Stage 6 Photos

Stage 6, Semur-en-Auxois to Bourg-en-Bresse was the last chance for the sprinters to shine before the Alps. Most of the attention was on whether the injured Alexandre Vinokourov would ride, he did. Bradley Wiggins was the star of the day after a massive lone break that was caught 7k short of the line - report.

Chris Wallis was at the stage

Semur-En-Auxios’s populations enjoying the tour start

Wiggins went early on the stage...

... and settled in for a long day on his own

The bunch roll through the long roads of Macon country

The pace was well under 40Kph for the first couple of hours

Vino looking beaten up after yesterdays crash

Boonen at last gets the space to wind his legs up

Freire and Zabel close behind Boonen

Wiggins having been caught comes in adrift of the peloton, his effort has had an impact as he is surrounded by the press. He didn't intend to go solo went he away with others. He looked round and he was alone, he thought 'bloody hell' and kept going.

Finally escorted away from the press scrum

Boonen on the podium

Cancellera being a sensible yellow jersey and finished near the front of the pack again

Here’s the one he wanted, the green jersey is his again

Wiggins' was rewarded for his efforts with the combativity award

Start - Erik Zabel began the day in green, but was to lose it on the stage

Start - You can tell the tour is hotting up, the press crowd round the Astana bus after the stage 5 woes

Start - Boonen was set for a good day

Pictures by Chris Wallis