Andre Greipel triumphs in a sprint finish

Team Sky's problems continued as Spaniard Xabier Zandio joined Chris Froome in exiting the Tour de France.

Defending champion Froome abandoned on Wednesday’s fifth stage after the pain caused by three crashes in two days.

The 194-kilometre sixth stage from Arras to Reims took place on wet roads and Zandio was caught up in a crash after 79km and received lengthy medical attention before withdrawing.

It means Richie Porte, who inherited the leadership of Team Sky from Froome, now has just six team-mates to call upon with the race less than a week old.

Egor Silin (Katusha) also quit after the large crash, which also caught up Arnaud Demare

Germany's Tour de France sprint supremacy, however, continued in Champagne country as Andre Greipel triumphed in Reims.

The 194-kilometre sixth stage from Arras took place on wet roads, with crashes accounting for a number of riders.

The Giant-Shimano team of Marcel Kittel were conspicuous by their absence in the closing stages until it emerged the winner of stages one, three and four had a problem and would not contend the sprint.

It was Greipel (Lotto-Belisol), left out of position in the first three sprints of the Tour, who benefited, the German champion finishing arms aloft for the sixth Tour stage win of his career.

Greipel told letour.com: “I felt a lot of pressure after the first few stages but finally we have a victory. It’s a good answer from Lotto-Belisol to the critics.

“My confidence was always there. We stayed calm and did a really good work. My team-mates and myself, we deserve this win.”

Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) was second, with Samuel Dumoulin (Ag2r La Mondiale) third, while Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) finished safely in the pack to retain the race leader's yellow jersey he claimed on stage two in Sheffield.