Home Races Road Giro d'Italia: Michael Matthews wins stage 6 By Stephen Farrand published 15 May 2014 Evans gains time on his GC rivals (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) Image 1 of 115David Tanner (Belkin) stretching before stage 6 (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)The "lion king" at the start of stage 6 (Image credit: Bettini Photo)Mario Cipollini chats with Daniele Colli and Daniel Oss (BMC) (Image credit: Bettini Photo)A wet Nairo Quintana (Movistar) crosses the line (Image credit: Bettini Photo)Nico Roche asking for some assistance (Image credit: Bettini Photo)Michael Matthews now leads the mountain classification (Image credit: Bettini Photo)Michael Matthews in the maglia bianco (Image credit: Bettini Photo)Elia Viviani in the only jersey Matthews doesn't have (Image credit: Bettini Photo)Ivan Basso (Cannondale) (Image credit: Bettini Photo)A very sore Michele Scarponi (Astana) (Image credit: Bettini Photo)Katusha riders check their bikes after the mass crash on stage 6 (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Another day in pink for Michael Matthews (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Joaquim Rodríguez had a bad day (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Joaquim Rodríguez's hopes of a giro win were sunk today (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)A bloodied Michele Scarponi (Astana) (Image credit: Bettini Photo)Dani Moreno (Katusha) (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Rigoberto Uran after the stage (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Cadel Evans (BMC) was the big GC winner today (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Wout Poels (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) does his best to bring the break back (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Michael Matthews is getting used to this pink jersey lark (Image credit: Bettini Photo)Luke Durbirdge (Oirca-GreenEge) setting up Matthews for the win (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Michael Matthews rode a calm and measured final 11km to claim his first Giro stage win (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)The four man break away (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Svein Tuft won't be sleeping very well for a few days (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)The podium legs (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)It was a good day for Australian fans (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)The peloton exiting a tunnel (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Katusha have special matryoshka bidons for the Giro (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Romain Sicard (Europcar) stocking up on bidons (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Cadel Evans (BMC) was a big winner today (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Capturing the crash (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Rfal Majka (Tinkoff-Saxo) wearing the maglia bianco (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Georg Preidler (Giant-Shiamano) (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)The Italian countryside (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Marco Frapporti's tattoo (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Thomas Dekker letting the photographer know how he feels about a 260km day in the saddle (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Winner Anacona's tattoes (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Rodriguez enjoying the sunshine before his day turned very dark (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Julian Vermote enjoys a joke (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Arashiro with a little friend at the startline (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Katusha feed bags (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Wouter Poels (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Joaquim Rodriguez (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Michael Matthews in pink (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Michael Matthews tucked in among the leaders (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Cadel Evans during stage 6 (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Nairo Quintana (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Joaquim Rodriguez heads off for treatment (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Michael Matthews celebrates a stage win (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Joaquim Rodriguez (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Rigoberto Uran (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Miguel Angel Rubiano Chavez after a crash (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Tim Wellens (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Pierre Rolland finishes up (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Maglia rosa Michael Matthews (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Riders inspect their bikes after a crash. (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)The peloton (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)The Giro d'Italia peloton (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)The peloton in Italy (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)It didn't look good for Joaquim Rodriguez after the finish (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Michael Matthews wins the stage. (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)It's been a good first week at the Giro for Michael Matthews (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Race leader Michael Matthews (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Maxime Mederel inspects his road rash (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Michael Matthews (Orica GreenEdge) wins stage 6 of the Giro d'Italia (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Michael Matthews (Orica GreenEdge) celebrates a stage 6 win at the Giro d'Italia (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Michael Matthews (Orica GreenEdge) triumphs in stage 6 of the Giro d'Italia (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)A very happy Michael Matthews (Orica GreenEdge) (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Michael Matthews (Orica GreenEdge) sprints toward the finish (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Michael Matthews (Orica GreenEdge) wins stage 6 of the Giro d'Italia (Image credit: Bettini Photo)The peloton roll out (Image credit: Bettini Photo)Cadel Evans follows Michael Matthews (Image credit: Sirotti)Steve Morabito works for Cadel Evans (Image credit: Sirotti)Steve Morabito works for Cadel Evans (Image credit: Sirotti)Cadel Evans leads Michael Matthews (Image credit: Sirotti)Race leader Michael Matthews sits in (Image credit: Sirotti)Luke Durbridge leads Michael Matthews (Image credit: Sirotti)Cadel Evans (Image credit: Sirotti)Luke Durbridge at the front (Image credit: Sirotti)Ivan Santaromita (Image credit: Sirotti)Fabio Duarte (Image credit: Sirotti)Steve Morabito (Image credit: Sirotti)Ivan Basso (Image credit: Sirotti)Michael Matthews (Orica GreenEdge) wins stage 6 of the Giro d'Italia (Image credit: Bettini Photo)There were some grim faces toward the end of stage 6. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)Daniel Oss (BMC) (Image credit: Bettini Photo)The trophy awaiting the overall winner (Image credit: Bettini Photo)Luca Paolini (Katusha) signs an autograph for a fan (Image credit: Bettini Photo)