Stage 6: Wellens wins, Dumoulin defends pink

Ever the opportunist, Tim Wellens attacked Thursday’s breakaway early on the finishing climb to win stage 6 of the Giro d’Italia. It was Lotto – Soudal rider’s first career grand tour stage win. The race’s first uphill finish was a good day for men from the low country. In addition to the 25-year-old Belgian’s win, Dutchman Tom Dumoulin defended his race lead with panache, attacking the peloton in the final kilometers to extend his GC lead after 157km of racing to Roccaraso, Italy.

“It was ideal with Pim Ligthart attacking from the front,” Wellens said of his teammate who aided in the breakaway. “We bridged to the front leaders, and the front leaders were already tired. On the last climb I was the strongest. I had a very good feeling.”

Stage 6, top 10 1. Tim WELLENS, LOTTO SOUDAL, in 4:40:05 2. Jakob FUGLSANG, ASTANA PRO TEAM, at 1:19 3. Ilnur ZAKARIN, TEAM KATUSHA, at 1:19 4. Tom DUMOULIN, TEAM GIANT – ALPECIN, at 1:22 5. Kanstantsin SIUTSOU, DIMENSION DATA, at 1:24 6. Domenico POZZOVIVO, AG2R LA MONDIALE, at 1:24 7. Jhoan Esteban CHAVES RUBIO, ORICA – GreenEDGE, at 1:29 8. Rigoberto URAN URAN, CANNONDALE PRO CYCLING TEAM, at 1:33 9. Rafal MAJKA, TINKOFF, at 1:33 10. Alejandro VALVERDE BELMONTE, MOVISTAR TEAM, at 1:36

Top-10 overall 1. Tom DUMOULIN, TEAM GIANT – ALPECIN, in 24:22:15 2. Jakob FUGLSANG, ASTANA PRO TEAM, at :26 3. Ilnur ZAKARIN, TEAM KATUSHA, at :28 4. Bob …

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