Alexey Lutsenko became the 2020 Tour de France's first breakaway winner with a self-assured climb out of a talented group of riders. He went solo with just under 18 kilometers to go after following a move by young American Neilson Powless. As Powless' legs gave out, there was no one left to challenge the defending Kazakhstan road and time trial national champion.

Stage 6 was much livelier than Stage 5's historically lazy stroll. For one, it moved much more briskly. The peloton averaged a wind-aided 50 kilometers an hour before the finishing sequence of climbs began. (For once, the stage ended at an hour that won't eat into my lunch)

For two, there was a proper breakaway. Sunweb's Nicolas Roche, riding in his 10th Tour de France, attacked from the outset, and was joined by Lutsenko, Powless, Greg van Avermaet (do dooo doo doo doo), Daniel Oss, Edvald Boasson Hagen, Remi Cavagna and Jesus Herrada; a strong group of riders who are also comfortable solo artists.

However, for a second straight day the peloton never did more work than it needed. The break pushed the gap to the peloton up to a hefty 6 minutes, 40 seconds with about 100 kilometers to go before the peloton upped the tempo in preparation for the general classification hopefuls.