July 12, 2002 (Alencon, France) – On a cool day in France, Erik Zabel (GER,
Telekom) smoked the rest of the pack. After a first week that was
relatively unsuccessful (Green Jersey, Yellow Jersey, but beaten several
times in bunch sprints), Zabel and his Telekon squad had a perfect leadout
and a beautiful
sprint. He took the stage win over previous stage winners World Champion
Oscar Freire (Mapei/Quick Step) and Australian Champion Robbie McEwen
(Lotto/Adecco).

Stage 6: Fourges-les-Eaux – Alencon, 199.5 km

1. Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom 4.23.07 (45.49 km/h)

2. Oscar Freire (Spa) Mapei-Quick Step

3. Robbie McEwen (Aus) Lotto-Adecco

4. Jan Svorada (Cze) Lampre Daikin

5. Sergei Ivanov (Rus) Fassa Bortolo

6. Baden Cooke (Aus) FDJeux.com

7. Thor Hushovd (Nor) Credit Agricole

8. Laurent Brochard (Fra) Jean Delatour

9. Arvis Piziks (Lat) CSC-Tiscali

10. Andrej Hauptman (Slo) Tacconi Sport

11. Paolo Bossoni (Ita) Tacconi Sport

12. Mauro Radaeli (Ita) Tacconi Sport

13. FranÁois Simon (Fra) Bonjour

14. Stefano Casagranda (Ita) Alessio

15. JosÈ Enrique Gutierrez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca

16. Stuart O’Grady (Aus) Credit Agricole

17. Jerome Pineau (Fra) Bonjour

18. Nico Mattan (Bel) Cofidis

19. Franck RÈnier (Fra) Bonjour

20. Gian Matteo Fagnini (Ita) Team Deutsche Telekom