Kim Kirchen of Team Columbia takes the yellow jersey from Schumacher in the last kilometer.

I don’t suspect foul play, but according to the Tour’s official website, Schumacher was behind Kirchen when Ricco stood up to sprint to the finish (Ricco did win the stage). When Ricco stood, Kirchen “pulled his foot”—I assume that meant he almost crashed and had to pull his foot out of his pedal. That must have made Schumacher crash. I can see how a crash like this can happen. Stage 6 ended in steep, 10% grade, climb for 1.5 kilometers. I don’t know about you, but I would be standing just for survival, as opposed to sprinting to the finish).

The crash was enough to put Kirchen in the yellow jersey for the first time this year (for the first time ever, I think). Kirchen has been consistently in 2nd place throughout this Tour, so he’s been biding his time patiently. I’m very happy for Kirchen, ever since I read about his performance in the Tour de Suisse, and the fact that he’s on team Columbia (formerly team High Road).

This bodes well for the Fellowship of the Chainring Fantasy Team. As of stage 5, the team was in 139th place (out of over 3,000). This stage will give the team 54 points: Valverde will get 20 points (he took 2nd in the stage) and Kirchen will get 20 points for taking the yellow jersey and 14 points for taking 5th place for the stage,

  1. VALVERDE Alejandro (CAISSE D’EPARGNE) 49 points
  2. MC EWEN Robbie (SILENCE-LOTTO) 22 points
  3. CAVENDISH Mark (TEAM COLUMBIA) 31 points
  4. GERDEMANN Linus (TEAM COLUMBIA) 0 points
  5. KIRCHEN Kim (TEAM COLUMBIA) 71 points
  6. CARDENAS Felix (BARLOWORLD) 0 points
  7. SOLER MAURICIO (BARLOWORLD) 0 points
  8. SIUTSOU Kanstantin (TEAM COLUMBIA) 0 points
  9. CIOLEK Gerald (TEAM COLUMBIA) 18 points

On a sad note, Mauricio Soler, dropped out of the race yesterday after a second crash. I had high hopes for Soler seeing as he was the king of the mountain for last year’s Tour de France.