Jan Barta (Bora-Argon 18) and Yukiya Arashiro (Lampre-Merida) were the two riders to form the day’s break, though BMC Racing had little trouble controlling proceedings for yellow jersey Greg van Avermaet.

With a bunch sprint always expected, the American team – donning yellow helmets because they also lead the team classification after Van Avermaet’s stage five win – had plenty of support on the front of the bunch.

Etixx-QuickStep, Lotto-Soudal and Dimension Data all spent time on the front of the bunch as the gap stayed at a manageable distance.

As ever, the biggest flurry of action came at the intermediate sprint with Etixx-QuickStep leading Marcel Kittel out on the uphill drag to the line.

The German bolted too early, however, and Direct Energie’s Bryan Coquard took the kick from the peloton; Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) played little part in the sprint, however, as Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) extended his points classification lead.

Coquard’s victory at the intermediate sprint clearly buoyed the Direct Energie team too, with the French ProContinental outfit helping with the pace-setting afterwards.

Kittel kicked first, but Cavendish came round him as the two opened up a massive sprint side-by-side in the middle of the road.

And it was the Manxman who took the stage honours, his third of the race so far, with Kittel second and McLay’s late charge earning him third place – his best result of a hugely impressive Tour de France debut to date.

Tour de France 2016: stage six – result

1) Mark Cavendish (GBR) – Dimension Data – 4.43.48hrs
2) Marcel Kittel (GER) – Etixx-QuickStep – ST
3) Dan McLay (GBR) – Fortuneo-Vital Concept
4) Alexander Kristoff (NOR) – Katusha
5) Christophe Laporte (FRA) – Cofidis
6) Peter Sagan (SVK) – Tinkoff
7) Dylan Groenewegen (NED) – Team LottoNL-Jumbo
8) Edward Theuns (BEL) – Trek-Segafredo
9) Bryan Coquard (FRA) – Direct Energie
10) Shane Archbold (NZL) – Bora-Argon 18

General classification

1) Greg van Avermaet (BEL) – BMC Racing – 30.18.39hrs
2) Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) – Etixx-QuickStep +5.11
3) Alejandro Valverde (ESP) – Movistar +5.13
4) Joaquim Rodriguez (ESP) – Katusha +5.14
5) Chris Froome (GBR) – Team Sky +5.17
6) Warren Barguil (FRA) – Giant-Alpecin – ST
7) Nairo Quintana (COL) – Movistar
8) Pierre Rolland (FRA) – Cannondale
9) Fabio Aru (ITA) – Astana
10) Daniel Martin (IRL) – Etixx-QuickStep