 The sixth stage was relatively short at 143 km (88.9 mi) long. After a near-flat opening 50 km (31.1 mi), which included the day's intermediate sprint at Albertville, the race moved towards the hills, with four categorised climbs within a 40 km (24.9 mi) period. The first was the shallowest of the quartet, with the fourth-category Côte d'Arvillard averaging 5.3 % over 2.2 km (1.4 mi), before the first-category Col du Barioz − a narrow climb averaging 7.3 % over 7.1 km (4.4 mi). After a speedy descent, the riders climbed once again, with the second-category Col des Ayes averaging over 8 %. Another short, sharp climb of the Col des Mouilles finished the categorised climbing for the day.
