Soudal Quick-Step’s Frenchman receives most combative prize after a valiant ride on stage six.
Julian Alaphilippe came close to completing his set of stage victories in all three Grand Tours after a fantastic day of racing at the Giro d’Italia. The two-time World Champion, a winner of Strade Bianche five years ago, was incredibly active from the gun, launching several attempts to book a place in the breakaway of the stage that travelled from Viareggio to Rapolano Terme.
Attacks came thick and fast, a host of riders trying to gain ground on the peloton, but the latter reacted each time and shut down all these moves. More riders countered on the flat roads leading to the first classified climb of the day, but it was only once they got on the slopes of the Volterra, where Alaphilippe continued to press on, that a move went clear. The original trio were joined by three more men, and together they took their advantage to a full three minutes by the time they tackled the first of the three gravel sectors.
On the second white roads segment, Julian joined an attack of Luke Plapp (Jayco-AlUla) and Pelayo Sanchez (Movistar), as the others began struggling, and this newly-formed group continued to believe in their chances despite the gap dropping at a fast pace, only one minute separating them from the charging peloton inside 15 kilometers to go. A couple of minutes later, the margin stabilized around the 30-second mark, and the three kept taking turns at the front as they started the final climb to the finish.
Julian got out of the saddle and opened his sprint 150 meters from the line and left everything out there, but he was passed by Pelayo Sanchez in the closing 50 meters and had to settle for second – his first podium at the Giro d’Italia and a result that brought him the most combative rider of the day trophy.
“When I crossed the finish line I was disappointed, because I rode for victory the entire day and it would have been nice to get it. I gave my best and did a strong race, but another rider was faster in the end. On the other hand, I can be happy about the way I felt and the solid effort I could produce on such a hard stage. We’re only six days into the Giro and we’ll keep fighting, and hopefully we will have other opportunities before we reach Rome”, an upbeat Alaphilippe said after his 12th top three finish in a Grand Tour stage.
Photo credit: ©Tim De Waele / Getty Images
