TdF: Lutsenko turns on the style to claim stage six

Alexey Lutsenko of Astana won stage six of the Tour de France on Thursday completing a long breakaway over two mountains in the magnificent Cevennes National Park.

Briton Adam Yates held on to the overall leader's yellow jersey despite a dramatic late bid by Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe to snatch it back with a trademark kick to the finish that clawed back a few seconds.

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

Alaphilippe lost the yellow jersey to Yates on Wednesday when a careless late water-bottle pick-up cost him a 20 seconds time penalty, with the Mitchelton Scott rider admitting he wouldn't have wanted to take the lead in that manner but would defend it with everything he had.

"Tomorrow should be easy," said Yates when asked about Friday's flat stage, where he will likely keep the lead.

There were no other attempted attacks from among the favourites on the mountain stage. The race, which culminates in Paris on September 20, still a long way to go.