Tour de France Femmes 2022 Stage 6 LIVE - Another one for Wiebes? Can Vos take yellow into the mountains?

“I was on the limit in that lead-out. Not a lot of teams had a good train at the end and we were one of the few teams who could do a lead-out, but unfortunately Marianne profited from it.”

1. Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma)
2. Marta Bastianelli (UAE Team ADQ)
3. Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx)
4. Elisa Balsamo (Trek-Segafredo)
5. Silvia Persico (Valcar-Travel & Service)

In the yellow jersey, the greatest extends her lead in the general classification thanks to ten bonus seconds.

There were a lot of riders in the mix at the end and Vos definitely has her team-mates to thank for guiding her safely through the twisty fast few turns and into the final straight.

She was then perfectly positioned behind Ellen van Dijk in second wheel, as Van Dijk's team-mate, Elisa Longo-Borghini, launched herself from sixth in line. The Italian just made it to the front of the queue, then acted as perfect lead-out for Vos, rather than her own team-mate Balsamo. Both the yellow jersey and the rainbow stripes kicked at the same moment, but Vos' was strongest, as she carried it to the line from 75 metres. A late surging Silvia Persico weaved through for fifth place.

A brutal, battling, breathless finale.

Some very fast finishers among them. Marianne Vos is well positioned and has team-mate Swinkels on the front for her. Ellen Van Dijk sets the pace, while Lotte Kopecky surfs the wheels.

As they begin the sweeping descent towards the finish, the race is really strung out. Le Net leads the line. It's looking hairy.

No more powerful a foe could the Frenchwoman have behind her on the front of the peloton. She needs to make it onto the descent with a gap, and she's doing all she can to maintain it.

This is where something should happen, and it's on these 2km that we could see the break-up of the bunch.

Audrey Cordon Ragot has returned to the peloton to contribute to the chase, and is already on the front, absolutely driving it for her Trek-Segafredo team-mates. Is this a finish for Elisa Longo-Borghini? It's all downhill from the summit, so they'll need to have caught Henderson, Lowden and Le Net before the summit. The Frenchwoman knows what's coming, and attacks explosively as the best form of defence, 1km from the summit.

All four of Wiebes' team-mates are on the front of the peloton, drilling it for Liane Lippert, who Juliette Labous said earlier is their designated rider for today. You'd think they could send someone back to help out, but apparently not.

Anna Henderson attacks on the steepest section of this uncategorised climb ahead of the last categorised slope. The British rider is going for it and has Marie Le Net (FDJ - SUEZ - Futuroscope) for company, making it hard for Jos Lowden, who just about hangs on to the front, as they fight to take the break to the line.

One more lap of the finishing circuit and it's all kicking off. As they cross the line, the peloton has eased off somewhat, with the breakers holding an increasingly comfortable one minute of advantage. They look motivated, and willing to work together, but for how much longer?

Wiebes has very visible injuries on both sides of her body and looks to be in a lot of pain. Iris Slappendel tells her that her team car has been sent on ahead, so she has to ride to the finish all on her own. It's about survival now.

The double stage winning Dutchwoman, wearing the green jersey on behalf of Marianne Vos, hits the deck at high speed on the decent of the Mollkirch. She's back on her bike but a minute behind the maillot jaune. I can't see them letting her get back on, even if she is in a state to contest the sprint.

Kathrin Hammes (EF Education TIBCO-SVB) surges over the top of the Route de Mollkirch to take the bonus point. Meanwhile the climbers peloton are using this as a launchpad to harm the hopes of the sprinters.

Grace Brown (FDJ - SUEZ - Futuroscope) accelerates, inspiring a couple of others to come with her. Julia Labous (Team DSM) is on board but isn't getting the cooperation she would like. The Frenchwoman, off the front, gesticulates in frustration at the lack of effort.

40 seconds the gap now between the remains of the break and bunch.

The cooperation between them already seems to be breaking down.

Dani Rowe predicts pyrotechnics on or around the next climb, the entirely superfluous bonus-offering, Route de Mollkirch. That comes in just 3km, as French national champion, Audrey Cordon-Ragot (Trek-Segafredo) puts in a dig. Anna Henderson (Jumbo Visma) is right on her wheel.

The Italian and the American's teams are the ones most concerned with keeping the break within reach (though largely because they were the ones with the best placed riders in the overall to miss out on the break.) Marta Bastianelli is targeting the stage win, while Silvia Persico will be hoping to dispense with Marianne Vos on the final climb. If she gets a decent gap and carries it onto the descent, she could ride herself into yellow.

Tamara Dronova (Roland Cogeas Edelweiss Squad) is the most eager out of the breakaway to give her 43 points and rocket her way up the standings. The not-Russian rider is now nudging the top ten in that competition, but still about 180 points behind Marianne Vos, who leads it.

As the stage approaches its final 50, despite the best efforts of Uno X, the bunch have a good grip on proceedings.

We're approaching the intermediate sprint, all the points of which will be swallowed up by the breakers, meaning no contest is expected between Vos and Wiebes.

Averaging 8% over 1.2km, it's the only category 3 climb of the stage. Former hour record holder Jos Lowden once again breaks out in search of the points, takes them efficiently, before easing up and waiting for her breakaway companions.

That puts Lowden in second place in the QOM competition, just four points behind Femke Gerritse.

The Côte de Klingenthal is another category 4.

The points go to:

1. Jos Lowden (Uno X Pro Cycling) 2 points
2. Marie Le Net (FDJ - SUEZ - Futuroscope) 1 point

Valcar Travel & Service, having missed the move, have put their riders to work on the front. The American team have designs on taking the yellow jersey for Silvia Persico today, and a big break going to the finish is not going to help them there.

And they are...

Audrey Cordon Ragot (Trek-Segafredo), Sheyla Gutierrez (Movistar), Christine Majerus (SD Worx), Marie Le Net (FDJ Suez Futuroscope), Anna Henderson (Jumbo-Visma), Franziska Koch (Team DSM), Tiffany Cromwell (Canyon//Sram), Ruby Roseman-Gannon (BikeExchange-Jayco), Sandra Alonso (Ceratizit-WNT), Laura Smulders (Liv Racing Xstra), Katrin Hammes (EF Education-Tibco-SVB), Jesse Vandenbulcke (Le Col-Wahoo), Joscelin Lowden (Uno-X) and Tamara Dronova (Roland Cogeas Edelweiss Squad).

Ruby Roseman-Gannon (Team BikeExchange - Jayco) is best placed in GC at 3'15 behind the yellow jersey of Marianne Vos.

And the bunch seem satisfied with the composition of the group, slowing down to quickly allow them to grow their lead to 30 seconds.

And would like to distance herself from reports that she went the wrong way. Unlike yesterday...