Tour de Suisse 2022: Denz triumphs at Moosalp, Fuglsang still leader

foto: Cor VosIt comes down to a five-up sprint at the end of a race with 4,208 vertical metres. Nico Denz wins stage 6 ahead of Clément Champousin, Quinn Simmons, Fausto Masnada and José Herrada. Jakob Fuglsang stays in the leader's jersey. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 6th stage 2022 Tour de Suisse

1. Nico Denz (ger)
2. Clément Champousin (fra) s.t.
3. José Herrada (spa) s.t.
4. Quinn Simmons (usa) s.t.
5. Fausto Masnada (ita) + 0.11
6. Quinten Pacher (fra) + 1.33
7. Roland Thalmann (swi) + 1.46
8. Geraint Thomas (gbr) + 2.14
9. Sergio Higuita (col) s.t.
10. Jakob Fuglsang (den) s.t.

11. Felix Großschartner (aut) s.t.
13. Domenico Pozzovivo (ita) s.t.
16. Neilson Powless (usa) + 2.18
17. Andreas Leknessund (nor) + 2.22
19. Stefan Küng (swi) + 2.53
26. Andreas Kron (den) + 3.06
27. Sébastien Reichenbach (swi) s.t.

GC after stage 6
1. Jakob Fuglsang (den)
2. Geraint Thomas (gbr) + 0.01
3. Sergio Higuita (col) + 0.10
4. Neilson Powless (usa) + 0.26
5. Felix Großschartner (aut) + 0.34
6. Andreas Leknessund (den) + 0.46
7. Stefan Küng (swi) + 0.49
8. Andreas Kron (den) + 1.00
9. Domenico Pozzovivo (ita) + 1.07
10. Sébastien Reichenbach (swi) + 1.29

Race report
COVID-19 decimates the peloton with 30 riders. Tom Pidcock and overnight leader Aleksandr Vlasoc are among the victims.

The other riders clip into their pedals in Locarno before Fausto Masnada, Quentin Pacher and Nelson Oliveira initiate the breakaway. Clément Champousin, Roland Thalmann, Andrea Pasqualon, Brent Van Moer, José Herrada, Nico Denz, Dion Smith and Quinn Simmons chase them down before Michael Matthews is the last rider to make it across in a long chase.

While Smith drops back on the Nufenen Pass, the other attackers extend their lead to 7.30 minutes.

Masnada and Denz are the remaining attackers in the last 11 kilometres of the finish climb before Champoussin and Herrada regain contact with 4 kilometres to go. The tempo drops in the last kilometres, offering Simmons the chance to come back also.

The American opens the sprint and when he runs out of steam Champousin comes charging past him. The Frenchman seems to heading for victory until Denz bests him wilt an ultimate jump to the line.

Thomas wins the sprint of the GC favorites but without hurting Fuglsang. The Dane is still the race leader, 1 second ahead of the Welshman.

Another interesting read: route 6th stage 2022 Tour de Suisse.