Stage 6 of this year’s Tour de France Femmes looks like one for the sprinters but again a late climb will make them work hard for it. Anyone wishing to contest the finish will have to scale 2km at 4.4%. It’s not the toughest climb in the world but anyone distanced won’t have much time to get back on. The road continues gently upwards past the classified part of the climb before a descent to the finish. The Trofeo Alfredo Binda-esque finale could suit the likes of Elisa Balsamo more than say Lorena Wiebes, especially after 6 days of racing.
It’s set up nicely for any rider that wants to have a late attack, even if the climb isn’t steep enough to really create that much distance. I suspect a rider will have a go and then be clawed back. It’s not a remotely technical descent so the advantage will be for the chasing peloton, however.
If the sprint teams can marshall the peloton effectively, then this one should be a sprint. But there is just that chance someone will be strong enough on the day to force a gap and stay clear to the finish.
Tour de France Femmes 2022 Stage 6 Profile
Tour de France Femmes 2022 Stage 1 Favourites
Lorena Wiebes
Elisa Balsamo
Lotte Kopecky
Arlenis Sierra
Soraya Paladin
Letizia Borghesi
Alex Manly
Ruby Roseman-Gannon
Silvia Persico
Maria Giulia Confalonieri
Maike van der Duin
Simone Boilard
Rachele Barbieri
