High Expectations, Bitter Finish for Simmons in Tour de France Stage 6
For a moment, it seemed like Quinn Simmons was about to make his breakthrough on the biggest cycling stage. The 24-year-old U.S. national champion was all over the front on Stage 6 of the Tour de France, a brutal 201.5km sprint across Normandy’s rippling landscape. Hills kept coming—the stage offered six categorized climbs and over 11,000 feet of elevation. By the closing stretch, Simmons looked like a top contender to snatch his first Tour victory, but fate had other plans.
The day unfolded fast and chaotic. Simmons, riding for Lidl-Trek, spent his early energy helping teammate Jonathan Milan secure points at an intermediate sprint. He didn’t sit back after that, though. Simmons kept his eyes on the front, attacking persistently until the crucial breakaway started to form. Eight riders finally ripped free from the chasing peloton—Simmons among them, along with Irish talent Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) and Australia’s Michael Storer (Tudor).
Breakaway Drama: Healy’s Gambit and Simmons’ Desperate Chase
The last hour was packed with tension. With 42km left, Ben Healy threw down a solo move, cracking the group with enough power to force the others into frantic pursuit mode. Simmons, sensing the danger, tried to rally a chase but knew right away that Healy’s legs were special that day. Still, Simmons stayed on script—he attacked on a punchy category-three climb with just 27km to go, sticking to his plan. But Healy had already disappeared up the road, grinding out a lead that no one could eat into.
When the finish loomed in Vire-Normandie, Simmons aimed for at least a minor victory: second place. He pulled ahead of Storer in a steep uphill sprint, sealing the best Tour finish of his career so far. But that didn’t take away the sting. The American made it clear just how much that missing stage win hurt: "A stage win changes your life. Second can’t," he said, waving off the usual compliments from teammates and staff. Even as they congratulated him, Simmons was quick to reply: "Not well enough."
Those words say everything about his mindset. For riders at Simmons’ level, second place fades fast in Tour de France lore. It’s the wins—stage wins—that get you headlines, contracts, and permanent bragging rights.
On the bright side, Simmons’ ride showed off his growing Tour de France form and sharp tactics. He read the terrain well, stuck to his attacking plan, and had the stamina to animate the finale on some of the race’s toughest terrain. For a rider famous for his aggressive riding, this wasn’t the win he craved, but it proved he’s only getting closer to the big one.
Now, Simmons looks ahead—there’s more road and more mountains. With the tactics and legs he showed on Stage 6, no one is counting him out for the rest of this Tour.
