Tirreno-Adriatico 2018 Stage 6: Sprint win Kittel, Kwiatkowski retains in yellow

The Tirreno-Adriatico's 6th stage is tailor made for fast finishers. Marcel Kittel grabs the opportunity to outsprint Peter Sagan and Maximiliano Richeze. Michal Kwiatkowski is still leading the overall classification. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 6th stage 2018 Tirreno-Adriatico

1. Marcel Kittel (ger)
2. Peter Sagan (svk) s.t.
3. Maximiliano Richeze (arg) s.t.
4. Sacha Modolo (ita) s.t.
5. Zdenek Stybar (cze) s.t.
6. Jens Debusschere (bel) s.t.
7. Marco Canola (ita) s.t.
8. Simone Consonni (ita) s.t.
9. Eduard Michael Grosu (rom) s.t.
10. Rick Zabel (ger) s.t.

GC after 6th stage
1. Michal Kwiatkowski (pol)
2. Damiano Caruso (ita) + 0.03
3. Mikel Landa (spa) + 0.23
4. Geraint Thomas (gbr) + 0.29
5. Rigoberto Uran (col) + 0.34
6. Adam Yates (gbr) + 0.36
7. Davide Formolo (ita) + 0.37
8. Tiesj Benoot (bel) + 0.39
9. George Bennett (nld) + 0.41
10. Jaime Roson Garcia (spa) + 0.47

Race report
Breakaway boy Jacopo Mosca attacks once the flag is dropped. He is more less hosting the breaks at this year's Tirreno-Adriatico. This time he is accompanied by Marcus Burghardt, Artem Nytsj and Krists Neilands. The four open up a gap of more than 3 minutes.

When the lead falls below 3 minutes with still 75 kms to go, Burghardt heads out on his own. He widens the gap to almost 4 minutes, but 19 kms before the line the German is almost brought back.

With almost 8 kms remaining Fernando Gaviria causes a crash and he is out of contention for the stage win, while Peter Sagan is forced to chase. He hooks on 4 kms before the finish and 2.5 kms later he is back at the front of the race.

Does he pay for those efforts? Marcel Kittel sprints to victory, but Sagan almost overhauls the big German on the line. Gaviria's lead-out man Maximiliano Richeze finishes in third place.