Rookies take over spotlight

Belgian wins stage; Italian is leader

CHAMPAGNEY, France — Two Tour de France rookies stole the show Thursday on the first mountain stage, with Dylan Teuns of Belgium winning Stage 6 and Giulio Ciccone of Italy taking the overall race lead.

Geraint Thomas, the defending champion, also rode strongly, going some way to answer questions about his fitness after he crashed out of the Tour de Suisse in June. Thomas rode in fourth at the top of the terrible climb to the Planche des Belles Filles ski station in the woody Vosges mountains of eastern France.

But the severity of the ascent, with a final 24 percent incline and an unpaved section that kicked up clouds of dust, torpedoed other main contenders for overall victory July 28 in Paris. Some riders were so exhausted at the top that race workers had to help them stay upright on their bikes after they crossed the line.

At that final ascent, Teuns and Ciccone were the two survivors of their breakaway group, fighting headtohead for the win.

Ciccone cracked first on the eye- popping steep incline, as Teuns cranked on ahead of him to the line.

“It was really hard. A man- to- man fight,” Teuns said. “I finished it off. It was amazing.”

But Ciccone got a delightful consolation prize, in the shape of the yellow jersey.

“It’s an incredible day. I can’t grasp what’s happening,” the Italian said.

Having raced in the Giro d’Italia in May, where he won a stage, the 24- year- old came to the Tour for some experience. The yellow jersey was never in his plans.

“It’s strange but super good,” he said.

The previous three riders to hold the yellow jersey at the top of the Planche des Belles Filles all went on to win in Paris: Bradley Wiggins in 2012; Nibali in 2014; Chris Froome in 2017.

But Ciccone doesn’t expect to follow in their footsteps. His Trek- Segafredo team is built around Australian rider Richie Porte, who got dropped by Thomas riding in just 9 seconds after the Welshman.

Another sign that Thomas isn’t hampered by his crash in June was that he also finished ahead of Egan Bernal, his teammate at Ineos who could challenge him for the title.

Overall, Thomas climbed to fifth overall, 49 seconds behind Ciccone and leapfrogging Bernal, in sixth and now 4 seconds behind Thomas.