Germany’s Tour de France sprint supremacy continued in Champagne country yesterday 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.

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.

After a chaotic and epic day over the cobbles of stage five which accounted for defending champion Chris Froome, there were further victims of crashes yesterday.

Team Sky’s problems continued as Spaniard Xabier Zandio joined Froome in exiting the Tour with a suspected broken collarbone.

It means Richie Porte now has just six teammates to call upon with the race less than a week old.