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Tour de France 2025 stage six race report:<\/strong><\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Stage six did not disappoint.<\/strong> There were plenty of breakaways and attacks, not to mention a lot of climbing for the riders. It was relentless. However, it was EF Education-EasyPost<\/strong>\u2019s Ben Healy<\/strong> who stole the show with an impressive solo attack at 42km to go. Quinn Simmons<\/strong> (Lidl-Trek<\/strong>) and Michael Storer<\/strong> (Tudor Pro Cycling<\/strong>) gave chase, fighting to get to Healy, and ended the day with a second and third place respectively.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Mathieu Van der Poel<\/strong> (Alpecin-Deceuninck<\/strong>) who was in a decisive breakaway for a big chunk of the day, ended stage six taking the yellow jersey off Tadej Poga\u010dar<\/strong> (UAE Team Emirates<\/strong>) by one second. It was a gripping day. Thank you for keeping me company, emailing in and reading the blog.<\/p>\n A full race report of today\u2019s stage will be posted here shortly.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Here are some pictures from the today\u2019s podiums:<\/p>\n EF Education-EasyPost\u2019s Ben Healy celebrates on the podium after winning the sixth stage of the Tour de France 2025. Photograph: Mosa\u2019ab Elshamy\/APMathieu Van Der Poel of Alpecin-Deceuninck celebrates taking the yellow jersey in stage six. Only one second seperated him and Tadej Poga\u010dar. Photograph: Dario Belingheri\/Getty ImagesUAE Team Emirates\u2019 rider Tim Wellens celebrates on the podium with the best climber’s (polka dot) jersey after stage six. Photograph: Anne-Christine Poujoulat\/AFP\/Getty ImagesLidl-Trek’s Jonathan Milan celebrates on the podium wearing the green jersey after stage six. Photograph: Beno\u00eet Tessier\/ReutersRemco Evenepoel of Soudal Quick-Step celebrates on the podium wearing the white jersey for best young rider, after stage six. Photograph: Dario Belingheri\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a>KOM classification: top five after stage six<\/p>\n Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates), 7pts<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Tadej Poga\u010dar (UAE Team Emirates), 5pts<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost), 4pts<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Eddie Dunbar (Jayco-Alula), 3pts<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Michael Storer (Tudor Pro Cycling), 3pts<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n Share<\/a>Points classification: top five after stage six<\/p>\n Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek), 112pts<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Mathieu <\/strong>van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck), 108pts<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Tadej Poga\u010dar (UAE Team Emirates), 106pts<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Biniam Girmay (Intermarch\u00e9-Wanty), 102pts<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step) 72pts<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The green jersey group are just rolling in now to the finish. They\u2019re almost 30mins down.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.40 EDT<\/p>\n Ben Healy<\/strong> has just spoke to reporters after his win. He said:<\/p>\n It\u2019s just unbelievable. It\u2019s what I worked all for, not just this year but the whole time.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The EF Education-EasyPost<\/strong> rider praises his team and everyone involved in the \u201chours and hours of hard work\u201d he\u2019s put in over the past months and years. He says he hopes he\u2019s \u201cpaid the team back today\u201d.<\/p>\n Healy says his achievements in last year\u2019s Tour de France<\/strong>, which included a fifth place in Troyes<\/strong>, was a \u201creal eye-opener\u201d and made him believe he could get a stage win.<\/p>\n Asked if the day had played out how he thought it would, the 24-year-old replied:<\/p>\n I switched on from the start. Once I was in the break we had to really work for it.<\/p>\n I knew I had to get away from the group. I picked my moment and hopefully surprised them. And then I knew what I had to do: head down.