Scot David Millar just fell short in his attempt to record a famous stage win at the Tour de France in Barcelona.

Thor Hushovd - second in the points classification behind Great Britain's Mark Cavendish - took Thursday's sixth stage after a fast-finishing peleton overhauled Millar just under two kilometres from the finish line at Montjuic.

The Garmin-Slipstream rider had made a brave, determined but ultimately futile bid for a stage win.

Wet weather made conditions treacherous but Millar, Stephane Aug, and Sylvain Chavanel combined to breakaway on the descent towards Tossa de Mar, just 40 kilometres into the race.

They managed to open up a lead that peaked at just over three minutes, while behind them a number of riders hit the tarmac on greasy roads, including reigning champion Carlos Sastre and former green jersey winner Tom Boonen.

The breakaway was later joined by Amets Txurruka but Millar, one of the world's top time trial riders, struck for home alone with just under 30km to go.

However, a closing upward kick in the Catalan capital took it out of him, although his efforts should win him the day's combativity prize, admittedly a scant consolation for a stellar day's toil in the saddle.