Punchy finish perfect for French ace Julian Alaphilippe

Stage six
Eurosport 1/ITV 4, 12.25pm Thursday

Peter Sagan claimed his second stage of this year’s Tour de France on Wednesday as he outsprinted Sonny Colbrelli on the uphill drag to the line in Quimper.

Sagan’s victory at 7-4 was a fourth from the opening five stages for Racing Post Sport followers.

Race leader Greg van Avermaet finished in seventh position but actually extended his lead in the general classification to two seconds by virtue of claiming second place at the day’s bonus sprint. All of the genuine yellow-jersey contenders finished safely in the bunch.

Stage six will again play out on the rolling roads of Brittany with a 181km route from Brest to the top of the Mur-de-Bretagne.

There isn’t too much for the peloton to worry about for the majority of the day with only two categorised climbs in the first 160km but with two ascents of the Mur-de-Bretagne to negotiate in the final 20km, there is certainly a sting in the tail.

Classics specialists should come to the fore again with Ardennes Classics week perhaps offering the best guide for punters.

All three of the Ardennes races end with a similar steep, punchy climb and the latest winner of the middle of those races, La Fleche Wallonne, could be the man to beat today.

Alejandro Valverde has made the finish of La Fleche Wallonne atop the Mur de Huy his own over the years with a record five wins, including four victories in a row between 2014 and 2017. But the Spaniard’s dominance came to an end this year at the hands of Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe.

That victory hinted at something of a changing of the guard in such races and today looks a perfect opportunity for Alaphilippe, who finished fifth on stage five, to confirm that theory with a first Tour de France stage win on a finish that is perfectly suited to his punchy climbing style.

Recommendation
J Alaphilippe
1pt each-way 4-1 bet365

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