Tour de France 2017 Stage 6 on Thursday 6th July looks on paper like another day for the sprinters. In fact this stage preview here will be almost identical to Friday’s stage too.
The main difference between this and the upcoming sprints is that two of the sport’s biggest names are now out – Peter Sagan and Mark Cavendish. This might make the sprints a little easier to predict.
So far in the Tour I’m at 2 wins and 3 second places in the five stages. Good start and looking for win number 3 tomorrow.
Tour de France 2017 Stage 6 – Profile
Stage 6 sees the riders tackle a 216km route from Vesoul to Troyes. The profile suggests we will have another bunch sprint for stage honours in Troyes.
Racing should be a little calmer than on stage 5. There are some ups and downs through the stage but nothing significant. There are two category 4 climbs in the stage at 69kms and 154kms.
The final 60kms is straight forward and on fairly easy roads. This should be similar to stages 2 and 4. Early break with chancers and wildcard riders. They will be allowed to build a lead and then the sprint teams will control the race. I doubt they allow the break to get as close to the line as on stage 2. Look for the big names to feature once more.
Tour de France 2017 Stage 6 – Favourites
Marcel Kittel (Quick Step-Floors) got caught out in the sprint on stage 4 and never featured in the push for the line. Kittel should be right back in the mix for the win on Thursday and Friday. I expect he will start both stages as clear favourite. For stage 6 Kittel can be backed at 2.50 – another Win Only option.
Arnaud Demare (FDJ) won his maiden Grand Tour stage on Tuesday. He was able to stay in front of the real action in the sprint and won fairly comfortably in the end. Demare now also leads the Green Jersey Classification and looks a good bet to hold thi to Paris now Sagan has been disqualified. Demare increased his lead in the sprint classification on stage 5 and is second favourite for stage 6 at 2.75. This too is win only. I can only back one of Kittel or Demare and choose the former.
Andre Greipel (Lotto Soudal) grabbed another stage podium spot with 3rd on the stage (he was 4th before Sagan was D’Qd). Greipel has an uncanny ability to always be in the mix at the end of Grand Tour sprint stages. Thus far he hasn’t shown the speed to beat Kittel or Demare when either of those riders have clean runs to the line. Odds of 6.0 do offer greater value but I think they are a little low.
Michael Matthews (Sunweb) has been in the top 10 in the three stages that the sprinters/puncheurs have contested so far. This included a 7th on stage 4 but he was hampered by the crashes in the final 3kms. I think the stage win on such flat terrain will be really tough but he is a decent top 3 shout. Odds at 34.0 look about right and may be worth a small EW bet.
Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis) is now in the favourites section because there is no Sagan or Cavendish. Bouhanni managed a 4th place finish on stage 4 – emerging from the chaos at the end. I am actually starting to be tempted into backing him – purely because of the depleted field of rivals. Odds of 21.0 also have EW potential.
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Tour de France 2017 Stage 6 – Other sprinters
Dylan Groenewegen (Lotto-NL Jumbo) has not featured in the sprints since stage 2. He came into the race highly fancied but I had my doubts due to his inexperience in this the biggest race of all. My feelings were that he was favoured too much and had odds in the 6.0 range for stage 2 success. Here he is at a more reasonable 17.0 which opens up the EW choice.
Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) had his best result of the Tour so far with a 2nd place on stage 4. The finish there on an uphill drag suited him better than that in Troyes. He too can be backed at 17.0 but I fear this is for a place only at best.
Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain Merida) wasn’t able to get into position to challenge for the stage win on Tuesday. He was close on stage 2 and I think he will go better once more here. Odds of 51.0 interest me for a small bet.
Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data) will be the teams best chance for a stage win on the flat stages now that Cavendish has retired from the race. EBH is a real outsider though – he doesn’t have the pure speed to win a clean sprint. Odds in the 81.0 range look about right.
Tour de France 2017 Stage 6 – Tips
WON – Back Marcel Kittel to win stage 6 for a 2.5/10 stake at 2.50 with Paddy Power.
Bet on Nacer Bouhanni to win stage 6 with a 1.0/10 stake EW (1/4 odds top 3) at 21.0 with Paddy Power.
Back Sonny Colbrelli to win stage 6 with a 0.75/10 stake EW (1/4 odds top 3) at 51.0 with Paddy Power.
Bet here:
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