Stage 6: "We have nothing to reproach ourselves for – Vingegaard is not much better"

Late at night and after an exhausting day, team manager Ralph Denk analyzes the sixth stage. With over 4,000 meters of climbing, the Col du Tourmalet, and a mountain finish, it was a brutal day at the office. An attack by Tadej Pogačar 42 kilometers before the finish put the top riders under intense pressure. "The pace was fast right from the start, and we made small mistakes," Denk says, referring to an poorly-timed bathroom break by Remco Evenepoel. For Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe, the day ended in the chasing group behind Vingegaard and Pogačar. "We have nothing to reproach ourselves for. We can be satisfied with that," Denk says. "I think Jonas Vingegaard is not much better overall. The battle behind first place is wide open," the team boss emphasizes. The seventh stage promises to be a bit quieter for the general classification favorites. On the way to Bordeaux, there will be another opportunity for the pure sprinters. "We hope the wind plays along, making it a calmer stage for us," Denk says. Photo: IMAGO / Photo News