ARRAS, France — Tour de France riders are heading toward Champagne country.

The pack has set off on a 194-kilometer (120 mile) Stage 6 on Thursday — a day after defending champion Chris Froome droped out of the race after crashing twice and suffering a wrist injury.

The course from Arras to Reims is mostly flat and should favor a sprint finish, though rainy weather could have an impact.

Italy’s Vincenzo Nibali cemented his overall lead on Wednesday in a mud-splattered run on cobblestones. The Astana team leader was too strong for his main rivals in the absence of Froome.