Alexey Lutsenko claims maiden Tour de France victory as Adam Yates retains yellow jersey

Astana rider prevails from an eight-man breakaway at the top of Mont Aigoual to add to his 2017 Vuelta stage win

Astana rider Alexey Lutsenko wins Stage 6 of the Tour de France on Thursday, September 3. Reuters

The peloton during the 191km Stage 6 between Le Teil and Mont Aigoual. AFP

Neilson Powless, right, and Alexey Lutsenko during Stage 6. AFP

French rider Julian Alaphilippe, of the Deceuninck Quick-Step, crosses the finish line. EPA

British rider Adam Yates after retaingin the yellow jersey. EPA

The peloton during Stage 6. EPA

UAE Team Emirates rider Tadej Pogacar, left, wearing the white jersey for best young rider. Reuters

Spectators light flares during Stage 6. EPA

The peloton during Stage 6. EPA

The peloton during Stage 6. AFP

Adam Yates, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, during Stage 6. PA

Kazakh Alexey Lutsenko claimed his maiden victory on the Tour de France when he triumphed in Stage 6 on Thursday, as the top guns again held back from a major attack with bigger challenges still to come.

Astana rider Lutsenko, a former Under-23 world champion, prevailed from an eight-man breakaway at the top of Mont Aigoual to add to his 2017 Vuelta stage win.

Spain's Jesus Herrada took second place, 55 seconds behind with Belgian Greg van Avermaet in third.

Briton Adam Yates retained the overall leader's yellow jersey after staying tucked in the main peloton, which crossed the line with a deficit of 2:53.

UAE Emirates rider Slovenian Tadej Pogacar, who is third overall, suffered an untimely puncture in the climb up to the Col de la Lusette but managed to regain his place in the peloton easily, thanks to the bunch's slow pace.

"We talked about it in the team bus this morning and we agreed that it was a stage that suited me," said Lutsenko, who broke clear in the punishing ascent to the Col de la Lusette, a 11.7km climb at an average gradient of 7.3 per cent.

Behind him, the main favourites did not use the ascent to test each other, leaving defending champion Egan Bernal's Ineos team to set a moderate pace.

"We knew that this climb was tricky, it was a pretty bad surface. I think we climbed at our own speed and saved energy, we just tried to stay safe," said Ineos domestique Michal Kwiatkowski.

"Everyone is keeping their powder dry and is saving energy for the next days," said Yates, who was never threatened throughout the stage.

The only sparkle came in the final metres, when Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe produced a brief attack to regain one second after losing the yellow jersey to Yates following a 20-second penalty for illegal feeding on Wednesday.

"It went really well, with an escape with big riders we needed to control, but a good day for us," Yates said.

Adam's twin brother Simon Yates won three stages on the 2019 Tour de France. "When you grow up as a kid everyone wants to wear the Tour de France yellow," said Yates, who grew up in Bury, Lancashire. "I came here to win stages, so once we get to the high mountains I'll try [and win a Tour de France stage like his brother].

Friday's Stage 7 is a 168-km flat stage from Millau to Lavaur, which is expected to favour the sprint specialists. "Tomorrow should be easy," said Yates when asked about the stage, where he will likely keep the lead.