Giro 2014: Stage Report Stage 6: Matthews wins in pink

Michael Matthews was expected to lose the pink jersey today. Instead, he found himself with an opportunity to win the stage, and took it with both hands. Evans was the big winner on GC. (Slideshow route/profile)

All wild card teams were present in the breakaway today with Andrea Fedi (Neri Sottoli), Marco Bandiera (Androni Giocattoli), Edoardo Zardini (Bardiani-CSF) and Rodolfo Andres Torres (Colombia) forming the escape. After 77 kilometres, they had built up a maximum gap of 14 minutes. They were eventually caught before the final climb to Montecassino.

Just before the climb began there was a huge crash at a round-about, with Giampaolo Caruso’s race over and many others hitting the deck.

The crash held up a lot of the favourites and BMC pushed the pace hard as Cadel Evans had made it through with Daniel Oss and Steve Morabito for help. Also making it through was race leader Matthews who outsprinted Tim Wellens and Evans to take the win in pink.

Evans moves into 2nd overall with a significant cushion over race favourite Quintana. Other big favourite Joaquim Rodriguez lost over 7 minutes and the GC is surely over now for Purito.

Results 6th stage Giro 2014

1. Michael Matthews (Australia)
2. Tim Wellens (Belgium) s.t.
3. Cadel Evans (Australia) s.t.
4. Matteo Rabottini (Italy) s.t.
5. Ivan Santaromito (Italy) + 0.13
6. Steve Morabito (Switzerland) + 0.23
7. Wilco Kelderman (The Netherlands) + 0.49
8. Mauro Finetto (Italy) s.t.
9.Diego Ulissi (Italy) s.t.
10. Fabio Duarte (Colombia) s.t.

GC after stage 6
1. Michael Matthews (Australia)
2. Cadel Evans (Australia) + 0.21
3. Rigoberto Uran (Colombia) + 1.18
4. Rafal Majka (Poland) + 1.25
5. Steve Morabito (Switzerland) s.t.
6. Matteo Rabottini (Italy) s.t.
7. Ivan Santaromita (Italy) + 1.47
8. Fabio Aru (Italy) + 1.51
9. Tim Wellens (Belgium) + 1.52
10. Ivan Basso (Italy) + 2.06
11. Nairo Quintana (Colombia) +2.08