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Irish rider Ben Healy celebrates with a member of the EF Education-EasyPost team after winning the sixth stage of the Tour de France 2025. Photograph: Martin Div\u00ed\u0161ek\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.41 EDT<\/p>\n General classification: top 10 after stage six<\/p>\n Mathieu <\/strong>van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) 21hrs 52mins 34secs<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Tadej Poga\u010dar (UAE Team Emirates) +1sec<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick-Step) +43secs<\/p>\n<\/li>\n K\u00e9vin Vauquelin (Ark\u00e9a-B&B Hotels) +1min<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) +1min 14secs<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) +1min 23secs<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Jo\u00e3o Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) +1min 59secs<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) +2mins 1sec<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) +2min 32secs<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Primo\u017e Rogli\u010d (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) +2min 36secs<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n Share<\/a>Van der Poel takes the yellow jersey from Poga\u010dar by one second<\/p>\n Mathieu Van der Poel<\/strong> (Alpecin-Deceuninck) <\/strong>has taken the yellow jersey off Tadej Poga\u010dar<\/strong> (UAE Team Emirates<\/strong>) by one second. Although it seemed certain that Van der Poel would have the maillot jaune after gaining time on Poga\u010dar, it looks as if while we had our eyes on Ben Healy, the UAE Team Emirates<\/strong> was bringing that time gap down.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.23 EDT<\/p>\n Top five on stage six<\/p>\n 1. Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) Share<\/a><\/p>\n Michael Storer<\/strong> (Tudor Pro Cycling<\/strong>) and Quinn Simmons<\/strong> (Lidl-Trek<\/strong>) are doing a cat and mouse chase to the finish line, but Simmons has it and takes second in today\u2019s stage.<\/p>\n Eddie Dunbar<\/strong> (Jayco Alula<\/strong>) takes fourth, beating Simon Yates<\/strong> (Visma-Lease a Bike<\/strong>).<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Ben Healy wins stage six!<\/p>\n What a move! What a show! Well done Ben Healy<\/strong>, that was truly impressive. He rides over the finish line with his arms in the air.<\/p>\n EF Education-EasyPost’s Ben Healy celebrates winning stage six. Photograph: Sarah Meyssonnier\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.16 EDT<\/p>\n 450m to go:<\/strong> Ben Healy <\/strong>has it. He\u2019s riding to the finish line on a steep gradient and massive cheers from the crowds.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 2.6km to go: Michael Storer<\/strong> (Tudor Pro Cycling<\/strong>) tried to push ahead to the summit of that last climb, but Quinn Simmons<\/strong> (Lidl-Trek<\/strong>) was firmly on his wheel.<\/p>\n Mathieu Van der Poel<\/strong> (Alpecin-Deceuninck<\/strong>) has been dropped, along with Harold Tejada<\/strong> (XDS Astana<\/strong>), from the chasing group behind Simmons and Storer.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.10 EDT<\/p>\n 5km to go:<\/strong> Ben Healy<\/strong> (EF Education-EasyPost<\/strong>) is not flagging as he rides up the steep slope at the start of the category four C\u00f4te de Vaudry<\/strong>. It\u2019s a 1.2km climb with an average gradient of 7.2% but the start really kicks up. What a move from Healy.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 7km to go:<\/strong> Quinn Simmons<\/strong> (Lidl-Trek<\/strong>) just tried to shake off Michael Storer<\/strong> but the Tudor Pro Cycling<\/strong> rider has stayed with him.<\/p>\n Mathieu van der Poel<\/strong> (Alpecin-Deceuninck<\/strong>) will be in the yellow jersey at the end of this stage, bar anything going wrong, as he has gained time on Tadej Poga\u010dar (UAE Team Emirates)<\/strong> today.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 11km to go:<\/strong> It sounds as if Ben Healy<\/strong> (EF Education-EasyPost<\/strong>) might get the most combative rider during today\u2019s stage. But he wants more. He wants a stage win. Healy is smashing it, riding at 52km\/h to the finish. Let\u2019s not forget though that there\u2019s a category four climb and an uphill finish to come.