Valentina Scandolara (MCipollini-Giordana) took her biggest victory of the season as she escaped the peloton to win the sixth stage of the Thüringen-Rundfahrt, in Schmölln. The 23-year-old Italian managed to hold off the chasing pack around the complicated, cobbled final kilometre, to finish ten seconds clear of the sprint for second place, which was won by Netherlands champion Lucinda Brand (Rabobank-Liv/Giant), ahead of compatriot Adrie Visser (Boels-Dolmans).
Yellow jersey Emma Johansson (Orica-AIS) escaped a late crash scare, where she was delayed by the falling Annemiek van Vleuten (Rabobank-Liv/Giant) in the final kilometres, but was awarded the same time as Brand and headed into the final day with her overall lead intact.
There were several attempted breakaways in the early kilometres but nobody was able to escape, and the peloton hit the first intermediate sprint all together. It was taken by third overall Lisa Brennauer (Specialized-lululemon) ahead of teammate Trixi Worrack and fifth overall Anna van der Breggen (Sengers Ladies), which had the effect of giving the German rider the third place outright, ahead of Linda Villumsen (Wiggle Honda) and van der Breggen, with whom she began the day on equal time.
A move from Hanka Kupfernagel (Germany) on the steep, cobbled Steilen Wand climb, but the former World time trial and cyclocross champion was closely marked, and only managed to split the peloton in two.
After 25km Worrack managed to get a little way clear with Swedish champion Emilia Fahlin (Hitec Products), but the two former teammates were not able to stay away for long as the Orica-AIS team chased them down. As they were caught, however, Wiles escaped and was able to get clear alone.
Celebrating her 24th birthday, the American reportedly experienced the German crowds singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to her as she built up a lead of almost a minute.
Wiles was first across the line at the second intermediate sprint, with Brennauer beating Johansson into second place, 35 seconds behind her, to move a little further clear of Villumsen and van der Breggen. Wiles was then also first over the second climb of the day, with mountains jersey leader Christine Majerus (Sengers Ladies) also beating Johansson to second place.
By the time she reached the second intermediate sprint, however, Wiles was just a handful of seconds ahead of the peloton, with Romy Kasper (Boels-Dolmans) the next to deny Johansson a second place, and the American was caught shortly afterwards.
There then followed an attack from Roxane Knetemann (Rabobank-Liv/Giant), who managed to stay away long enough to take the next intermediate sprint - again ahead of Kasper and Johansson - but was deemed to dangerous to be allowed to get much of a gap and was soon pulled back.
With 14km to go, however, Scandolara attacked and was able to get away and, despite a chase from those behind her, managed to stay away to win.
Van Vleuten crashed on the final descent, and Johansson was delayed by the incident, but the race leader lost no time since it happened inside the final three kilometres.
Result stage 6
1. Valentina Scandolara (Ita) MCipollini-Giordana
2. Lucinda Brand (Ned) Rabobank-Liv/Giant @ 10s
3. Adrie Visser (Ned) Boels-Dolmans
4. Elke Gebhardt (Ger) German National Team
5. Emily Collins (NZl) Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling
6. Tatiana Guderzo (Ita)
7. Beate Zanner (Ger) Maxx Solar-Stevens
8. Linda Villumsen (NZl) Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling
9. Amy Cure (Aus) Australian National Team
10. Lisa Brennauer (Ger) Specialized-lululemon
Standings after stage 6
1. Emma Johansson (Swe) Orica-AIS
2. Shara Gillow (Aus) Orica-AIS @ 32s
3. Lisa Brennauer (Ger) Specialized-lululemon @ 1’31”
4. Anna van der Breggen (Ned) Sengers Ladies @ 1’35”
5. Linda Villumsen (NZl) Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling @ 1’36”
6. Amanda Spratt (Aus) Orica-AIS @ 1’49”
7. Hanka Kupfernagel (Ger) German National Team @ 2’26”
9. Lucinda Brand (Ned) Rabobank-Liv/Giant @ 2’43”
8. Georgia Williams (NZl) Be Pink @ 2’48”
10. Annemiek van Vleuten (Ned) Rabobank-Liv/Giant @ 2’57”