Tour de France

A review of what happened during Friday’s stage and a look ahead at what to expect for today’s stage:The riders venture into the Alps on a 123-mile course from Bourg-en-Bresse to Le Grand-Bornand. The category-1 climb

at La Colombiere pass promises to open up the race:

* Friday’s Stage 6: The mostly flat route took riders on a 124-mile trek from Semur-en-Auxois to Bourg-en-Bresse at the foot of the Alps.

* Winner: Tom Boonen, a Belgian with team Quick Step, won ahead of Oscar Freire of Spain, who rides for Rabobank. German Erik Zabel of team Milram was third.

* Yellow jersey: Fabian Cancellara of Team CSC. The Swiss rider keeps the jersey for a seventh consecutive day. German rider Andreas Kloeden of Astana rode with a hairline fracture of the tailbone and remains in second place, 33 seconds behind.

* Quote of the day: “He’ll go to his limit and will die on the bike if he has to.” -- Marc Biver, Astana manager, talking about team leader Alexandre Vinokourov’s intent to continue despite 15 stitches in his knees. Vinokourov is one of the favorites to win this year’s Tour.

STAGE 6 RESULTS

1. Tom Boonen, Belgium: 5:20:59

2. Oscar Freire, Spain: same time

3. Erik Zabel, Germany: same time

4. Sebastien Chavanel, France: same time

5. Thor Hushovd, Norway: same time

6. Daniele Bennati, Italy: same time

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OVERALL LEADERS

1. Fabian Cancellara, Switzerland: 29:49.55

2. Andreas Kloeden, Germany: :33 behind

3. Filippo Pozzato, Italy: :35 behind

4. David Millar, Britain: :41 behind

5. Oscar Freire, Spain: :43 behind

6. George Hincapie, U.S.: same time