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 13km to go:<\/strong> Here\u2019s how it looks out there:<\/p>\n EF Education-EasyPost\u2019s Ben Healy cycles in a lone breakaway during stage six. Photograph: Marco Bertorello\/AFP\/Getty ImagesMichael Storer Tudor Pro Cycling and Quinn Simmons of Lidl-Trek try to chase down Ben Healy. Photograph: Tim de Waele\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n 16km to go:<\/strong> These kms are being absolutely obliterated. Ben Healy<\/strong> (EF Education-EasyPost<\/strong>) has a 1min 23secs lead on Quinn Simmons<\/strong> and Michael Storer<\/strong>. I didn\u2019t think Healy would stay away but he\u2019s proved me wrong. That\u2019s what we like!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Kristina<\/strong> could win an award for the loveliest email \u2013 I\u2019ll have to share it with my sports desk colleagues. She writes:<\/p>\n Just wanted to say thank you to you & all of the Guardian team doing the live TDF coverage!<\/p>\n I\u2019ve just finished my last exam of the year today but I\u2019ve been following the tour with your updates throughout my revision period leading to today! It\u2019s honestly so nice to have these updates that are so easy to access during the working day. So thank you, you\u2019re doing an amazing job.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n That\u2019s very kind. Well done on finishing your exams. Best of luck with the results and I hope you can enjoy the summer and Tour even more now your work is done.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 22km to go:<\/strong> To provide some context, when I mentioned that Ben Healy<\/strong> is not a stranger to a solo ride resulting in success, I meant his 2023 Giro d\u2019Italia stage win when he won with a 50km solo attack.<\/p>\n Tudor Pro Cycling<\/a> have radioed Michael Storer<\/strong> with shouts of encouragement.<\/p>\n KOM results at C\u00f4te de Saint-Michel-de-Montjoie<\/strong><\/p>\n 1. Healy, 2pts Share<\/a><\/p>\n 27km to go:<\/strong> Ben Healy<\/strong> looks strong as he reaches the summit of C\u00f4te de Saint-Michel-de-Montjoie<\/strong>. There\u2019s a roaring crowd cheering him on. He picks up two KOM points. Quinn Simmons<\/strong> and Michael Storer<\/strong> are trying to close the gap to the Irish rider.<\/p>\n EF Education-EasyPost\u2019s Ben Healy on a solo breakaway during stage six. Photograph: Sarah Meyssonnier\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.40 EDT<\/p>\n 30km to go:<\/strong> The final category three climb is the 3.7km C\u00f4te de Saint-Michel-de-Montjoie<\/strong> \u2013 it has an average gradient of 4.5 %.<\/p>\n Quinn Simmons<\/strong> (Lidl-Trek<\/strong>) has made a break for it and Michael Storer<\/strong> (Tudor Pro Cycling<\/strong>) has followed. The pair are getting away!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 33km to go:<\/strong> Ben Healy<\/strong> (EF Education-EasyPost<\/strong>) has the C\u00f4te de Saint-Michel-de-Montjoie<\/strong> in sight. He has a gap of 48secs on the seven riders chasing him.<\/p>\n As Peter pointed out Simon Yates<\/strong> would have been given the green light by his team, Visma-Lease a Bike<\/strong> not UAE Team Emirates<\/strong> as I said earlier. My bad. Apologies.<\/p>\n Nils Politt<\/strong> (UAE Team Emirates<\/strong>) tells his team he\u2019s \u201cdone for the day\u201d and pulls off the front.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 37km to go:<\/strong> Wow. EF Education-EasyPost<\/strong>\u2019s Ben Healy<\/strong> is determined. He does have experience in a solo getaway. Healy\u2019s now got 28secs on the seven riders behind him. In that group everyone takes turns behind him to organise the chase but no one is going to want to do more work than they have to.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Ben Healy attacks and goes on a solo breakaway!<\/p>\n 42km to go:<\/strong> We\u2019re inside the last hour of racing now and the breakaway\u2019s gap is nearing 4mins. Hang on a second, Ben Healy<\/strong> has decided to attack. Surely, he doesn\u2019t think the group will let him go? Mathieu Van der Poel<\/strong> chases.