Pogačar 3rd overall and keeps white jersey at the Tour

UAE Team Emirates had another solid day out at the Tour de France – 11th place of the day went to Tadej Pogačar on the 6th stage of the Grande Boucle (Le Teil-Mont Aigoual, 161 km), with an arrival at 1600 meters that failed to see any attacks from the best climbers.
Despite a puncture at the top of the penultimate climb 13km from the finish, Col de la Lusette, the Slovenian from the Emirati squad crossed the line with the other big names, 2’53 “behind the winner Alexey Lutsenko (Astana ), who won from the breakaway.
Pogačar comfortably defended the white jersey of best youngster.

A little more than 20 km from the finish, there was an attack from Fabio Aru from the bunch: the Sardinian rode solo for about ten kilometers before being reabsorbed by the chasers.

Pogačar now sits third in the standings at 7” from the yellow jersey Adam Yates (Mitchelton-Scott).

Pogačar: ” The stage proved to be harder than I expected, also because I had to stop for a puncture near the brow of the last climb. The team acted quickly and Polanc came back to wait so I didn’t have to spend too much energy.
In view of the finish line I tried to sprint to get into the top 10, but I was a bit boxed in.
It is a great feeling to be able to compete with the best riders in the world at the Tour de France. I feel my condition is good but I’m taking it day by day.”

The 7th stage of the Tour de France will take the group from Millau to Lavaur over 168 km featuring just two categorised climbs all placed in the first 100 km of the race.

Stage 6 results:
1. Alexey Lutsenko (Astana) 4:32:34
2. Jesus Herrada (Cofidis) @ 55″
3. Greg Van Avermaet (CCC Team) @ 2’15”
11. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) 2’53”

General classification after the 6th stage:
1. Adam Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) 27:03:57
2. Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) @ 3″
3. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) @ 7″

In Italy, another young man wrote his name for the first time in a top 10 of a professional race. Alessandro Covi, 21, was 10th in the 3rd stage of Coppi e Bartali (Riccione-Riccione, 168, 9 km), won in a sprint by Jhonatan Narvaez (Ineos Grenadier).

Covi: “First of all, I thank the team. I had my chance but unfortunately I was unable to make the most of it. I crested the hill with the first 15 riders of the group on the Carpegna, too bad it was too far from the finish and some of the faster guys got back on. Tomorrow is another day and we have shown that we have the legs to be at the front.”

The last stage of Coppi e Bartali (166.2 km with start and finish in Forlì) will be one to suit Diego Ulissi who lies at 5th position in the standings, 30″ behind the leader Andrea Bagioli (Deceuninck-Quick Step).

Stage 3 results:
1. Jhonatan Narvaez (Ineos Grenadier) 4:37:04
2. Pascal Eenkhoorn (Jumbo-Visma Development) s.t.
3. Biniam Ghirmay (Nippo-Delko) s.t.
10. Alessandro Covi (UAE Team Emirates) s.t.

General classification after the 3rd stage:
1. Andrea Bagioli (Deceuninck-Quick Step) 11:21:50
2. Jhonatan Narvaez (Ineos Grenadier) @ 3 ”
3. João Almeida (Deceuninck-Quick Step) @ 16 ”
5. Diego Ulissi (UAE Team Emirates) @ 30 “