Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) kept the Dauphiné leader’s yellow jersey and neutralized the other favorites in the 170km stage 6 between Nantua and Crest-Voland, won by German Georg Zimmermann. It was a stage of surveillance and control on the eve of a day that looks gruesome in the Alps with the ascent to three mythical passes: Madeleine (25 km at 6.2%), Mollard (18.5 km at 5.8 %) and the Croix-de-Fer (13.1 km at 6.2%), where the finish line will be at 2,067 m.
The favorites came within 48 seconds of the leading trio at the finish line, among which was the Spanish Jonathan Castroviejo, third, 8 seconds behind Zimmermann (Intermarché Circus Wanty), who at 25 years old was making his debut in victory on the World Tour.
Vingegaard, the reigning Tour winner, entered 11th and controlled his two immediate pursuers in the overall standings, Australian Ben O’Connor (1m10s behind) and Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe (1m23s behind).
In fact, the group of favorites hardly changed during the whole stage. Only Jonas Vingegaard shook the order in the last 1,000 meters, but all his direct rivals followed him, so they entered the finish line together 48 seconds behind the winner.
“Two difficult stages await us, I hope I have good legs,†said the Dane from Jumbo-Visma.
