[kevkrom]

12:11 - Four Category-Four Climbs In Stage Six

There are four categorized climbs in the stage from Troyes to Nancy. They are all cat-4 ascents where points in the climbing classification (three, two and one for the first three riders) are awarded.

The climbs are: the Cote de Joinville (at 83.5km), the Cote de Brouthieres (at 104km), the Cote de Montigny (at 141km) and the Cote de Maron (at 185.5km).

The top of the last rise is 13.5km from the end of the stage.

12:08 - Three Intermediate Sprints In Stage Six

The winner of stages two and three Tom Boonen leads the points classification with 106 points - 29 more than the next best rider, Thor Hushovd.

There are three intermediate sprints in stage six each offering six, four and two points for the first three riders across the line.

The ’primes’ are in Nully (at 56km), Chalaines (144.5km) and Dommartin-les-Toul (144.5km).

[kevkrom]

A few early escape attempts have come to nothing, most notably a six-man group including Hincapie, Julich, and Voeckler that was chased down immediately.

Updates will be sparodic today due to the breaking story from London.