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.53 EDT<\/p>\n 47km to go:<\/strong> Michael Storer<\/strong> (Tudor Pro Cycling<\/strong>) <\/strong>got out of the saddle there to go ahead and grab a couple of KOM points. Eddie Dunbar<\/strong> (Jayco Alula<\/strong>) spotted him and followed to take the other point.<\/p>\n KOM results at C\u00f4te de Juvigny-le-Tertre<\/strong><\/p>\n 1. Storer, 2 pts Share<\/a><\/p>\n 48km to go:<\/strong> Simon Yates<\/strong> (Visma-Lease a Bike), Ben Healy<\/strong> (EF Education-EasyPost), Quinn Simmons<\/strong> (Lidl-Trek), Mathieu Van der Poel<\/strong> (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Michael Storer<\/strong> (Tudor Pro Cycling), Eddie Dunbar<\/strong> (Jayco Alula), Will Barta<\/strong> (Movistar) and Harold Tejada<\/strong> (XDS Astana) have started climbing the category three C\u00f4te de Juvigny-le-Tertre<\/strong> (2.2km with an avergae gradient of 7.3%). Who\u2019ll go for the KOM points at the top?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.12 EDT<\/p>\n Paul<\/strong> would like to share his experience on the beard-cycling-aero topic:<\/p>\n Just to add some real-life data to the beard issue, I found that when sporting facial hair, quite a fancy bike, and in a good weather with negligible wind, my normaliaed power (NP) \u2013 a weighted average that accounts for variations and surges, and my functional threshold power (FTP), a measure of sustainable full-gas effort, were disappointingly poor.<\/p>\n When clean shaven, in the same conditions, my NP and FTP were also disappointingly poor. I trust this is helpful.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 52km to go:<\/strong> On ITV4 Ned Boulting<\/strong> says that Simon Yates<\/strong> has been given the green light by Visma-Lease a Bike <\/strong>to go for the stage win. The eight riders in the breakaway are heading towards the penultimate catgeory three climb of the day. The final climb into the finish is a category four.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.26 EDT<\/p>\n 58km to go:<\/strong> An interesting fact, via Le Tour race centre:<\/p>\n Eddie Dunbar climbed the C\u00f4te de Mortain Cote 314 at 18.3 km\/h (1.6 km at 9.5%). This is the first time in his career that he has scored points in the best climber classification!<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The breakaway is firmly established and they have grown their lead to 3mins 11secs.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n More pictures from the Tour\u2019s stage six<\/strong> as the peloton head towards Vire Normandie<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Spectators on stage six of the Tour de France 2025. Photograph: Sarah Meyssonnier\/ReutersA spectator waves a France flag as the riders pass during stage six. Photograph: Sarah Meyssonnier\/ReutersThe stage six route listed on a bike at the start of the day. Photograph: ShutterstockShare<\/a><\/p>\n 63km to go:<\/strong> The riders in the break have just tackled the C\u00f4te de Mortain<\/strong> \u2013 1.6km of ascent at 9.5% \u2013 and Jayco-Alula<\/strong>\u2019s Eddie Dunbar<\/strong> is first over the summit.<\/p>\n KOM results at C\u00f4te de Mortain Cote 314<\/strong><\/p>\n 1. Dunbar, 2 pts Share<\/a><\/p>\n Well, well, well. Neil<\/strong>\u2019s question about Quinn Simmon<\/strong>\u2019s hair and beard (see 2.24pm BST<\/a>) caused a flurry of correspondence in my inbox.<\/p>\n Tim<\/strong> emailed in to say:<\/p>\n I\u2019d just like to congratulate Neil on raising his very valid concerns on the watts per follicle of Simmons\u2019 mullet.<\/p>\n I don\u2019t think the official data is in the public domain yet but I think, as the breakaway powers toward the finish, all our minds turn to the possibility that Laurent Fignon\u2019s ponytail cost him around 10 vital seconds on theChamps-\u00c9lys\u00e9es in 1989.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n
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2. Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek) +2mins 44secs
3. Michael Storer (Tudor) +2mins 51secs
4. Eddie Dunbar (Jayco-AlUla) +3mins 21secs
5. Simon Yates (Visma-Lease a Bike) +3mins 24secs<\/p>\n\n
2. Storer, 1pt (45secs later than Healy)<\/p>\n
2. Dunbar, 1 pt<\/p>\n\n
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2. Healy, 1 pt<\/p>\n\n