Giro d’Italia 2024 Stage Report: The gravel sections of stage 6 caused a few splits, but if it had been mud and not dust… A break of three: Pelayo Sánchez (Movistar), Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal Quick-Step) and Luke Plapp (Jayco AlUla) held off what was left of the peloton to fight for the stage victory. Sánchez had the final jump ahead of the Frenchman and the Australian. Tadej Pogačar finished with the chase group to hold the dusty pink jersey.
The final 1K
*** See the PEZ Giro d’Italia ’24 Preview Chat With Chris Horner HERE. ***
*** You can see the PEZ ‘Giro Route Preview’ HERE. ***
*** See the PEZ ‘Favourite Riders’ choice HERE. ***
Just what Movistar needed – Pelayo Sanchez wins Giro stage 6
The sixth stage of the Giro d’Italia was won by Pelayo Sánchez after several gravel sections. The Spaniard of Movistar was the fastest finisher in Rapolano Terme, beating his fellow escapees; Julian Alaphilippe and Luke Plapp. The pink jersey remains on the shoulders of Tadej Pogačar.
Stage 6 map & profile
The sixth stage was around Siena, the famous Strade Bianche area and there are three gravel sections. The peloton heads inland from Viareggio on the coast to Rapolano Terme. The stage is 180 kilometres with 1,900 metres of climbing. The first stretch of gravel comes 50 kilometres from the finish, around Vidritta and is 4.4 kilometres long. 600 metres later the second section comes and contains the second categorised climb of the day, the Grotti (2.5km at 6.0%). The third gravel section is 2.4 kilometres and ends with the second intermediate sprint of the day about 20 kilometres from the finish. The final kilometres are raced on undulating and twisting roads. With nearly 5km out, the route kicks up sharply through Serre di Rapolano, with gradients topping out at 20%. The home straight (450m, 6% uphill gradient) is on 6m wide tarmac.
Points leader, Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) signing autographs, the black armband is for Wouter Weylandt on the 13th anniversary of his death
It looked like the whole peloton wanted to be in the break of the day. There was a big battle to be part of the escape, but no one could get away. Danny van Poppel, Fernando Gaviria and an inspired Julian Alaphilippe got the biggest lead in the first hour: 10 seconds. Next it was Simon Clarke (Israel-Premier Tech) who tried. He opened a similar sized gap, but on his own was impossible. Cian Uijtdebroeks punctured, but was able to rejoin the peloton, despite the high pace.
The jerseys line up at the start in Torre de la Lago Puccini (Viareggio)
Everything was still together when the riders reached the start of the first climb of the day after about 70 kilometres. Tim van Dijke had a 22 metre lead on the peloton when he started the Volterra (9.8km at 4.2%). The Dutchman was caught on the first steep section, after which the better climbers started their work. Gijs Leemreize tried to push on, but he was unable to get away, unlike Filippo Fiorelli, Aurélien Paret-Peintre and again Alaphilippe. They managed to make a big gap.
The peloton leaves Viareggio for a bit of gravel riding
Ten kilometres later there was a regrouping. About 20 riders caught the three at the front, while the peloton led by UAE Team Emirates was also coming back. A new attack came from the front group and it was Alpecin-Deceuninck’s Kaden Groves. The Australian had Pelayo Sánchez and Julian Alaphilippe (again) on his wheel. Then Luke Plapp, Matteo Trentin and Martin Marcellusi crossed to them. Then the peloton then eased off the gas.
There were many attacks, but it took more than 100 kilometres before a break succeeded
There were seven riders in the lead, as Andrea Vendrame managed to jump to the group. Groves took the intermediate sprint to get closer to the points jersey of Jonathan Milan. The lead increased to over 3 minutes, this made Plapp the virtual leader. The Jayco AlUla rider was 21st overall at 33 seconds behind Pogačar.
Having won Strade Bianche, you wouldn’t think Tadej Pogačar would have any problems today
On the first gravel section, the 4.4 kilometre Vidritta, the break lost time, they now only had 2 minutes on the peloton, where INEOS Grenadiers were on the front. Plapp lifted the pace on the second gravel section of Bagnaia. He dropped all the other riders, except Alaphilippe and Sánchez.
Plapp and Alaphilippe wanted an early start on the gravel
The peloton was still getting closer, thanks to the work of Jonathan Milan, then by Thymen Arensman. The Dutchman pushed hard on the Grotti (2.5km at 6%). On that gravel climb the peloton was slowed and GC riders Ben O’Connor, Cian Uijtdebroeks and Daniel Felipe Martínez had to stop. They were delayed for a short time, but all managed to get back to the bunch.
Village streets and gravel – What more could you want?
