Thor Hushovd (Cervélo TestTeam) won the sixth stage of the Vuelta a España between Caravaca de la Cruz and Murcia at the head of a much reduced peloton. The Norwegian champion outsprinted Italian Daniele Bennati (Liquigas-Doimo) and Slovenian Grega Bole (Lampre-Farnese Vini) at the end of the short 151km stage.
A flat finish in the city of Murcia looked ideal for the sprinters, but the inclusion of a second category climb inside the final 20km meant that it was a tough job for them to make it to the line with the leaders.
“I knew that the climb was good for me and I was very motivated for today’s stage,” said Hushovd after the stage. “I thought that sprinters like Farrar and Cavendish wouldn’t be able to make it over, I would have a good chance at victory.
“I was on the second or third wheel at the base of the climb and then I lost contact with about 1.5km to go, then I regained contact on the descent. My teammates did a great job and they all started to ride for me. I am very happy to win.”
As soon as the flag was dropped for the start of the stage at Caravaca de la Cruz, Freddy Bichot (Bbox Bouyges Telecom) tried to get away. He was caught within a few kilometres, which was the cue for Markus Eichler (Milram) to try his luck. The German managed to get a gap over the peloton and over the next 20km he continued alone, chased by Bichot and Juan Estrada (Andalucia-Cajasur); the three riders came together at the 25km point and were 5’24” ahead.
With the peloton, led by race leader Philippe Gilbert’s OmegaPharma-Lotto team, allowing the trio to get away its advantage reached a maximium of 9’17” after 36km, before the Cofidis team decided to work. The gap came down steadily until the race reached the feedzone at 80km, when it dropped below 4 minutes; the Cofidis team stopped chasing at this point and it began to increase once more.
After 100km, with the breakaway’s lead back up to 6’15”, the Katusha team moved to the front. The Russian team’s captain currently sits third overall, 10 seconds behind Gilbert, but the stage was also well suited to former Italian champion Filippo Pozzato. Within 20km the deficit had been reduced to just 2’30” and the 2nd category Alto de la Cresta del Gallo was approaching.
With 25km remaining the Liquigas-Doimo team came to the front and the gap came down even quicker; as the climb began a few kilometres later it had been reduced to less than a minute.
On the early slopes of the climb Eichler was immediately in trouble and, sensing that Estrada was also slowing, Bichot tried to go it alone. The peloton was right on his heels by now though and he was soon caught as the Katusha team set the pace.
The Russian team, led by Alexandr Kolobnev and Vladimir Karpets, continued to lead the peloton; the pace set was such that no one was able to launch an attach, but a great number of riders were dropped off the back. As the peloton approached the top of the climb it was reduced to just 40 riders.
Karpets led the diminished peloton across the summit, with 17km to go; race leader Gilbert was right behind him.
As the descent began Pozzato tried to get away and he was immediately followed by Gilbert. As the pair was caught with 13km to go, Dmitriy Fofonov (Astana) got away, but the Cervélo TestTeam joined Katusha in the chase and caught the Kazakh rider with just 7km to go.
Carlos Barredo (Quick Step) had a brief attempt to escape, but the pace set by the Cervélo TestTeam was too high. Meanwhile though, a second group that included Bennati and Samuel Dumoulin (Cofidis) managed to join the back of the peloton; the Liquigas-Doimo team quickly brought its man forward.
As the peloton moved through the streets of Murcia, the Astana team brought Allan Davis to the front, but it was OmegaPharma-Lotto on behalf of Gilbert that led into the final kilometre.
Into the closing metres though, it was Hushovd against Bennati and the Norwegian came out on top.
Gilbert and all the other overall contenders finished in the front group and so there are no changes to the top of the classification.
Result stage 6
1. Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervélo TestTeam
2. Daniele Bennati (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo
3. Grega Bole (Lampre-Farese Vini)
4. Allan Davis (Aus) Team Astana
5. Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Team Katusha
6. Philippe Gilbert (Bel) OmegaPharma-Lotto
7. Peter Velits (Svk) HTC-Columbia
8. Pablo Urtasun (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
9. Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Cofidis
10. Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R-La Mondiale
Standings after stage 6
1. Philippe Gilbert (Bel) OmegaPharma-Lotto
2. Igor Antón (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi @ 10s
3. Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha
4. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo @ 12s
5. Peter Velits (Svk) HTC-Columbia @ 16s
6. Tejay Van Garderen (USA) HTC-Columbia @ 29s
7. Xavier Tondo (Spa) Cervélo TestTeam @ 49s
8. Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank @ 50s
9. Ruben Plaza (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne @ 54s
10. Ezequiel Mosquera (Spa) Xacobeo-Galicia @ 55s