THE RACE LIVE
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McEwen’s third win has elevated him up the rankings. The Australian is now 12" behind Tom Boonen in the race for the yellow jersey.

McEwen’s lead-out man, Geert Steegmans began his celebrations well before the line. But he still had the momentum to finish in the top 10.
1. Robbie McEwen (AUS - DVL)
2. Daniele Bennati (ITA - LAM)
3. Tom Boonen (BEL - QSI)
4. Bernhard Eisel (AUT - FDJ)
5. Thor Hushovd (NOR - C.A)
6. Oscar Freire (ESP - RAB)
7. Erik Zabel (ITA - MRM)
8. Luca Paolini (ITA - LIQ)
9. Geert Steegmans (BEL - DVL)
10. Inaki Isasi (ESP - EUS)

Boonen was not even close to challenging for the win but the Belgian should wear the yellow jersey again tomorrow.

Robbie McEwen has won this third stage of the year. It’s his 11th Tour victory and he appeared to do it with ease...!

Boonen has Freire right on his wheel. All the usual candidates are present... 500m remain...

The peloton is now in the final straight. The Lampre team continues to lead but now it’s time for Tossato to take over to lead Boonen out. There are two Quickstep riders ahead of the yellow jersey. Tucked in behind Boonen is Zabel... and Rabobank is now winding it up.

The Lampre and Quickstep teams are in charge of the peloton. It’s time to start consider which sprinters are likely candidates for the win. Lampre is working for Bennati, Quickstep for Boonen, Davitamon for McEwen, Rabobank for Freire, Gerolsteinter for Wrolich, Credit Agricole for Hushovd, Liquigas for Paolini...

Geslin, Backstedt and Brard have been swallowed up by the peloton. The capture was at the 5km mark.

The head of the peloton has turned blue and pink... the Lampre team is now in charge of the bunch which is 12" behind Geslin, Backstedt and Brard.

The escapees are only moments away from being caught. There are a number of roundabouts in the closing kilometers and the roads through the centre of Vitre are relatively narrow. The peloton is 20" behind and some GC riders are moving up front of the bunch to ensure they are as free from trouble as possible what promises to be a frantic few kilometers...

The escapees have just passed under the 10km to go banner. Rain is now falling on the race although it’s not as heavy as it was in Lisieux earlier today. The advantage of the leading trio on the peloton is just 25".

The pace of the peloton is picking up; it is just 35" behind Geslin, Backstedt and Brard. Jimmy Casper has, however, been able to rejoin the bunch with 12km to go in the stage.

With 15km to go, the winner of stage one has punctured. Jimmy Casper (COF) got a quick wheel change and he should be back in the peloton before the pack catches the three leaders who are just 40" ahead.

The leading trio have been able to build on their advantage a little. With 15km to go, Geslin, Backstedt and Brard are 1’05" ahead of the peloton.

It is overcast in Vitre and the cloud cover is getting heavier by the minute. For the moment, however, the site of today’s stage finish is still dry.

With 20km to go in the stage, the peloton is exactly one minute behind Geslin, Backstedt and Brard. The question now is: will the leading trio start attacking each other or simply collaborate at a steady pace until the peloton slowly reels them in before the finish...?

Geslin, Backstedt and Brard are 20km from the finish in Vitre. They have a lead of 1’05".

Magnus Backstedt was in a long escape in the fifth stage of the 2004 Tour that concluded in Chartres. The winner that day was Stuart O’Grady but the French champion that year also earned a reward: Thomas Voeckler claimed the yellow jersey.
This year, the French champion is Florent Brard but it doesn’t seem likely that either of the leading trio will have much to celebrate tonight. Their escape appears doomed because they are just 1’10" ahead of the peloton with 23km to go.

The leaders have less than 25km to go. They have been cooperating well since coming together after attacking a 17-man escape group at the 70km mark.

At the 162.5km mark, the peloton was 1’15" behind Geslin, Backstedt and Brard. There are 26km to go in stage six.

