Giro 2017: Dillier bests Stuyven in two-up sprint, Jungels still in pink

The 6th stage in the Giro runs from Reggio Calabria to Terme Luigiane, while the route amounts to 207 kilometres. Five escapees fight for glory, but eventually the race comes down to a two-up sprint with Silvan Dillier besting Jasper Stuyven. Bob Jungels holds on to pink. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 6th stage 2017 Giro d’Italia

1. Silvan Dillier (swi)
2. Jasper Stuyven (bel) s.t.
3. Lukas Pöstlberger (aut) + 0.12
4. Simone Andreetta (ita) + 0.26
5. Michael Woods (can) + 0.39
6. Adam Yates (gbr) s.t.
7. Wilco Kelderman (nld) s.t.
8. Bob Jungels (lux) s.t.
9. Bauke Mollema (nld) s.t.
10. Geraint Thomas (gbr) s.t.

11. Nairo Quintana (col) s.t.
12. Vincenzo Nibali (ita) s.t.
13. Tom Dumoulin (nld) s.t.
14. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) s.t.
15. Andrey Amador (crc) s.t.
17. Thibaut Pinot (fra) s.t.
22. Tejay van Garderen (usa) s.t.
26. Ilnur Zakarin (rus) s.t.

GC after 6th stage
1. Bob Jungels (lux)
2. Geraint Thomas (gbr) + 0.06
3. Adam Yates (gbr) + 0.10
4. Vincenzo Nibali (ita) s.t.
5. Domenico Pozzovivo (ita) s.t.
6. Nairo Quintana (col) s.t.
7. Tom Dumoulin (nld) s.t.
8. Bauke Mollema (nld) s.t.
9. Tejay van Garderen (usa) s.t.
10. Andrey Amador (crc) s.t.

11. Thibaut Pinot (fra) s.t.
12. Mikel Landa (spa) s.t.
13. Davide Formolo (ita) s.t.
14. Ilnur Zakarin (rus) + 0.14
15. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) + 0.23
16. Wilco Kelderman (nld) s.t.

Race report
Following an extremely fast start Pöstlberger, Pedersen and Stuyven are the first to break. They race to a lead of more than 3 minutes before Andreetta and Dillier chase them down. With five the gap widens to almost 9 minutes.

Pedersen can’t follow the pace on the Fuscaldo-climb, that’s crested with 23 kms left with the peloton more than 3 minutes in arrears. A little later the 21-year old Danish rider re-joins the front.

The peloton stops chasing, so it’s clear the escapees are going to fight for stage victory. But not Pedersen and Andreetta though, as they don’t survive when the finish approaches

With three Stuyven, Pöstlberger and Dillier hit the last climb. No attacks until Dillier accelerates with around 200 metres to go. Pöstlberger is out of contention, but Stuyven fights back on the uphill drag to the line. The Flemish rider swoops on the Swiss’ rear wheel and there it stops. Dillier holds on to take his first win in a Grand Tour.

Bob Jungels finishes safely in the main field to hold on to the maglia rosa.

Check out the route of the 6th stage in the 2017 Giro.