For this 6th stage of Paris-Nice 2026, the peloton traveled the roads of the Vaucluse department. An eventful stage in which Harold Tejada (XDS Astana) won through experience.
A calmer day. That’s what the riders of this Paris-Nice 2026 between Barbentane and Apt in the Vaucluse department experienced. Under the southern French sun (whose rays should not appear again in the final days), the 122 remaining riders covered 179 km. A challenging route with 2,100 meters of positive elevation gain, with the majority in the last 50 kilometers. The two main difficulties of the day were categorized as second category with the Col de l’Aire Deï Masco (7.2 km at 4.3%) and the Côte de Saignon (4.1 km at 5%).
On a day when the peloton felt the need to recover after several very difficult days, the breakaway struggled to form. It was ultimately a small group of four riders that managed to break away at kilometer 44. Among them were British Joshua Tarling (Ineos Grenadiers) very active since the start, Igor Arrieta (UAE Team Emirates), Arthur Kluckers (Tudor Pro Cycling) and climber Steff Cras (Soudal Quick-Step).
Behind, the peloton controlled the pace under the impetus of Cofidis team which had clearly targeted this stage for their sprinter/puncher Brayan Coquard. While the gap never exceeded two minutes, the yellow jersey group didn’t seem particularly interested in chasing the leaders. A situation that prompted a counter-attacker to try his luck in the form of Danish champion Søren Kragh Andersen (Lidl Trek). In the ascent of Col de l’Aire Deï Masco, he attempted to catch up with the breakaway in vain. After catching Belgian Steff Cras who was uncomfortable in the descent, the two men were caught by a peloton that had long hesitated to ride hard.
Harold Tejada the cleverest
Finally, in the last 15 kilometers things got serious. The sorting out finally occurred, forcing the breakaway riders to give their all. At the split, Arthur Kluckers couldn’t maintain the pace from the start of the day’s final difficulty. The Côte de Saignon caused damage within the peloton, reduced to around forty riders. It was finally the Visma | Lease a Bike team of yellow jersey Jonas Vingegaard that finished the job to end the day’s breakaway.
Everything was decided in the final hundred meters of the climb with a surprise attack from Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious). The Cannes native showed his excellent form once again on the eve of the mountain stages. Well followed by the other favorites of this Paris-Nice 2026, he was countered by Colombian Harold Tejada (XDS Astana). Behind, it was a waiting game which gave the climber from the Kazakh team a few seconds’ advantage that he would hold to the line. At 28 years old, Harold Tejada has won only his second World Tour circuit victory.
It was only six seconds later that the defeated riders arrived with French champion Dorian Godon (Ineos Grenadiers) 2nd on the stage ahead of Lewis Askey (NSN Cycling Team).
In the general classification, no change, Jonas Vingegaard remains in yellow with a 3’22 advantage over Daniel Felipe Martinez. Lenny Martinez still has a 7’37 deficit in 5th position and will have his chance to play starting tomorrow to return to the podium.
The seventh stage of Paris-Nice 2026 will be favorable to climbers with a finish in Auron in conditions that should be quite cool or even snowy.
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