Stages five and six were sufficiently flat for the sprinters' teams to target them, so that both ended up in bunch sprints. Having said that, stage five was a close call, as the breakaway group weren't brought back until near the end. Although there may have been initial doubts over whether some of the pure sprinters would get up the climbs, when it was clear Mark Cavendish was in good shape, Omega Pharma Quickstep set to work at the front and managed to create the perfect leadout train for Cavendish, who won the race ahead of Boasson Hagen and Sagan. Unfortunately, there was a crash behind, which left some sprinters such as Marcel Kittel unable to contest the sprint and took some riders out of the race.
Stage six was more of the same, although there was never any doubt that this would end in a sprint. It wasn't to be Cavendish's day, though, as he was brought down in a crash in the final kilometres and had to expend a lot of energy getting back to the group. Apparently, the team radios were down and so Cavendish found himself isolated and without any other riders to support him. In the end it was Lotto-Belisol that created the perfect leadout train for Andre Greipel, who cruised over the line with ease, followed by Sagan and Kittel. Peter Sagan retains the green jersey and having taken second place in the green jersey standings in stage five, Cavendish was overtaken by Greipel after he finished fourth in stage six.
There was also a time split at the finish line, which put Daryl Impey in the yellow, making him the first South African to wear the yellow jersey.
It may be awhile before the sprinters get another opportunity to go for a stage win, as the roads now head upwards, although before heading to the high mountains, there are medium mountains to negotiate, which may give some of the puncheur-type sprinters an opportunity to do something.
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