Mixed fortunes in Avenir

With an eighth place in Tuesday's stage six of Tour de l'Avenir, Team CSC's Lars Bak retained his overall lead. Jesus del Nero (Orbea) won the stage, showing he was the fastest rider in a break of five riders that got clear of the main field and stayed away until the finish.

After the stage to Guéret CSC sports director Scott Sunderland was pleased. "[It was] A more or less perfect stage for us," said Sunderland. "At the beginning there were attacks left right and centre, but after 80 kilometres a group, with no riders who would be a threat to the GC got away. We set a reasonable pace in the peloton and again our young riders worked really well together. The morale is high and the communication good between them, and regardless of how the rest of this race turns out, they can really use this experience in the future" said the Australian.