Today, the sixth and longest stage of this year's Tour de France was on the menu, stretching 227 kilometers between Montargis and Gueugnon where the landscape was characterized by rolling hills. Four categorized hills were to be climbed in a unbearable heat where three riders escaped from the main field to follow their dream of a stage win.

Sebastian Lang (Omega-Pharma Lotto), Mathieu Perget (Caisse d'Epargne) and Ruben Perez Moreno (Euskaltel-Euskadi) worked up a lead of eight minutes before the leading team of the race, Saxo Bank took control and started to wheel in the trio.

On the final part of the stage, HTC-Columbia as the only sprinter team found their way to the front of the pack as they wanted to take advantage of this last chance of seizing the opportunity of a stage win as the next few stages belong to the climbers. The trio's destiny was sealed and with 10 kilometers to go, they were finally brought back to the field.

Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia) is on a winning streak and took his second stage win in a row after an impressive sprint. Farrar came in second and Petacchi is in third place.

With an uphill finish on a categorized climb, tomorrow's stage seems be a test of the favorites' helpers more than a test of the favorites and there's a good chance of making a breakaway last all the way to the finish line as the favorites undoubtedly will be watching each other.

Andy finished in 55th place and is still standing in the overall clasification in place 6 with 1:09 minutes to Cancellara.