by 31".

Mengin and Gerosa lead the peloton by 15" at the 30.5km mark.

After a flurry of action, there are now just two riders ahead of the peloton after 29.5km of racing. The escapees are Mengin (FDJ) and Gerosa (LIQ).

There are two more riders trying to join the counter attack. They are Erik Dekker (RAB) and Nicolas Jalabert (PHO). The Discovery Channel team is leading the peloton at an extremely rapid pace.

Bernucci (FAS), Joly (C.A), Nazon (A2R) and Wegmann (GST) have attacked the peloton at the 27km mark.

The peloton is being led by the Cofidis team. They are intent on catching the escapee, Mengin who is currently 12" ahead.

Christophe Mengin is now the only rider ahead of the peloton. He has a lead of 15".

Although Joost Posthuma and his two escape companions were caught by the peloton recently, his is trying his luck again. He has Christophe Mengin (FDJ) as support. They have a slight lead on the peloton at the 23.5km mark.

The escape has been caught by the peloton after 22km of racing.

With the peloton at the 20km mark, the advantage of the three escapees is still 20".

The Quickstep-Innergetic team is leading the peloton which is now 20" behind Posthuma, Albasini and Van Bon.

The three riders who are currently leading the peloton are no threat in the general classification. The best-placed of escapees is the man who instigated the move at the 8km mark, Joost Posthuma. He was 77th at the start of stage six, 4’09" behind Lance Armstrong.

Posthuma, Albasini and Van Bon are now 22" ahead of the peloton which is at the 14km mark.

After 12.5km of racing the leading trio have pushed their advantage on the peloton up to 18".

Posthuma (RAB), Albasini (LIQ) and Van Bon (DVL) lead the peloton by 12".

There are now three riders ahead of the peloton. The move was instigated by Posthuma at the 8km mark. He was joined by Albasini and later by Leon van Bon (DVL) at the 9.5km mark.

Joost Posthuma (RAB) and Michael Albasini (LIQ) are currently trying to establish an escape group.
(The previous flash which stated that the six escapees were caught at the 10.5km mark was wrong. It was actually the 6.5km mark. Apologies for any confusion caused.)

The six escapees were caught by the peloton at the 10.5km mark.

There are six riders on the attack at the moment. They are Hincapie (DSC), Julich (CSC), Posthuma (RAB), Contador (LWT), Trenti (QST) and Voeckler (BTL).

The has been an attack from a Credit Agricole rider in the early kilometers of stage six. He has already been caught by the peloton. The next rider to try his luck was Samuel Dumoulin of the AG2R team. His chances of getting free of the peloton are slim because the pace is extremely fast early today.

Today is the second time in the history of the Tour that a stage has begun in Troyes. The last time was in 2003 when the stage concluded in Nevers (and Alessandro Petacchi won).
When Troyes last hosted a stage finish Erik Zabel was the winner. That was in 2000. The German who celebrates his 35th birthday today is not in the 2005 race.

The sixth stage officially began at 12.39pm. There are 188 riders still in the race with no retirements overnight.

The sixth stage is about to get started. The peloton is currently riding through the 7.3km neutral zone on the way to the site of the official start.

The temperature at the start of stage six is just 17 degrees Celsius in the air (and 24 degrees at road level). It is overcast in Troyes and the weather bureau has forecast storms during the day.

After five stages of racing in 2005, only one rider has retired. Constantino Zaballa of Saunier Duval during yesterday’s stage because of injuries sustained in an earlier accident.
It’s a contrast to 2004 when seven riders had already abandoned before the beginning of the sixth stage.

After five stages of the 2005 Tour only one rider has abandoned. At the end of yesterday’s stage there were still 188 riders in the race. There are 28 nations still represented and the breakdown of participants by country is as follows.
34 - Spain. Constantino Zaballa (SDV) abandoned during stage five
30 - France
27 - Italy
16 - Germany
11 - Belgium
10 - Australia
9 - USA and The Netherlands
7 - Switzerland
5 - Ukraine
4 - Austria
3 - Kazakstahn, Russia and Sweden
2 - Denmark, Estonia and Norway
1 - South Africa, Brazil, Colombia, Finland, Hungary, Luxembourg, Uzbekstahn, Portugal, Czech Republic, Slovenia and Venezuela

The runner-up in the team time trial, CSC is leading the team classification after five stages of the 2005 Tour. The Danish-registered squad has a lead of just four seconds over Discovery Channel. In third place is Phonak, 1’33" behind the team of Dave Zabriskie et al.

After 663.5km of racing in the 2005 Tour the following riders are wearing the four prize jerseys:
Lance Armstrong (DSC) has the yellow jersey. He leads his team-mate George Hincapie by 55” in the general classification.
Tom Boonen (QST) has the green jersey. The winner of stages two and three has 106pts, 29 more than Thor Hushovd (C.A).
Erik Dekker has the polka-dot jersey. The rouleur from the Rabobank team has six points, one more than the previous leader of the climbing classification Thomas Voeckler (BTL).
Yaroslav Popovych (DSC) has the white jersey. The current Best Young Rider is in sixth place in the general classification, he leads last year’s youth classification winner Vladimir Karpets by 57”.

There are four categorized climbs in the stage from Troyes to Nancy. They are all cat-4 ascents where points in the climbing classification (three, two and one for the first three riders) are awarded.
The climbs are: the Cote de Joinville (at 83.5km), the Cote de Brouthieres (at 104km), the Cote de Montigny (at 141km) and the Cote de Maron (at 185.5km).
The top of the last rise is 13.5km from the end of the stage.

The winner of stages two and three Tom Boonen leads the points classification with 106 points - 29 more than the next best rider, Thor Hushovd.
There are three intermediate sprints in stage six each offering six, four and two points for the first three riders across the line.
The ’primes’ are in Nully (at 56km), Chalaines (144.5km) and Dommartin-les-Toul (144.5km).

The 199km sixth stage of the 2005 Tour de France is scheduled to get underway at 12.20pm. There is a 7.3km neutral zone which brings riders to the site of the official start.
Live coverage of the stage will begin once the flag has been dropped to signal the official start.
The stage is from Troyes in the Aube department to Nancey in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department.