An opportunity for the peloton to have a relatively easy day after three arduous medium mountain stages, the 2015 Giro d’Italia continues with an 183 kilometre-long sprint stage from Montecatini Terme to Castiglione Della Pescaia. Join The Roar for live coverage of Stage 6 from 11:30pm (AEST).
After gaining the Maglia Rosa yesterday on the Abetone summit finish, the Tinkoff–Saxo team will be in for a long day of setting the pace in the peloton, such is the responsibility of leading a Grand Tour.
Eventually the sprinters’ teams should takeover the responsibility of bringing back any breakaways, however you can be sure they will leave it as late as possible.
While classified as a sprint stage the parcours features one Category 4 climb and several unclassified lumps and bumps, with the categorised Pomarance climb (6.3km at 4.4 per cent) reaching a maximum grade of 11 per cent. So the peloton need to drag themselves over an undulating middle third of the stage before reaching the finish.
The final 20 kilometres of the stage will be flat as a pancake as the peloton ride towards the Tirreno Sea, with the prospect of a mild headwind or cross-headwind. Current forecasts are predicting 15-20kmh strong south to south-easterly winds en route to the coastal port of Castiglione Della Pescaia.
Coming in to town for the predicted sprint finish are two 90-degree bends and one small roundabout. The first 90-degree (left-hand) bend arrives with 2.7 kilometres to go, the second (right-hand) bend with just 2.3 kilometres to go, and the roundabout with just 1500 metres to go.
The final 1000 metres of the stage will be on an almost dead straight 7.5-metre-wide asphalt road set back one block from the nearby beach front. As a result lead-out trains should play a influential role, stringing out the peloton to secure superior road position heading in to the sprint often a crucial aspect.
On paper the finale looks perfectly suited to Lotto–Soudal’s Andre Greipel, and without a victory so far this Giro he will be keen to reassert his superiority. The German’s supporting cast however will need to be prepared for a tough fight up against the other teams’ sprint trains.
The Italian favourite for today will likely be Team Sky’s Elia Viviani, who still wears the Maglia Rossa (red jersey) of the points classification. While the Italian will be without much of a lead-out as the team looks after team leader Richie Porte, if he can shadow the right wheels to the front of the pack he will put in a very competitive performance.
Bringing a dedicated team for the sprint stages to the Giro, there will be an onus Trek Factory Racing to snatch the stage honours. The team will likely be riding in support of Giacomo Nizzolo similar to Stage 2, won by Viviani.
Another team who should be very competitive in the finale are Giant–Alpecin, as the German team look to secure at least one stage victory with Luka Mezgec. While they are not here with their very best lead-out riders, as long as they can nail the consistency usually associated with their sprint trains Mezgec should be up there fighting for stage honours.
With a lead-out containing the likes of Maximiliano Richeze and Roberto Ferrai it would be foolish to overlook the chances of Lampre–Merida’s Sacha Modolo. No matter if the road is flat or at an incline the Italian can be expected to be fiercely competitive, even up against some of the very best sprinters.
Other sprinters in with an outside chance of claiming the stage honours include IAM Cycling’s Matteo Pelucchi, Orica-GreenEDGE’s Michael Matthews, Bardiani – CSF’s Nicola Ruffoni, Etixx–Quick-Step’s Tom Boonen, Movistar’s J.J Lobato and LottoNL–Jumbo’s Moreno Hofland.
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
That is all from me tonight and Stage 6 of the 2015 Giro d'Italia. Ciao! Join us again tomorrow for Stage 7, which should be brought to you by Scott Pryde.
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Word from the Tinkoff - Saxo press officer in that Alberto Contador has a sore knee and bad shoulder. The team will need to seek further medical advice and X-Rays before knowing the true extent of the possible injuries.
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Regardless, here is the currently top 10 in the general classification as it stands. 2015 Giro d'Italia - General Classification Top 10 after Stage 6: 01st. Alberto Contador of Tinkoff - Saxo... 02nd. Fabio Aru of Astana Pro Team... +0:02" 03rd. Richie Porte of Team Sky... +0:20" 04th. Roman Kreuziger of Tinkoff Saxo... +0:22" 05th. Dario Cataldo of Astana Pro Team... +0:28" 06th. Esteban Chaves of Orica - GreenEDGE... +0:37" 07th. Giovanni Visconti of Team Movistar... +0:56" 08th. Mikel Landa of Astana Pro Team... +1:01" 09th. Davide Formolo of Team Cannondale - Garmin... +1:15" 10th. Andrey Amador of Team Movistar... +1:18"
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
We're going to have to wait until tomorrow to see what the damage is for Alberto Contador after being caught up in the Daniele Colli crash.
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
At the podium presentation for the Maglia Rosa Alberto Contador has to graciously decline to put the pink jersey on due to what appears to be an issue with his left arm!
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
2015 Giro d'Italia: Stage 6 - Top 10 Finishers (Provisional) 01st. Andre Greipel of Lotto Soudal 02nd. Matteo Pelucchi of IAM Cycling 03rd. Sacha Modolo of Lampre - Merida 04th. Manuel Belletti of Southeast 05th. Giacomo Nizzolo of Trek Factory Racing 06th. Alessandro Petacchi of Southeast 07th. Elia Viviani of Team Sky 08th. Luka Mezgec of Giant - Alpecin 09th. Nicola Ruffoni of Bardiani - CSF 10th. Davide Appollonio of Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec In 11th just outside the top 10 was LottoNL - Jumbo's Moreno Hofland.
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Coming up, the provisional top 10 for tonight's sixth stage of the 2015 Giro d'Italia.
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Daniele Colli seems to be the Nippo - Vini Fantini rider who will be leaving the race tonight with what looks to be a suspected broken arm.
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
No changes in the provisional standings of the General Classification at the conclusion of today's stage. Any riders affected crashes or mechanicals within the final 3km covered by the "inside 3km" rule.
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Alberto Contador appears to be alright after his crash, meanwhile the Nippo - Vini Fantini rider is still being attended to by the medics after going down heavily in the crash.
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
So Andre Greipel wins the stage ahead of Matteo Pelucchi and Sascha Modolo!
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Lampre - Merida's Sacha Modolo looks to have rounded out the podium in third.
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Several riders have been affected by the crash behind. It looks like Alberto Contador is one of the riders on the floor!
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Andre Greipel of Lotto Soudal wins Stage 6 ahead of Matteo Pelucchi of IAM Cycling by the looks of it!
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
There is a crash in the peloton within the final 500 metres!
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Andre Greipel well positioned as Greg Henderson fires off the sprint!
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Lampre - Merida and Lotto Soudal fighting for pole position within the final 1000 metres now!
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
1500 metres to go! Trek Factory Racing and Lampre - Merida try to claim pole position in front of Greipel now!
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Just three riders in front of Andre Greipel, so it will be interesting to see if the Belgian squad can hold it to the line.
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Andre Greipel's Lotto Soudal team have now returned to the front with just 2000 metres remaining to set up the hulking German for a possible stage victory.