Vuelta a Espana stage 6 highlights - Video

Chris Froome checks behind during stage 6 at the Vuelta (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)

Stage 6 of the Vuelta a España, on paper, looked like a day for the breakaway, and indeed it was Tomasz Marczynski (Lotto Soudal) who won from the group of escapees. But there was no complacency in the group of overall contenders as Chris Froome (Team Sky) was repeatedly pressured by the attacks from Alberto Contador (Trek-Segafredo).

Vuelta a Espana: Marczynski wins stage 6 in Sagunto

Contador rattles race favorites in brutal Vuelta a Espana stage

Vuelta a Espana: Froome refuses to rule Contador out of GC battle

Van Garderen remains firmly in Vuelta a Espana GC battle despite double crash

Bardet's Vuelta a Espana hopes evaporate in Valencia

Betancur abandons Vuelta a Espana with fractured ankle and facial injuries

Vuelta a Espana breakaway a day of suffering for Morton

Poljanski close to breakthrough Vuelta a Espana stage win

QuickStep-Floors continue bid for more Vuelta a Espana stage wins

Vuelta a Espana: Orica-Scott pass stage 6 challenge

The Spaniard, racing in his final Grand Tour before retiring, used the category 3 Puerto del Garbi to whittle down the group of the race leader Froome, isolating him from his Sky teammates. However, a crash in the group from Tejay van Garderen (BMC) left the pair without impetus into the headwind on the 35km drop to the finish and a large group of the main contenders rejoined.

David de la Cruz (Quick-Step Floors) and Simon Yates (Orica-Scott) never rejoined the group with Froome, and lost 17 seconds. The former dropped to seventh, and Van Garderen, who crashed again after making it across to the Froome group, fell to fourth.