The points for the third intermediate sprint of stage six - in Juvigne at the 1162.5km mark - were won by:
1. Florent Brard (CEI) 6pts/6"
2. Anthony Geslin (BTL) 4pts/4"
3. Magnus Backstedt (LIQ) 2pts/2"
The peloton was 1km behind as the leading trio crossed the line.

Geslin, Backstedt and Brard are 1’30" ahead of the peloton and it seems sure that they will be caught before the finish. Before that happens, however, the leading trio will contest the third intermediate sprint. This is in Juvigne at the 162.5km mark.

The advantage of the leading trio has dropped below two minutes. Geslin, Backstedt and Brard are now 1’40" ahead of the peloton.

The leading trio are now just two minutes ahead of the peloton which continues to be led by the usual suspects - ie. riders from Credit Agricole, Davitamon-Lotto and Quickstep... there’s also a Rabobank jersey in the mix.

The peloton is now at the 146km mark with a deficit of 2’20" on Geslin, Backstedt and Brard.

Geslin, Backstedt and Brard continue to cooperate at the front of the stage. The latest time check is, however, significantly lower. The trio are 2’40" ahead of the peloton that is intent on setting up a bunch sprint at the finish in Vitre.

The peloton continues to be led by riders from the Quickstep, Davitamon-Lotto and Credit Agricole teams. They are still chasing Geslin, Backstedt and Brard who are 3’20" ahead at the 135km mark.

"Ah sure, I have fond memories of this region," said Museeuw when LeTour.fr spoke to him a few minutes ago. "It was in 1989 that I won my two stages of the Tour and the first was in Mont Saint-Michel."
The 1996 world champion retired a few years ago and is now a staff member of the Quickstep team.

"I believe that today is perfect for Tom Boonen," said the Quickstep rider’s former team-mate Johan Museeuw who just arrived at the site of today’s finish in Vitre. "I saw Tom this morning and he is very motivated.
"He’s had some problems in the finale of the first few stages of this year’s Tour but with a bit of luck I’m sure he’ll be able to win.
"The technical nature of the course from four kilometers to go until two kilometers from the finish is good for Tom’s strengths," continued Museeuw.
"There is a change in the planned lead-out train; instead of Steven De Jongh staying ahead of Tom, we should see Matteo Tosatto doing the last turn of pace if the race ends in a sprint."

The bunch continues to close in on the leading trio - Geslin, Backstedt and Brard. The last time check was 3’25" at the 128km mark.

The tallest rider in the 2006 Tour, Johan Vansummeren is currently at the front of the peloton which is now 3’35" behind the escapees. The Davitamon-Lotto rider crashed near the end of stage five after leading the peloton to the line to claim third place (behind the escapees) in the stage to Caen.
"I thought I was going to escape the crash," he said after the stage, "but just as it seemed like I was safe... bang! I got hit from behind by Frank Schleck and down I went!"

With the peloton at the 121km mark, it is 3’45" behind Geslin, Backstedt and Brard.

Of the three riders who are currently 4’00" ahead of the peloton, only Magnus Backstedt has previously won a stage of the Tour de France. That was in 1997 when he beat several fellow escapees with a clever sprint in Autun as a member of the Gan team.
Last year, he finished second behind Robbie McEwen in the stage to Karlsruhe with the Liquigas team.
Backstedt is the heaviest rider in the 2006 Tour de France. The giant Swede is married to a Welsh girl, Megan, and their pair live in Wales.

Anthony Geslin is the best-placed of the three riders who are currently 4’10" ahead of the peloton. The Bouygues Telecom rider began the stage in 74th place, 1’15" behind Tom Boonen in the general classification.

As the bunch crossed the line used for the 2nd intermediate sprint (at the 116.5km mark), it was 4’10" behind Geslin, Backstedt and Brard.

The points at the sprint in Chantrigne were won by:
1. Anthony Geslin (BTL) 6pts/6"
2. Florent Brard (CEI) 4pts/4"
3. Magnus Backstedt (LIQ) 2pts/2"

The escapees are about to contest the intermediate sprint in Chantrigne (at the 116.5km mark).

