Another lumpy day awaits the peloton in the 2016 Vuelta a Espana, with a final 70 kilometres consisting of climbing and descending set to ensure only the strong survive. Join The Roar for live coverage of Stage 6 from 11pm (AEST).
After departing Monforte de Lemos, the riders face 90 kilometres of relatively flat roads, broken up with the occasional short hill.
This early terrain should allow a breakaway to form early and build a lead, and the profile lends itself perfectly to one of these opportunists securing a stage victory.
The only respite in the final 70 kilometres comes in the final approach to the finish. Amazingly, there is only one catergorised climb in this huge stretch of lumps, meaning today won’t prove decisive for the general classification riders.
The climb in question is the category 2 Alto Alenza, which measures 10.9 kilometres in length and averages 5.1 per cent, beginning 58 kilometres from the finish.
Surprisingly, the day’s intermediate sprint point is at the summit of the Alto Alenza.
After the descent, there are two more uncategorised climbs, with the final coming approximately five kilometres from the finish, allowing what’s sure to be a reduced peloton have a flat approach to the finish on narrow roads.
Prediction
Today sets up perfectly for the breakaway. General classification teams will have no interest in chasing, as this is not a decisive day in the battle for the overall victory, while sprinters’ teams will be put off by the punishing final 70 kilometres.
Riders like Luis Leon Sanchez, Thomas De Gendt, Jan Bakelants, Phillipe Gilbert, Simon Clarke, and Simon Gerrans will be desperate to get in the winning break on a stage that suits their characteristics so well.
Join us from 11pm AEST for live updates of the Vuelta a Espana as we follow this fascinating race through the early stages.
Ryan Day
Roar Guru
That will do it for tonight. Be sure to join us again tomorrow night for live coverage of stage 7. Good night.
Ryan Day
Roar Guru
General classification after stage 6: 1 Darwin Atapuma (Col) BMC Racing Team 21:45:21 2 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team 0:00:28 3 Christopher Froome (GBr) Team Sky 0:00:32 4 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team 0:00:38 5 Esteban Chaves (Col) Orica-BikeExchange 0:00:38 6 Samuel Sanchez (Spa) BMC Racing Team 0:01:07 7 Leopold Konig (Cze) Team Sky 0:01:12 8 Peter Kennaugh (GBr) Team Sky 0:01:14 9 Gianluca Brambilla (Ita) Etixx - Quick-Step 0:01:22 10 Simon Yates (GBr) Orica-BikeExchange 0:01:28 Yates sneaks into the top 10 with his win today.
Ryan Day
Roar Guru
Confirmed Top 10 on Stage 6: 1 Simon Yates (GBr) Orica-BikeExchange 2 Luis Leon Sanchez (Spa) Astana Pro Team 3 Fabio Felline (Ita) Trek-Segafredo 4 Ben Hermans (Bel) BMC Racing Team 5 Kenny Elissonde (Fra) FDJ 6 Daniel Moreno (Spa) Movistar Team 7 Mathias Frank (Swi) IAM Cycling 8 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team 9 Romain Hardy (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits 10 Simon Clarke (Aus) Cannondale-Drapac
Ryan Day
Roar Guru
No change in the General Classification. Atapuma retains the red jersey.
Ryan Day
Roar Guru
Top 7 on Stage 6: 1. Simon Yates (OBE) 2. Luis Leon Sanchez (AST) +20 3. Fabio Felline (TFS) +22 4. Ben Hermans (BMC) +22 5. Kenny Elissonde (FDJ) +22 6. Daniel Moreno (MOV) +22 7. Mathias Frank (IAM) +22
Ryan Day
Roar Guru
Yates took his opportunity on the final climb when Moreno jumped from the peloton. He proved too strong for Moreno and went alone across to Frank who had nothing to fight with allowing Yates to ride solo to the line and in the end take a comfortable victory. Quite a comeback after the mix-up with his asthma medication prevented him from riding the tour. Chaves the first to congratulate him. What a couple of months for the Yates brothers.
Ryan Day
Roar Guru
Simon Yates is in the finishing straight. He zips up his jersey and raises his arms and punches his chest. What a win for Yates and Orica Bike Exchange.
Ryan Day
Roar Guru
Yates closing in on the finish and his lead is 29 seconds. Victory appears to be his.
Ryan Day
Roar Guru
Yates is extending his lead as Hermans looks for assistance with the chase. Yates leads by 26 seconds with 1km to go.
Ryan Day
Roar Guru
Timing is showing that Yates has 20 seconds. The peloton is completely disorganised behind. Hermans, Moreno, and Frank are together and chasing but Yates has 23 seconds with 2km to go.
Ryan Day
Roar Guru
Ben Hermans is trying to join Moreno and Frank to chase down Yates who leads alone with 2.8km remaining.
Ryan Day
Roar Guru
Yates has caught Frank as Moreno gives chase. Yates goes straight past frank and is riding strongly with 3.5km to go.
Ryan Day
Roar Guru
4km to go. Frank leads as Moreno and Yates close in on the climb. A BMC rider is coming across also. Yates goes alone.
Ryan Day
Roar Guru
Daniel Moreno attacks from the peloton and is followed by Simon Yates.
Ryan Day
Roar Guru
Peloton stretched out behind Movistar as Frank leads by 25 seconds although it looks less on the road.
Ryan Day
Roar Guru
The riders are on the steepest section of the climb as the peloton nearly has Frank in sight.
Ryan Day
Roar Guru
Frank leads Zeits and Bakelants by 20 seconds and the peloton by 39 seconds. The peloton is closing fast as they swallow up Bakelants and Zeits.
Ryan Day
Roar Guru
Frank is on the climb as Bakelants and Zeits make the turn onto the climb with the peloton very close behind.
Ryan Day
Roar Guru
The roads are very narrow now as they approach the final climb.
Ryan Day
Roar Guru
7km to go for Frank. He leads Bakelants and Zeits by 24 seconds. However the Movistar led peloton is closing in.