Groenewegen too strong on longest day of Tour de France

Author: Agencies

CHARTRES: Dutchman Dylan Groenewegen outblasted his rivals to the line in a sprint to take the sixth stage of the Tour de France on Friday, the longest single stage of the race, a 231-km haul from Fougeres to Chartres. Groenewegen, who won the final stage on the Champs Elysees last year, crushed the pedals with 200 meters to go to easily beat Colombian Fernando Gaviria. “I hope there’s more. I have the legs to win now, so we celebrate tonight and maybe the same tomorrow,” Groenewegen told reporters after the stage.

World champion Peter Sagan, gunning for a record-equalling sixth green jersey for the points classification, took third place. Belgian Greg van Avermaet stayed safe in the bunch all day and retained the overall leader’s yellow jersey at the end of the stage, six seconds ahead of Welshman Geraint Thomas. All the top contenders for the overall victory enjoyed a comfortable day as the race heads towards a much-feared ninth stage featuring cobbled sectors on Sunday just before the first rest day.

Published in Daily Times, July 14^th 2018.