The peloton now has a Rabobank rider and a couple of Credit Agricole recruits cooperating with Quickstep with the pursuit duties.

Backstedt, Brard and Geslin now lead the peloton by 4’35". The main pack is led by Quickstep and is at the 110km mark.

The peloton is now 4’50" behind the leading trio which gained a maximum advantage of 5’15" at the 104km mark.

After his recent puncture, Freire has been helped by Flecha. The two Spanish Rabobank riders are almost back with the peloton.

Once you get Marcel Wust talking about cycling, it’s hard to stop him. When we discussed today’s stage, he reflected on how things have changed in the last 10 years, when Mario Cipollini was the dominant sprinter...
"At the end of the stages this year we’ve never seen a team take total control. When we had Cipollini in the race, he had a lead-out train going for the last for 25km but no team has been able to that this year.
"I think it’s clear that Robbie is the strongest sprinter and Oscar is always there... Tom hasn’t been able to dominate like everyone expected but I don’t think he should be disappointed. He doesn’t consider himself to be a pure sprinter – he can climb alright for the big guy that he is and the hill in Vitre might suit him well."

The winner of stage five has just punctured. Oscar Freire is waiting for a new wheel from his Rabobank team car.

After 104km of racing, the peloton is 5’15" behind Backstedt, Brard and Geslin.

The last time a stage of the Tour was decided in Vitre, German sprinter Marcel Wust was the winner. LeTour.fr spoke with the man who now works for German television about the day of his victory and what he thinks of the final kilometers which he rode again before the start of today’s stage. "It was the same finishing straight as six years ago but I think the final kilometers were a little different," said the former Festina recruit.
When asked if he thought the narrow roads through Vitre would cause havoc if the stage ends in a bunch sprint, Wust was not too concerned. "Usually the speed the peloton is riding is so fast that it should be one big line so it shouldn’t be too bad.
"But with 4km to go, there’s a little roundabout that may make things interesting. I rode the course this morning and I was doing about 50km/h and I thought it was a bit scary. But the peloton will be going at around 75km/h or more because of the slight downhill.
"The roads are narrow but it shouldn’t be too dangerous because it’ll be so strung out.
As a rider you get the book out, study the route and you try as much as you can to adjust to the course. It’ll be slightly uphill with 3km to go and that should slow things down a little.
"Maybe I say it won’t be too bad because I won here six years ago and I have good memories of Vitre."

Geslin, Backstedt and Brard currently lead the peloton by 4’45".

Today is the fourth time that a stage of the Tour will finish in Vitre. The first winner in this town in Brittany was Rudy Matthys in 1985; 10 years later Mario Cipollini claimed the win. The last visit to Vitre was in 2000 when Marcel Wust won the sprint at the end of stage five while wearing the polka-dot jersey that he claimed on the the first day.

The rider with more stage victories in the Tour de France than any other active rider is Erik Zabel. He has won 12 times from his 10 previous starts. The Milram rider was in 33rd place in GC at the start of the stage.
Today is his 36th birthday.

The advantage of Geslin (BTL), Backstedt (LIQ)and Brard (CEI) is now 4’20". The peloton is being led by riders from the Quickstep team.

The average speed for the 2nd hour was 44.7km/h. The combined average for the first two hours is 45.8km/h.

Geslin, Backstedt and Brard are 3’50" ahead of the peloton which is at the 90km mark.

There are four or five Quickstep riders at the head of the peloton which is now 3’25" behind Geslin, Backstedt and Brard.

At the 86km mark, the peloton is 3’10" behind Geslin, Backstedt and Brard.

The bunch is 2’35" behind the leading trio at the 84.5km mark.

Although the formation of The Escape was a highly complex one early today, it appears that the peloton is now content to allow the trio at the front of the stage to build on its advantage. Geslin, Backstedt and Brard currently lead the peloton by 1’50".

Geslin, Backstedt and Brard now lead the peloton by 1’25" at the 83km mark.

The escape of the yellow jersey’s group was caught at the 80km mark. It’s fair to say that it has been an 80km sprint in the first hour and 45 minutes of today’s stage. Expect the average speed for stage six to be high...!

