America took an important step in terms of news and results during the sixth stage of Paris-Nice 2022, when Colombians Daniel Martínez (Ineos Grenadiers) and Nairo Quintana (Arkéa Samsic) rose in the general individual classification, now fourth and ninth, respectively in that pulled apart.
In an exciting final, Mathieu Burgaudeau (TotalEnergies) won this Friday’s stage, prevailing from a long attack in a spectacular finish. Slovenian Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) kept the race lead.
The French runner took the victory in the longest day of the “Carrera del Sol”, after traveling 213.6 kilometers between Courthézon and Aubagne. The peloton came hot on his heels, Danish Mads Pedersen (Trek Segafredo) entered second place and Belgian Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) came third.
The best Colombian of the day was Nairo in box 29, followed by Daniel Felipe in 36th position. Both arrived with the same time as the winner. On the other hand, Juan Sebastián Molano (UAE Team Emirates) failed to enter the main lot, arriving more than two minutes late.
Like yesterday, before starting the day several runners did not start. Simon Geschke, Dmitriy Gruzdev, Markus Hoelgaard, Luke Durbridge, Baptiste Planckaert and Jasper Philipsen did not start, the sixth fraction, leaving only 115 men in the competition.
The breakout of the day was starred by Johan Jacobs (Movistar), Yevgeniy Fedorov (Astana Qazaqstan), Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ), Sébastien Grignard (Lotto Soudal), Julius van den Berg (EF Education-EasyPost) and Victor Koretzky (B&B Hotels -KTM).
After the first hour, the peloton picked up the pace and the runaways’ lead began to narrow. Madouas, meanwhile, made a good deal for the mountains classification, as after Col de Murs, the French rider was also the first to cross the summit at Col de Sambuc and Col des Portes.
Forty kilometers from the finish, just before the Col de l’Espigoulier, the advantage of the leading group was reduced to less than a minute, after which Van den Berg tried to attack. On the climb Jacobs accelerated and at first Fedorov and Madouas had to let go and then Van den Berg also stayed.
In the final stretch, Soren Kragh Andersen tried to surprise, as the peloton fell to pieces. Behind him, the Trek-Segafredo led the chase. Kragh Andersen got to the flat with a small lead, but was later caught.
With nine kilometers to go, Mathieu Burgaudeau attacked on an uphill stretch and the Frenchman opened up a good gap when his TotalEnergies team-mates tried to break up the chase. The 23-year-old cyclist battled back to take twenty seconds ahead with four kilometers to go. Christophe Laporte tried to catch up with the leader with a counterattack, however, Burgaudeau managed to stay just ahead of the pack to celebrate at the finish line.
This Saturday, March 12, the seventh stage of the French round will be held, starting in Nice and ending at the Col de Turini, over a 155.4-kilometre route in mountainous terrain. The successor to German Maximilan Schachmann, champion last year, will be revealed on Sunday in Nice.