Giro d'Italia: Lotto Soudal Bag Another Stage with Wellens & Stage 7 Preview

A stage of fearsome attacks, General Classification contenders toyed with each other forcing one of them to make a decisive move on the 157km stage in Italy.

On the top step of yesterday's podium was Tim Wellens, the 24 year old Belgian Lotto Soudal rider. Photo by Sirotti — On the top step of yesterday’s podium was Tim Wellens, the 24 year old Belgian Lotto Soudal rider. Photo by Sirotti

Tim Wellens was victorious on the first mountain stage of the Giro, taking the win by over a minute. Wellens’ winning move came at the foot of the last climb some 17 kilometers to the finish after he had bridged to the break that spent half of the day away from the peloton. The earlier counter attack to the leaders was marked by Trek-Segafredo rider Laurent Didier but Wellens had teammate Pim Ligthart along side of him.

Second, third and Fourth. Dumoulin retains the overall lead after his fourth place on Stage 6. Photo by Sirotti

Back in the main bunch pre-race favorite Vincenzo Nibali (ASTANA) tried to distance himself from the peloton to possibly try and move up the GC list. Nibali could hold his own pace and when he slowed current race leader Tom Dumoulin (GIANT) attack over the top of him. Dumoulin will retain his lead with a comfortable 26 second buffer after finishing fourth on Stage 6.

Top ten finishers of Stage 6:

1. Tim Wellens (Bel) – Lotto Soudal – 4:40:05
2. Jakob Fuglsang (Den) – Astana Pro Team – 0:01:19
3. Ilnur Zakarin (Rus) – Team Katusha – 0:01:19
4. Tom Dumoulin (Ned) – Team Giant-Alpecin – 0:01:22
5. Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr) – Dimension Data – 0:01:24
6. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) – AG2R La Mondiale – 0:01:24
7. Esteban Chaves (Col) – Orica-GreenEdge – 0:01:29
8. Rigoberto Uran (Col) – Cannondale Pro Cycling – 0:01:33
9. Rafal Majka (Pol) – Tinkoff Team – 0:01:33
10. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) – Movistar Team – 0:01:36

Thumbs up! Safe for another stage. Photo by Sirotti

General Classification after Stage 6:

1. Tom Dumoulin (Ned) – Team Giant-Alpecin – 24:22:15
2. Jakob Fuglsang (Den) – Astana Pro Team – 0:00:26
3. Ilnur Zakarin (Rus) – Team Katusha – 0:00:28
4. Bob Jungels (Lux) – Etixx – Quick-Step – 0:00:35
5. Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) – Team LottoNl-Jumbo – 0:00:38
6. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) – Movistar Team – 0:00:41
7. Diego Ulissi (Ita) – Lampre-Merida – 0:00:41
8. Esteban Chaves (Col) – Orica-GreenEdge – 0:00:44
9. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) – Astana Pro Team – 0:00:47
10. Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr) – Dimension Data – 0:00:49
11. Rigoberto Uran (Col) – Cannondale Pro Cycling – 0:00:51
12. Rafal Majka (Pol) – Tinkoff Team – 0:00:56
13. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) – AG2R La Mondiale – 0:00:56
14. Rein Taaramae (Est) – Team Katusha – 0:01:06
15. Mikel Landa Meana (Spa) – Team Sky – 0:01:08
16. Andrey Amador (CRc) – Movistar Team – 0:01:11
17. Michele Scarponi (Ita) – Astana Pro Team – 0:01:13
18. Sergey Firsanov (Rus) – Gazprom-Rusvelo – 0:01:14
19. Nicolas Roche (Irl) – Team Sky – 0:01:15
20. Stefano Pirazzi (Ita) – Bardiani CSF – 0:01:21

Stage 7 – SULMONA – FOLIGNO, 211km

The route

The stage is wavy, with a first climb starting just 11km after the start (Le Svolte di Popoli), followed by nearly 200km on wide and mostly straight roads, with roundabouts, speed bumps and traffic islands being the main obstacles typically found in urban areas (such as L’Aquila, Rieti, Terni, Spoleto). The final part of the route descends (or runs flat) all the way up to the final kilometres.

Stage 7 Profile

Final kms

The final kilometres are quite uncomplicated, up to 2,000m from the finish. Here, one right-hand bend quickly followed by two left-hand bends lead into the home stretch with 1,300m left to go. There is just one last, gentle bend 500m before the finish line, which lies on a 160m long and 7m wide asphalt straight.

Watch the action live on SBS Friday 13 May, 2230 – 0130 AEST.