Thursday sees the first summit finish of this year’s Tour de France as the peloton tackles a 144.9km route from Tarbes to the top of Cauterets-Cambasque.
The day includes four categorised climbs, including the magnificent ‘hors categorie’ Col du Tourmalet, part of the so-called ‘Circle of Death’, which also features another stage six ascent, Col d’Aspin.
Wednesday’s first real showdown in the mountains blew the race apart as Bora-Hansgrohe’s Jai Hindley took yellow and Jumbo-Visma’s Jonas Vingegaard moved 64 seconds ahead of UAE Team Emirates’ Tadej Pogacar and into second on the general classification.
With defending champion Vingegaard 47 seconds adrift of Hindley, he may choose to give the 2022 Giro d’Italia winner a chance to enjoy the yellow jersey, while simultaneously putting pressure on his rival’s team to defend it.
Either way, more fireworks are expected on Thursday, although it could initially be one for the breakaway and a game of cat and mouse may ensue.
Tour de France stage six betting tips
Mattias Skjelmose @ 20/1
A newbie to the Tour, Skjelmose has carried his spring Classics form into the summer, winning the Tour du Suisse and making subtle progress in this race.
The 22-year-old has quietly gone about his business and now sits eighth on GC, just shy of two minutes back on Hindley.
That’s the type of gap that might allow him a bit of freedom if he can stick with the other contenders up to the final climb and he could form one-half of a two-pronged attack for Lidl-Trek, with Giulio Ciccone unlikely to be sent up the road again in search of a stage win after rising to third in the standings.
If both riders can hold on to the main group, they can dovetail in search of the victory and Skjelmose could profit.
Tom Pidcock @ 25/1
Another rider who is grinding up the GC is Tom Pidcock and his excellent descending skills mean he will have more than a chance if he can get over the Tourmalet intact.
The Yorkshireman is 13th overall in the race, 2:36 behind Hindley, and is not viewed as a genuine GC contender.
However, he won on Alpe d’Huez at last year’s Tour and with a 20km downhill run off the top of the Tourmalet, the downhill skills that helped him win Olympic mountain biking gold in Tokyo are sure to come to the fore.
A rider of Pidcock’s talent is always dangerous and his steady progress through this race hints that he is feeling good.
Do not be surprised to see the 23-year-old pop up in the final.
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