Giro 2024: Sánchez wins three-up sprint, Pogacar still leader

foto: Cor VosAt the end of a compelling race through enchanting Tuscany it comes down to a three-up sprint. Pelayo Sánchez outguns Julian Alaphilippe and Luke Plapp, while Tadej Pogacar retains the maglia rosa. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 6th stage 2024 Giro

1. Pelayo Sánchez (spa)
2. Julian Alaphilippe (fra) s.t.
3. Luke Plapp (aus) + 0.01
4. Andrea Piccolo (ita) + 0.24
5. Jhonatan Narváez (col) + 0.29
6. Luka Mezgec (slo) s.t.
7. Quinten Hermans (bel) s.t.
8. Nick Schultz (aus) s.t.
9. Daniel Felipe Martínez (col) s.t.
10. Alexey Lutsenko (kaz) s.t.

GC after stage 6
1. Tadej Pogacar (slo)
2. Geraint Thomas (gbr) + 0.46
3. Daniel Felipe Martínez (col) + 0.47
4. Cian Uijtdebroeks (bel) + 0.55
5. Einer Rubio (col) + 0.56
6. Lorenzo Fortunato (ita) + 1.07
7. Juan Pedro López (spa) + 1.11
8. Jan Hirt (cze) + 1.13
9. Esteban Chaves (col) + 1.26
10. Ben O’Connor (aus) s.t.

Race report
A lot of movement from the start, but there is still no break when the riders tackle the climb to Volterra. Then Valentin Paret-Peintre and Ewen Costiou give it a dig. But the peloton overhauls the two before Mikkel Honoré, Alessandro de Marchi, Jenthe Biermans, and Giulio Pellizzari jump off the front. Also to no avail. Attacks keeps flying and eventually Julian Alaphilippe, Filippo Fiorelli en Valentin Paret-Peintre reach the Tuscan town in first position.

The lead group expands into a small bunch. Kaden Groves, Julian Alaphilippe, and Pelayo Sánchez break away from this pack before Luke Plapp, Matteo Trentin, and Filippo Fiorelli rejoin them. Andrea Vendrame makes it seven at the front just before the intermediate sprint.

The leaders open up a gap of over 3 minutes before it drops below 2 minutes on the first gravel sector. This inspires Plapp to head out alone. Sánchez and Alaphilippe bridge across.

Sánchez misses a corner just before the penultimate climb, causing him and Alaphilippe to lose contact with Plapp. However, the two manage to catch back up to the Australian Champion on the steep slopes.

The three crest the last ramp 25 seconds ahead of the GC group. Andrea Piccolo jumps away and tries to bridge across to the front in the undulating final phase, but he doesn’t succeed.

The attackers battle it out for the win. Alaphilippe opens the sprint, but he can’t keep up when Sánchez comes charging past. The 24-year-old Spaniard takes the spoils ahead of the former World Champion, while Plapp comes home in third position.

The GC remains the same, with Pogacar leading by a comfortable margin.

Another interesting read: route 6th stage 2024 Giro.