Between the second and third gravel sections, Mikkel Frølich Honoré tried to cross from the peloton to Trentin, Marcellusi, Groves and Vendrame. However, the Dane, who is racing with a broken rib after a crash on the 4th stage, ended up stuck between the two groups. The break took a little more time from the peloton as INEOS Grenadiers, which had been working hard, stopped chasing. UAE Team Emirates were now in control, but they were not that interested in closing the gap.
Dust was on the menu today
The 3 increased their lead again to 2:30, after which INEOS Grenadiers started to chase again. After the last gravel section the difference was reduced to less than 1 minute. Plapp was now out of the virtual pink, but he, and Alaphilippe or Sánchez could still win the stage. Although Sánchez misjudged a roundabout 11 kilometres from the finish and Alaphilippe had to brake hard. The Australian was now in the lead and solo, so he pushed on.
Could the break go all the way again?
Alaphilippe came within a few meters of the Australian, but then cracked. Sánchez wasn’t finished and came back from behind and the Spaniard and Frenchman worked together to close down Plapp, and so the two-time World champion was again in with a chance of the stage win. Five kilometres from the finish, on the last steep ramp of the day, Alaphilippe attacked, putting Plapp in trouble. The three were still together and fighting for the victory, although the peloton was getting very close. Three kilometres from the finish they only had 20 seconds.
The pink jersey will be grey by the finish
As it turned, this was just enough time. Behind; Andrea Piccolo jumped away from the peloton, but the three started the last metres with enough of a lead. Plapp had ridden very hard in the final kilometre to keep the three away, so he was not involved in the sprint. Alaphilippe started the sprint first, but Sánchez fought back to the Frenchman and came past him before the finish line. This was the Movistar rider’s biggest victory of his career. Alaphilippe was second, Plapp third.
Plapp, Alaphilippe and Sánchez would fight for the stage win
The pink jersey was never far from the front
Stage winner, Pelayo Sánchez (Movistar): “I don’t realise what I’ve done. I’m speechless. Since the beginning of the year, the plan was that I’d save energy in the first stages for today. I had in mind to win the stage from a breakaway but to make was difficult. I knew during the race that it would be hard to stay away. I did my best to save energy for the very end. I tried to stay calm when everyone was attacking. I made my move. I tried to drop Plapp and Alaphilippe but it was impossible for me. So my only way to win was the sprint. I’ve always dreamed of riding Grand Tours. I did La Vuelta with Burgos-BH last year, now it’s my first Giro d’Italia. To win a stage here is just craziness.”
Pelayo Sánchez couldn’t believe his own eyes
Maglia Rosa, Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates): “For us, it was perfect if the breakaway stayed away because I didn’t want to spend too much energy on the gravel and in the hills. Even if Luke Plapp was to take the Maglia Rosa it would have been fine. For me it was a good stage and enjoyable to ride again on the roads of Strade Bianche. The crowds were great again. But I still prefer Strade Bianche. I had good legs today and I hope they’ll be good again for the time trial tomorrow. It’s an interesting parcours. I’m not thinking about winning. I just want to feel good on the bike.”
Another pink day for Tadej Pogačar
# Keep it PEZ for all the Giro d’Italia news. reports and results. #
Giro d’Italia Stage 6 Result:
1. Pelayo Sánchez (Spa) Movistar in 4:01:08
2. Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Soudal Quick-Step
3. Luke Plapp (Aus) Jayco AlUla at 0:01
4. Andrea Piccolo (Ita) EF Education-EasyPost at 0:24
5. Jhonatan Narváez (Ecu) INEOS Grenadiers at 0:29
6. Luka Mezgec (Slo) Jayco AlUla
7. Quinten Hermans (Bel) Alpecin-Deceuninck
8. Nick Schultz (Aus) Israel-Premier Tech
9. Daniel Felipe Martínez (Col) BORA-hansgrohe
10. Alexey Lutsenko (Kaz) Astana Qazaqstan.
Giro d’Italia Overall After Stage 6:
1. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates in 23:20:52
2. Geraint Thomas (GB) INEOS Grenadiers at 0:46
3. Daniel Felipe Martínez (Col) BORA-hansgrohe at 0:47
4. Cian Uijtdebroeks (Bel) Visma | Lease a Bike at 0:55
5. Einer Rubio (Col) Movistar at 0:56
6. Lorenzo Fortunato (Ita) Astana Qazaqstan at 1:07
7. Juan Pedro López (Spa) Lidl-Trek at 1:11
8. Jan Hirt (CZ) Soudal Quick-Step at 1:13
9. Alexey Lutsenko (Kaz) Astana Qazaqstan at 1:26
10. Esteban Chaves (Col) EF Education – EasyPost.
Like PEZ? Why not subscribe to our weekly newsletter to receive updates and reminders on what’s cool in road cycling?
