Stage 6: Saint-Vulbas -> Crest-Voland
The first of three demanding mountain stages in the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes featured a flat approach before a series of tough climbs in the second half of the day. From the very start, the peloton split under pressure. Robbe Dhondt was attentive for Team Picnic PostNL, joining a front group of more than 50 riders that managed to establish a solid advantage over the bunch. As the stage unfolded, the break steadily increased its lead, reaching almost four and a half minutes with 30 kilometres remaining, just before the final two climbs began. Once the break hit the penultimate climb, the group started to thin out rapidly. Dhondt managed to hold on for a long time on the high tempo, but with 4 kilometres to the summit he was ultimately forced to let his companions go. Up front, Van Gils emerged victorious from the breakaway, while Dhondt crossed the line just outside the top 20 after his second consecutive day in the breakaway.
