1989 Tour de France stage six: Pelier's long break

Joel Pelier is emotional after winning stage six into Futuroscope

STAGE WIN IS REWARD FOR BRAVE PELIER

Friday July 7, 1989

Rennes-Futuroscope, 259km

The first act over, it was time for the side-shows on the longest stage of the Tour. With the high Pyrenees just two days away, the overall leaders declared a truce and Greg LeMond spent a relatively peaceful day in the yellow jersey. Into the limelight raced Joel Pelier with a magnificent 150-kilometre lone break to victory. It was the third-longest lone breakaway in the history of the Tour and Pelier’s first Tour stage win.

With 170 kilometres covered the peloton decided that Pelier had better be brought to heel and started to chase, driven by the ADR team guarding LeMond’s jersey, and by Panasonic seeking to get their sprinters Vanderaerden and Van Poppel well placed.

Marie rejoined the field, but Pensec and Claveyrolat never did. Poor Claveyrolat, deserted by his RMO team who didn’t bother to wait for him, hung on to the four Z-Peugeot men sent back to aid Pensec.

It turned out a black day for Z-Peugeot. Their five men, and Claveyrolat crossed the rain-soaked finishing line more than 11 minutes after Pelier. Pensec, Z-Peugeot’s third best placed rider overall, dropped from 44th to 139th at 17-27.

With 10 kilometres to go, Pelier’s lead was down to 5-30, with two kilometres to go, it was 3-29. But nothing could stop the determined Pelier, who drove on to cross the line 1-36 ahead of the pack, and collapse into the arms of helpers.

This win is so special to me because today is the first time that my mother and father have seen me in the Tour de France,’ said Pelier, tears streaming down his face.

Late attackers in pursuit of Pelier were Patrick Tolhoek (Superconfex) who was swallowed by the field where LeMond was prominent near the front. A sudden burst by TVM’s Eddy Schurer in the last kilometre gave the Dutchman second place at 1-34, two seconds ahead of the pack led by Eric Vanderaerden (Panasonic). 182 men all finished in the same time. LeMond, 32nd, trailed Fignon (31st) across the line and a pair would note that a certain Sean Kelly  moved up two places overall, from 20th to 18th.

STAGE RESULT

1. Joel Pelier (Fra) BH 6-57-45

OVERALL

1. Greg LeMond (USA) ADR 25-57-38

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Keith Bingham joined the Cycling Weekly team in the summer of 1971, and retired in 2011. During his time, he covered numerous Tours de France, Milk Races and everything in-between. He was well known for his long-running 'Bikewatch' column, and played a pivotal role in fighting for the future of once at-threat cycling venues such as Hog Hill and Herne Hill Velodrome.