Ricco takes stage as Kirchen grabs yellow jersey

Italian Riccardo Ricco won the sixth stage of the Tour de France yesterday while Luxembourg's Kim Kirchen seized the overall leader's yellow jersey.

The Giro d'Italia runner-up, also known as "The Cobra", attacked in the final metres of a category-two climb to Super-Besse to beat Spain's Alejandro Valverde and Australian Cadel Evans, second and third respectively.

Team Columbia's Kirchen took fifth place to become the first Luxembourg rider since Charly Gaul in 1958 to wear the yellow jersey after German Stefan Schumacher crashed with some 500 metres to go.

The Gerolsteiner rider, who had taken the coveted jersey with victory in Tuesday's time trial, said he hit Kirchen's wheel before falling.

After 195.5 kms from Aigurande, he crossed the line with a 32-second deficit and dropped to third in the overall standings 16 seconds behind Kirchen.

Evans lies second, six seconds off the pace.

Among the favourites who lost time in the finale were Italy's Damiano Cunego, 32 seconds off the pace, and Luxemburg's Andy Schleck, 13 seconds further behind.