After his bout of aggression, Boonen and his posse of 12 others have been reeled in by the peloton.

It appears as though Boonen and his crew have given up their hope of being part of The Escape today. The peloton is being led by Lampre-Fondital and is currently 25" behind the yellow jersey’s group.

Brard, Backstedt and Geslin are 15" ahead of Boonen’s group of 14.

Backstedt’s trio is now 20" ahead of Boonen’s group. The peloton is at 55" at the 75km mark.

Brard, Backstedt and Geslin lead Boonen’s group of 13 by 10".

The peloton 1’00" behind Boonen’s group at the 73km mark.

Backstedt (LIQ), Brard (CEI) and Geslin (BTL) now have a decent lead on the 13 other escapees.

Davitamon-Lotto, CSC and Lampre are driving the peloton which is now 1’10" behind Boonen’s group.

Backstedt (LIQ) has attacked the lead group. He is being pursued by Brard (CEI).

The peloton is now at the 70km mark with a deficit of 1’30" on the stage leaders. The CSC team is one of the only teams not represented in the big escape group and, for that reason we can assume, they are at the head of the peloton’s pusuit.

Bjarne Riis has sent his squad to work. The CSC colours dominate the head of the peloton that is now 1’40" behind Boonen’s group.

Boonen’s group is now 1’40" ahead of the peloton that’s being led by the CSC team.

The riders in today’s big escape group are: Padrnos (DSC), Sinkewitz (TMO), Brard (CEI), Vaugrenard (FDJ), Calzati (A2R), Wrolich (GST), Flecha (RAB), Merckx (PHO), Boonen (QSI), Hushovd (C.A), Gilbert (FDJ), Backstedt (LIQ), Quinziato (LIQ), Geslin & Lefevre (BTL), Camano (EUS) and Auge (COF). Their advantage on the peloton has grown to 1’10".

At the 64km mark, the 17 escapees had a lead of 1’00" on the peloton.

The presence of Boonen in today’s escape group has prompted Davitamon-Lotto to chase down the 17 riders. The latest advantage of Boonen’s group is 40".

There are now 17 riders in the lead of stage six:
Padrnos (DSC), Sinkewitz (TMO), Vaugrenard (FDJ), Calzati (A2R), Wrolich (GST), Flecha (RAB), Merckx (PHO), Boonen (QSI), Hushovd (C.A), Gilbert (FDJ), Backstedt (LIQ), Quinziato (LIQ) & Lefevre (BTL), Geslin (BTL), Lefevre (BTL), Camano (EUS) and Auge (COF)… they have a lead of 50" on the peloton at the 60km mark.

The peloton is at the 59.5km mark with a deficit of 50" to the stage leaders. The Davitamon-Lotto team is leading the pursuit of the escapees that also includes the yellow jersey, Boonen.

Padrnos, Sinkewitz, Calzati, Wrolich, Flecha, Merckx, Boonen, Hushovd, Gilbert, Backstedt, Quinziato & Lefevre are about to join the five riders at the front of the stage.

Brard, Auge, Vaugrenard, Geslin and Knees are currently 20" ahead of the chasing group - Padrnos, Sinkewitz, Calzati, Wrolich, Flecha, Merckx, Boonen, Hushovd, Gilbert, Backstedt, Quinziato & Lefevre…
The peloton is at 50".

The riders who are currently in pursuit of the leading five are: Padrnos, Sinkewitz, Calzati, Wrolich, Flecha, Merckx, Boonen, Hushovd, Gilbert, Backstedt, Quinziato & Lefevre…

There is a group of nine riders with a slight advantage on the peloton. We don’t have the composition of the group but can report that Tom Boonen is involved.

We don’t know what team is leading the peloton but we can report that they appear intent on catching the five stage leaders. The bunch is 25" behind Benoit Vaugrenard (FDJ), Stephane Auge (COF), Christian Knees (MRM) and Florent Brard (CEI).

The bunch has just reached Argentan at the 53.5km mark. It is 38" behind the five escapees.

