Jimenez wins on Monte Assunção

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With a category two climb to the finish, the sixth stage of the Volta a Portugal turned into a tactical game of cat and mouse between the top contenders. Eladio Jimenez (CC de Loule) took advantage of his non-threatening position in the overall classification to escape a select lead group to win the stage atop the Monte Assunção.

The day began with a predictable breakaway going clear in the first few kilometres. 12 men went clear and gained a maximum 4'34 on the peloton.

Alejandro Marque (Palmeiras Resort / Tavira), Joao Benta (Madeinox Boavista), Bruno Castanheira and Bruno Pinto (Barbot - Siper), César Quiterio and Daniel Silva (Centro Cilismo De Loule - Louletano), Giairo Ermetti (LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini), Eloy Teruel (Contentpolis-Ampo), Alejandro Paleo (Xacobeo Galicia), Jorge Montenegro (Andalucía - Cajasur), Frantisek Kloucek and Leopold Konig (PSK Whirlpool - Author) made up the day's move.

Silva dropped off the pace on a small climb, while the 11 remaining escapees continued to hold their advantage in the face of a brisk 42km/h average speed.

Pinto went on the attack ahead of the first sprint bonus, and was joined by Bento further down the road, but the pair were brought back into the main breakaway before the category 3 ascent in Balazar.

The high temperatures and constantly rolling terrain did as much to scuttle the breakaway's chances as the pace being set in the peloton by the Liberty Seguros team of overall leader Nuno Ribeiro. By the time the race approached the final intermediate sprint with 10km to go, the peloton was back together.

The high pace of the Portuguese teams at the base of the final climb spelled the end of Damiano Cunego's time in the lead group. He was dropped  with 5km to go as Bruno Pires (Barbot Siper) launched a promising attack.

Cunego's teammate Paolo Tiralongo put in his own move with 3km to go. He was brought back and countered by Martin Mares (PSK Whirlpool).

Sensing the time was ripe for a move, Jimenez attacked from the back of the chasing group and surged up to Mares. The pair reached Pires, but Jimenez continued his attack, leaving the others behind in a solo bid for victory.

Ribeiro himself put in the acceleration which brought back the remaining attacks, but Jimenez was able to hold off the chase by 12 seconds. Ruben Plaza (Liberty Seguros) sprinted clear for second, while last year's winner David Blanco (Palmeiras Resort) claimed third from the yellow jersey group, 14 seconds behind the winner.

Joäo Cabreira (CC Loule) did enough to hold onto second overall, but lost five seconds in the dash for the line.