Giro d’Italia: Pelayo Sanchez, victory and tears in Rapolano. Pogacar still in pink

Giro d'Italia: Pelayo Sanchez, victory and tears in Rapolano

Pelayo Sanchez of the Movistar Team won the sixth stage of Giro d'Italia number 107, the 180-kilometer Torre del Lago Puccini (Viareggio)-Rapolano Terme stage with a dirt section. The Spanish cyclist, in his first victory in the pink race, finished ahead of Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal Quick-Step) and Luke Plapp (Team Jayco AlUla) in second and third place respectively.

Tadej Pogacar of (UAE Team Emirates) è remained in the pink jersey with a 46-second advantage in the overall standings over Geraint Thomas and 47 over Daniel Felipe Martinez. 

Così Sanchez, very moved after the stage win: "I still don’t realize what I did. I am speechless. From the beginning of the year, the plan was to save energy in the first stages for today. I planned to win from a breakaway, but it was difficult. I did my best to save energy for the finale by trying to stay calm when everyone was attacking. I tried to break away from Plapp and Alaphilippe, but it was impossible. The only way to win was from the sprint. This è my first Giro d'Italia. To win a stage here è just crazy".

Pogacar è said he was satisfied: "For us è it was perfect that the breakaway came, becauseé I didné want to spend too much energy on the dirt road and hills. Even if Luke Plapp had taken the Pink Jersey it would have been fine. It was nice to race again on the Strade Bianche trails, I had good legs today and I hope they will be good legs tomorrow for the time trial".