Tour de France Stage 6: Healy’s Breakaway Masterclass Reshuffles Yellow Jersey Fight

VIRE NORMANDIE, France (10 July 2025) — In a stage that director Christian Prudhomme had ominously dubbed “the most leg-breaking flat stage in the recent history of the Tour,” Ben Healy delivered the performance of his career, soloing to victory across the rolling hills of Normandy while behind him, the yellow jersey changed hands by the slimmest of margins.

The EF Education-EasyPost rider’s audacious 42-kilometer solo breakaway not only secured Ireland’s first Tour stage win since Sam Bennett’s Champs-Élysées triumph in 2020, but also inadvertently orchestrated a tactical masterpiece that saw Mathieu van der Poel reclaim the maillot jaune from Tadej Pogačar by a mere second.

The Perfect Storm

Stage 6’s 201.5-kilometer route from Bayeux to Vire Normandie, with its 3,550 meters of elevation gain spread across countless rises and dips, had been circled on many calendars as an opportunity for long-range attackers. Healy, ever the opportunist, had identified this stage from the race’s inception.

“Today’s stage really suited me, I had circled this day from the start,” Healy explained after his emotional victory. “And to do it on the first opportunity is really really amazing. I just switched on from the start. Maybe I spent a bit too much trying to get into the break but that’s just the way I do it.”

The day’s narrative began to unfold at the early intermediate sprint in Villers-Bocage, where Jonathan Milan of Lidl-Trek demonstrated his sprint credentials by edging van der Poel, while Healy and Quinn Simmons positioned themselves strategically for the coming battle.

The Breakaway Ballet

What followed was a masterclass in breakaway formation under the most extreme conditions. The pace was nothing short of brutal—49.5 kilometers covered in the opening hour—nullifying early attempts from Pablo Castrillo and Wout van Aert. The relentless tempo whittled the peloton down to just 20 or 30 riders at various points, illustrating the ferocity of the racing.

Healy and Simmons’ persistence eventually paid dividends when they joined a five-man move at kilometer 57, accompanied by van der Poel, Harold Tejada, and Will Barta. The group’s composition was tactically perfect—strong enough to sustain the effort, yet without any serious GC threats beyond van der Poel’s time-based calculations.

The addition of Eddie Dunbar, Simon Yates, and Michael Storer created an eight-man breakaway with the perfect blend of climbing ability and tactical nous. Crucially, UAE Team Emirates-XRG appeared comfortable with the composition, calculating that van der Poel’s 1:26 deficit would be insufficient to threaten Pogačar’s overall lead.

The Moment of Truth

With 42.5 kilometers remaining, Healy made his race-defining move at the base of the category-3 Côte de Saint-Michel-de-Montjoie. It was textbook timing—late enough to be decisive, early enough to build an unassailable advantage.

“I knew I needed to get away from the group,” Healy reflected. “I picked my moment, I think I timed it well and I caught them by surprise a little bit. Then I knew what I had to do: just put my head down and do my best ride to the finish.”

The Irishman’s acceleration was devastating. Within 15 kilometers, he had opened a 47-second gap, extending it to 45 seconds over the climb’s summit with Simmons and Storer leading the chase. Van der Poel, perhaps feeling the effects of his aggressive racing style, couldn’t match the pace and found himself fighting a losing battle.

The Yellow Jersey Calculation

Behind the breakaway drama, a more subtle but equally significant battle was unfolding. UAE Team Emirates-XRG, despite controlling the pace, seemed to miscalculate the time gaps. Tim Wellens, Pogačar’s teammate, later admitted the handover was “on the limit, and not calculated!”

The margins were razor-thin: Healy’s winning time of 4:24:10 put him nearly four minutes ahead of van der Poel, who crossed the line 3:58 back. When Pogačar led the GC group home 5:27 behind Healy, it meant van der Poel had gained exactly enough time to reclaim yellow by one second.

“I don’t know why [UAE Team Emirates-XRG] pulled behind me,” van der Poel mused post-stage. “They’re not afraid of me but maybe they wanted to control somebody else. It’s their right to pull, they do their own tactics and it’s up to us to ride faster if we want the jersey. I would have loved to have a bit more than one second but I’m happy to have it again for one day tomorrow.”

Tactical Implications

The stage’s outcome reveals several tactical undercurrents heading into the first weekend. UAE’s decision to relinquish yellow, while publicly unintentional, follows sound Grand Tour strategy. With the fearsome Mûr-de-Bretagne finish awaiting on Stage 7, having van der Poel in yellow removes the pressure of controlling the race while positioning Pogačar to attack from a position of strength.

“It is a good move to let the Yellow Jersey go,” Wellens confirmed. “The Tour de France can be very long, and there are so many tough stages to come. Tadej was feeling really good today, but it was not the day to create any time gaps on the GC.”

For van der Poel, the return to yellow carries both opportunity and burden. The Mûr-de-Bretagne holds special significance—it’s where he claimed his first Tour stage wins in 2021. However, with Pogačar lurking just one second behind and Jonas Vingegaard showing improved form, the Dutchman faces an immediate test of his stage racing credentials.

“It’s really nice to be in yellow to go to Mûr-de-Bretagne, a special place for me,” van der Poel said. “But when you see how Tadej [Pogačar] is riding, if he attacks tomorrow, or Jonas [Vingegaard] as well, it will be very difficult not only for me but for the whole bunch to follow on this climb.”

The Broader Picture

Remco Evenepoel’s steady progress continues to fly under the radar, with the Belgian positioned perfectly in third at 43 seconds. His measured approach suggests a rider finding his rhythm: “I felt good today, I recovered well from yesterday’s time trial and I was happy with my legs. I’m improving day by day.”

The sprint classification battle is also heating up, with Jonathan Milan making a strong statement by winning the intermediate sprint. His assessment of the competition is telling: “In my opinion, my main rival in the sprints will be Tim Merlier. As for the points classifications, there are many others like Tadej Pogačar or Mathieu Van der Poel who have a different skillset compared to mine.”

Looking Ahead

By the Numbers