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Stage 6 - Sprint - Epernay~Metz

Yet another flat stage, only the one Cat. 4 climb en route, so there is the likelihood of a bunch finish. The last few kilometres go through narrow streets with some tight bends to get round, so more chaos is expected.

The other scenario is that with a Cat. 1 climb to the finish tomorrow, the pack may be reluctant to chase down the obligatory breakaway too hard and as long as none of them are a danger in the General Classification, they may stay out.

Cavendish, Greipel and Goss if it's a sprint. Thomas Voeckler Maxim Iglinskiy or Sandy Casar may be ones who would fancy trying to go for it from a long way out.

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Huge crash with 25 km to go. Frank Schleck and Ryder Hesjedal were the only ones of the main contenders for the overall caught up in it. Gesink, Valverde, Brajkovic and Cavendish also involved.

Mikel Astarloza(Euskaltel-Euskadi); David Vigano (Lampre-ISD) and Tom Danielson(Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda) all forced to abandon the race.

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Stage 7 - Medium Mountain Stage -

Tomblaine~La Planche Des Belles Filles

The mountains begin....and an extremely important day for those riders with their sites set on the overall title. There are only three summit finishes in this year's tour, and this is the first of them - short, but steep.

After all the crashes of the first week, the field is now littered with walking wounded, but given that eleven(at the last count) had to abandon yesterday, including one of the favourites, Ryder Hesjedal, they're the lucky ones!

This 199 km stage has two short Cat. 3 climbs which won't tax anyone too much, but the 5.9 km, Cat. 1 ascent at the end will see the race take shape for the first time.

It's far more open than the sprint stages, but look out for the likes of Zabeldia, Moncoutie or Vinokourov to try and get away from the pack. A couple of outside chances could be local boy and French hope, Thibaut Pinot or Ireland's Dan Martin.Those with little chance in the GC may be allowed to stay out there.

Of the main protagonists, Nibali, Evans, Gesink and Sanchez will be looking to attack up the steep climb, with Britain's Bradley Wiggins attempting to minimise his losses before Monday's Time Trial.

Let Le Tour begin in earnest.

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A fantastic stage for Team Sky who battered most of the opposition into submission. A superb win for Chris Froome, the new KoM leader and third for Bradley Wiggins, the new man in Yellow. Only Evans and Nibali of the big guns managed to stay in touch.

Even more pain in the mountains tomorrow.

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