The peloton has caught the counter-attacker. Now only Benoit Vaugrenard (FDJ), Stephane Auge (COF), Christian Knees (MRM) and Florent Brard (CEI) are ahead of the bunch.

It appears that the peloton isn’t content with the composition of the front group. The pace of the pack is extremely rapid and it is about to catch up with Albasini who was trying to bridge the gap to the five stage leaders.

Benoit Vaugrenard (FDJ), Stephane Auge (COF), Christian Knees (MRM) and Florent Brard (CEI) are 32" ahead of Albasini (LIQ) and 45" ahead of the peloton.

After a wet start to stage six, we can now report that the sun is shining on the Tour de France again.

Four of the five counter-attackers have been caught by the peloton. Now only Albasini (LIQ) is trying to bridge the gap to the five stage leaders.

The five riders who are now 45" ahead of the peloton are: Benoit Vaugrenard (FDJ), Stephane Auge (COF), Christian Knees (MRM) and Florent Brard (CEI).
They are being pursuit by five others: Scholz (GST), Vassuer (GST), Etxebarria (EUS), Albasini and Carlstrom (LIQ) at 49km.

The start of the sixth stage has been rapid. The leaders covered 46.9km in the first hour.

At the 47km mark, three riders caught up with Vaugrenard and Auge. There are now five in the lead of stage six.

By claiming a six-second time bonus at the first sprint, Benoit Vaugrenard (FDJ) is back in front of the youth classification.

The points for the sprint in Villedieu-des-Bailleul (at 46km) were won by:
1. Benoit Vaugrenard (FDJ) 6pts/6"
2. Stephane Auge (COF) 4pts/4"
3. Florent Brard (CEI) 2pts/2"

Brard (CEI), Geslin (BTL) and Knees (MRM) are three riders in pursuit of the leading pair...

There are two riders on the attack. They have less than 1km to ride before the first intermediate sprint of stage six. The riders are Auge (COF) and Vaugrenard (FDJ). They are 10" ahead of three chasers and 25" ahead of the peloton.

The Most Aggressive Rider of stage four, Egoi Martinez crashed near the end of yesterday’s stage. The Discovery Channel riders is still in the race and has been tried to be part of an escape today.

Rain was falling at the time of the sign on this morning but it has stopped in the last couple of hours. Although the roads were wet at the start in Lisieux, the conditions are now dry.

After a rapid start to the stage, the peloton is easing off a little while a number of riders answer the call of nature...
There are no riders on the attack.

There are numerous riders trying to break free of the peloton’s grip. Nobody has been successful in the last few minutes but it’s only a matter of time before the right combination is found and the bunch eases off the pace of its pursuit...

All the escapees have been reeled in by the peloton which is now at the 32.5km mark.

Commesso and his crew have been caught by the peloton. Now only Guerini and Lopez Garcia are ahead of the peloton... but only by 12".

Martinez (DSC), Commesso (LAM), Zandia (CEI) and Carlstrom (LIQ) are now 13" behind the leading pair - Guerini and Lopez Garcia.

The peloton is 20" behind Guerini and Lopez Garcia at the 30.5km mark.

Guerini and Lopez Garcia are now 18" ahead of the peloton that is being controlled by the Davitamon-Lotto team.

Pineau now has 28 points in the climbing classification after the only climb of stage six. The Bouygues Telecom rider will wear the polka-dot jersey again in stage seven.

The points of the only climb today were won by:
1. Guiseppe Guerini (TMO) 4pts
2. David Lopez Garcia (EUS) 3pts
3. Jerome Pineau (BTL) 2pts
4. Juan Manuel Garate (QSI) 1pt

Garcia Acosta has dropped out of the lead group. There are now just two riders ahead of the peloton. They are Guerini and Lopez Garcia... who are just 5" ahead of the peloton.

Auge, who instigated the move, has been dropped from the lead group which is now just 8" ahead of the peloton.

Guerini, Garcia Acosta, Lopez Garcia, Auge and Backstedt could spoil Pineau’s ambitions. They are 1km from the summit and have a lead of 10"... but Backstedt has just dropped from the lead group.

