RAPOLANO TERME, Italy: Pelayo Sanchez celebrated his inaugural victory in a Grand Tour stage by edging out two-time world champion Julian Alaphilippe in a thrilling sprint to claim the sixth stage of the Giro d’Italia. The 24-year-old Spaniard expressed astonishment as he crossed the finish line ahead of the Frenchman on the challenging uphill stretch in Rapolano Terme.
The breakaway trio, including Sanchez, Alaphilippe, and Luke Plapp of Jayco Alula, battled fiercely, with Plapp settling for the final podium spot after fading slightly near the end.
Meanwhile, Tadej Pogacar, the two-time Tour de France champion, continued his dominant performance, maintaining his lead in the overall standings for the sixth consecutive day, with a 46-second advantage over Geraint Thomas of Britain.
Reflecting on his victory, Sanchez revealed his strategy of conserving energy throughout the demanding stage, which featured sections of the iconic white gravel roads of Tuscany known from the one-day Strade Bianchi race.
“I’m beyond words. It’s incredible,” Sanchez exclaimed. “I anticipated a grueling day, full throttle from start to finish. I patiently awaited my opportunity. As the race progressed and attacks ensued, I seized my moment.”
The upcoming stage seven on Friday presents a 38.5km individual time trial from Foligno to Perugia, culminating with a challenging 6.6km climb at the conclusion.
