A stage winner in the race a few years ago, Russian champion Vladimir Isaychev tried to go on the attack in today's stage of the Tour de Suisse. In the end, it was a fruitless effort but the Russian is convinced that the outcome could have been different if Michael Albsini had not made it into the move.

Stage 6 in the 87th Tour de Suisse saw Russian national champion Vladimir Isaychev in the day’s breakaway, working hard with his fellow escapees to try to stay away until the end. 

“It was a long day for me in the front but I wanted to be in the break today," Isaychev said. "You know, this is the way I won a stage in Suisse two years ago. I wanted to do something for the team – bring a victory or at least a podium place. However when I saw that we never got much more than four minutes, I knew we would not make it until the end.

"Despite this fact, we continued with our effort and cooperation, as you never know what can happen. I had good breakaway companions and everyone worked hard. Our biggest problem was the presence of Albasini. He was at nine minutes so the teams in the main field kept us under control because of him. With another rider in his place, the race could have developed differently. In the end, there was no prize for me, but I come away with a happy feeling.”

The 184 km stage began in Büren A.D. Aare and ended in Delémont after four rated climbs.  Isaychev’s break went clear early and held more than 4.30 at one point along the way, but was brought back and the peloton was all together by the start of the third climb. Over the top Warren Barguil attacked, catching the attention of OPQS in order to avoid any threats to the race lead of Tony Martin. Another challenge came at 11,5 km to go when Peter Sagan, third place on the classification at ten seconds, also put in an attack, gapping off the chasers on the descent but sitting up to come in together for the finale. 

Race leader Tony Martin led the field under the red kite signaling 1000 meters to go, keeping the pace high on the narrow uphill in the heart of the city center of Delémont. Martin’s teammate Matteo Trentin opened up his sprint to take the stage win ahead of Daniele Bennati (Tinkoff-Saxo) by half a wheel length. The podium was rounded out with a third Italian, Francesco Gavazzi of Astana. 

The GC remained the same for another day with Martin still in yellow by six-seconds to Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Shimano) and 10-seconds to Peter Sagan. The top of the leader board should change with Friday’s second individual time trial for the 2014 Tour de Suisse. Stage seven’s  24,7 km course is in Worb.