Vuelta 2016 Stage 6: Simon Yates powers to victory, Atapuma retains in lead

At 163.2 kilometres, stage 6 of the Vuelta is marked by an interesting finale. At a 2 kilometres climb with 5 kilometres left Simon Yates attacks. He eats early escapee Mathias Frank for breakfast to solo to victory. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 6th stage Vuelta

1. Simon Yates (gbr)
2. Luis León Sánchez (spa) + 0.20
3. Fabio Felline (ita) + 0.22
4. Ben Hermans (bel) s.t.
5. Kenny Elissonde (fra) s.t.
6. Daniel Moreno (spa) s.t.
7. Mathias Frank (swi) s.t.
8. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 0.29
9. Romain Hardy (fra) s.t.
10. Simon Clarke (aus) s.t.

14. Esteban Chaves (col) s.t.
15. Alberto Contador (spa) s.t.
16. Darwin Atapuma (col) s.t.
20. Chris Froome (gbr) s.t.
22. Samuel Sánchez (spa) s.t.
29. Andrew Talansky (usa) s.t.
30. Louis Meintjes (rsa) s.t.

GC after 6th stage
1. Darwin Atapuma (col)
2. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 0.28
3. Chris Froome (gbr) + 0.32
4. Nairo Quintana (col) + 0.38
5. Esteban Chaves (col) s.t.
6. Samuel Sánchez (spa) + 1.07
7. Leopold König (cze) + 1.12
8. Peter Kennaugh (gbr) + 1.14
9. Gianluca Brambilla (ita) + 1.22
10. Simon Yates (gbr) + 1.28

12. Alberto Contador (spa) + 1.52
15. Andrew Talansky (usa) + 2.13
24. Louis Meintjes (rsa) + 3.10

Race report
Despite a multitude of attacks, it’s only with 45 kms done the party gets going when Laurent Didier, Jan Bakelants, Gert Dockx, Alberto Losada, Andrey Zeits, Kevin Reza, Omar Fraile, Mathias Frank, Valerio Conti, José Mendes and Gregor Muhlberger manage to force a gap. They race to a lead at over 2 minutes. There it lingers.

When hitting the Alto Alenza the lead is down to around 1 minute when Fraile goes solo. The gap grows to more almost 3 minutes when cresting. His former breakaway companions Bakelants, Didier, Zeits, Losado and Frank are 1 minute down on him.

In the descent Losado gets dropped, while the peloton comes creeping up closer.

Didier has to let go with 22 kms left and the other three chasers re-join the front of the race with 19 kms remaining. Frank doesn’t falter and he goes solo.

Bakelants and Zeits are brought back with 5 kms to go, while Dani Moreno and Simon Yates go on the attack a little later. The Briton jumps to Frank and he forges on alone. Ben Hermans, Luis León Sánchez, Fabio Felline and Kenny Elissonde – they all try to change the course of the race, yet Yates is simply too strong and he powers to a smart victory.