Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes stage 6 LIVE – Will Paul Seixas live up to expectations on first of three big mountain days?

It’s still not completely clear just how many riders are in the front split, but almost all of the big teams are represented by at least one rider.

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Here’s a look at some of the early action, with Callum Thornley (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) pulling on the front.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

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Seixas, Del Toro, Jorgenson, Skjelmose, Ayuso, and Vauquelin are all in the second group on the road, still 1:35 down on the break.

The peloton has split in two early on stage 6. Most of the big GC names are in the second group, with Seixas’ Decathlon team working on the front to try and bring back a one-minute deficit.

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Even without much uphill terrain to get away on, there are several early attacks and splits in the peloton.

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For a deeper dive into how the general classification looks heading into this vital trio of closing stages, read our Deputy Editor Patrick Fletcher’s very through GC analysis:

Racing is fully underway on stage 6 of the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes!

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If you’re feeling as though you recognise today’s start location, Saint-Vulbas, you aren’t mistaken as it was the site of one of cycling’s most important victories, though I am biased as a Brit.

It’s where Mark Cavendish finally broke the record he held alongside Eddy Merckx for the most Tour de France stage wins, claiming his 35th back on stage 5 of the 2024 edition to stand alone.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Riders are gone from the unofficial start in Saint Vulbas. The racing is expected to kick off fully after 10 minutes of neutral riding to kilometre 0.

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Van Aert isn’t the only non-starter on Friday morning. Michael Matthews (Jayco AlUla) has pulled out after his return to racing, now focusing on Tour de France preparation, Matevž Govekar (Bahrain-Victorious) and Hannes Wilksch (Tudor) – both fell ill overnight, and Pau Martí Soriano (NSN) has also bad to abandon due to illness.

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His home nation Mexico kicked off the World Cup with a bang at home last night, beating South Africa at the iconic Azteca Stadium, but can national champion Isaac del Toro make his mark on the first of three big mountain stages?

(Image credit: Getty Images)

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In spite of his brutal, high-speed crash a couple of days ago, British Sam Watson has soldiered on to be at the start for these final three mountain stages.