Image source, EPA

Stage six meant that, for the first time in the history of the Tour de France, the top three places in the general classification standings are occupied by the past three road world champions - Tadej Pogacar (Zurich 2024), Mathieu van der Poel (Glasgow 2023) and Remco Evenepoel (Wollongong 2022).

Three world champions had been at the top of the rankings once before, but not the past three.

After stage eight, Eddy Merckx (1967 world champion) led the race ahead of Rudi Altig (1966) and Jan Janssen (1964).

1. Mathieu van der Poel (Ned/Alpecin-Deceuninck) 21hrs 52mins 34secs
2. Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Emirates-XRG) +1sec
3. Remco Evenepoel (Bel/Soudal Quick-Step) +43secs
4. Kevin Vauquelin (Fra/Arkea-B&B Hotels) +1min
5. Jonas Vingegaard (Den/Visma-Lease a Bike) +1min 14secs
6. Matteo Jorgenson (US/Visma-Lease a Bike) +1min 23secs
7. Joao Almeida (Por/UAE Emirates-XRG) +1min 59secs
8. Ben Healy (Ire/EF Education-EasyPost) +2mins 1sec
9. Florian Lipowitz (Ger/Red Bull-Bora hansgrohe) +2min 32secs
10. Primoz Roglic (Slo/Red Bull-Bora hansgrohe) +2min 36secs

Geraint Thomas is currently 39th in the general classification standings, exactly 14 minutes off race leader Mathieu van der Poel.

Speaking before the Tour, he was relishing riding the Tour "rollercoaster" one last time.

The breakaway has settled. The gap is now up to one minute 30 seconds. So who's in it?

• Geraint Thomas (GB/Ineos Grenadiers)
• Alex Baudin (Fra, EF Education-EasyPost)
• Marco Haller (Aut, Tudor)
• Ewen Costiou (Fra, Arkea-B&B Hotels)
• Ivan Garcia Cortina (Spa, Movistar)

Image source, Reuters

Geraint Thomas was asked before today's stage about the potential of getting into the breakaway.

"We've just got to keep trying," said the Ineos Grenadiers rider. "I was just not very good yesterday. I've just been a bit up and down really, so it's a bit frustrating. Today's a new day and we go again.

"I think Axel [Laurance] will sit in and wait for the final and a few others will wait for the break. I think today is 50-50, we're not quite sure whether the breakaway will go or not, but as soon as the race starts you kind of get a feel, for who wants it to go and who wants it to not go."

UAE's Marc Soler is trying to control the bunch and has got it back to within 50 seconds of the breakaway.

The gap is up to over a minute as the breakaway comes through the town of Dinan, with Bruno Armirail of French team Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale trying to bridge.

Now then, there's finally a gap... and British veteran Geraint Thomas is among the lead group.

The 2018 race winner is racing in the Tour for the 14th and final time before retiring and has got clear in a five-man breakaway.

Now Wout van Aert tries again, with Mathieu van der Poel's yellow jersey among those trying to go with him.

It's no wonder the wannabe breakaway riders have been struggling to get away, the peloton has averaged 55km per hour so far.

This year's stage takes place in Brittany and Valentin Madouas, one of seven Breton riders in the Tour, now makes a second attempt.

Bahrain Victorious have just been on the team radio, singing 'happy birthday' to Lenny Martinez.

The French climber turns 22 today, while UAE's Pavel Sivakov turns 28... what better way to celebrate than clinching a prestigious victory at Mur-de-Bretagne?!

There have been a number of attacks from the front of the peloton but the likes of Victor Campenaerts (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Marc Soler (UAE) have been quick to bring the bunch back, to protect their GC contenders - Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar.

Just like yesterday, Wout van Aert is unable to establish himself in a breakaway as he and Mauro Schmid are caught by the peloton.

As we reached the 1,000km of this year's race, EF Education-EasyPost were on the team radio, warning their riders to look out for UAE Team Emirates-XRG at the front of the peloton as Tadej Pogacar's team will be looking to take control of the stage.

The total distance of this year's Tour is 3,338.8km so we're almost a third of the way through. There will be a lot more elevation gain in the last two weeks though, when we head into the mountains.

Today's stage is already under way, with Belgian star Wout van Aert and Swiss road and time trial champion Mauro Schmid first to go clear of the peloton.

Van Aert tried to break away yesterday but ultimately the Visma-Lease a Bike rider could not make it stick.

Image source, ASO

A 197km hilly stage begins on the north coast in Saint-Malo and passes through Yffiniac, the home village of five-time winner Bernard Hinault, during a relatively tame opening 175km.

However, expect bedlam as the finishing line approaches with a closing circuit that mirrors the 2021 stage, which was won by current race leader Mathieu van der Poel.

The Mur-de-Bretagne, which ramps up above 10%, features twice and explosiveness and tactical nous will determine how things play out.

There is an intermediate sprint followed by three categorised climbs, the third ramping up to the finish, taking the total elevation gain to 2,450m.

Image source, EPA

Ireland's Ben Healy produced a stunning solo break to win stage six of the Tour de France while Mathieu van der Poel regained the race leader's yellow jersey.

Healy and Van der Poel spent most of the 201.5km hilly stage in an eight-man breakaway before the former attacked with 42km remaining.

The EF Education-EasyPost rider then pulled away to claim his first stage win on the Tour, crossing the line in Vire Normandie almost three minutes before Quinn Simmons and Michael Storer.

Welcome back to BBC Sport's live text coverage of the 2025 Tour de France.

Mathieu van der Poel reclaimed the race leader's yellow jersey from Tadej Pogacar by just one second after a gruelling stage six.

But will the Dutch rider be able to recover in time for today's stage or will reigning champion Pogacar go back to the top of the general classification standings?