The peloton is 15" behind the escapees with 2km to go before the summit of the only climb in stage six.

The peloton is just 17" behind Guerini, Garcia Acosta, Lopez Garcia, Auge and Backstedt. It appears that Pineau will get his chance to add a few more points to his tally in the climbing classification that he leads by nine points.

At the 23km mark, the peloton is 20" behind Guerini, Garcia Acosta, Lopez Garcia, Auge and Backstedt.

The Bouygues Telecom team isn’t happy that the five riders at the front will claim the climbing points at the Cote de la Huniere (at 27.5km). The team of Jerome Pineau is in hot pursuit of the escapees who gained a maximum advantage of 45". At the 21km mark, the quintet were just 30" ahead of the peloton.

Guerini, Garcia Acosta, Lopez Garcia, Auge and Backstedt lead the peloton by 37" at the 18.5km mark.

Once again there are three intermediate sprints. In stage six, points for the green jersey can be earned at the following locations: Villedieu-les-Bailleul (at 46.0km), Chantrigne (at 116.5km) and Juvigne (162.5km).

There is just one categorized climb in the sixth stage. The Cote de la Huniere is a cat-3 ascent that’s 1.7km long with a steep gradient of 6.7 per cent. The summit is at the 27.5km mark. Point for the climbing classification are: 4, 3, 2 & 1 for the first four riders at the top.

The team of the reigning leader of the climbing classification is setting the pace of the peloton which is at the 16km mark with a deficit to the five escapees of 45".

Geslin (BTL) tried to catch the five escapees but he has been caught by the peloton at the 14km mark. The advantage of the leading quintet is up to 45".

The five riders who went on the attack at the 9km mark are now 20" ahead of the peloton. The escapees are:
Guiseppe Guerini (TMO) - 80th on GC at 1’09"
David Lopez Garcia (EUS) - 100th at 2’29"
Vincente Garcia Acosta (CEI) - 113th at 4’00"
Stephane Auge (COF) - 160th at 16’49"
Magnus Backstedt (LIQ) - 171st at 30’04"

At the 11km mark, the quintet at the front of the peloton has an advantage of 15".

There are now five riders with a lead of 10" on the peloton at the 10km mark. The riders in the move are: Guerini, Garcia Acosta, Lopez Garcia, Auge and Backstedt (LIQ).

Auge (COF), Guerini (TMO), Garcia Acosta (CEI) and Lopez Garcia (EUS) attacked at the 9km mark.

There is a rider from the Euskaltel team on the attack at the moment. Gerolsteiner also appears to be interested in having a rider in an escape group today. For the moment, however, the peloton has chased down everything and the bunch is all together at the 6.5km mark.

The official start time of the sixth stage was 12.57pm. There are 171 riders still in the peloton. The rider who did not take the start today is Fabio Sacchi (MRM).

Geslin’s bid didn’t last long. He has already been caught by the peloton.

Anthony Geslin (BTL) has launched an attack at the 4km mark. He has a slight advantage over the peloton.

The sixth stage of the 2006 Tour de France has begun. There have been a number of early escape attempts but at the 2.5km mark, the peloton is all back together again.

The peloton is currently in the 3.1km neutral zone. The official start is expected to be at around 1.00pm.

The yellow jersey will be worn by Tom Boonen (QSI) for the fourth day in a row. The reigning world road race champion leads the time trial world champion, Michael Rogers (TMO) by 13" in the general classification.
Third place is currently held by yesterday’s stage winner, Oscar Freire (RAB) who is 17" behind Boonen.

The sixth stage of the 2006 Tour de France - from Lisieux to Vitre (189.0km) - is schedule to start at 12.50pm. The race returns to Brittany after a one-year hiatus and the weather conditions at the start are rather typical for the region: rain and cool temperatures.
The weather bureau has reported that it is 17 degrees Celsius in the air and 23 degrees at road level in Lisieux. The showers from this morning have eased but we can expect some of the stage to be contested in wet conditions.
Live coverage of the stage will begin shortly.