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Giro d'Italia 2017: Stage 6

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Buongiorno and welcome to live coverage of stage 6 from Reggio Calabria to Terme Luigiane.

We're 30 minutes or so from the start of the stage.

The first climb cones after 38km and so is a perfect launch pad for the break of the day.

The weather has changed today, with some cloudy skies and a strong wind blowing. It meant for an interesting ferry ride across the straight for the teams that slept in Sicily.

The wind is blowing from the south-southeast and so will be a tail/side wind for much of the stage before becoming more of a tail wind for the final 90km. 

Two riders from Lotto Soudal are celebrating theor birthdays out on the rad at the Giro d'Italia today.

Jelle Wallays is celebrating too. It's his 28th birthday.

Fernando Gaviria (Quick-Step Floors) won the sprint in Messina yesterday and could win again today in Terme Luigiane.

This is the current top ten overall:

Hansen was given a special birthday cheer at the sign on.

At the podium area, riders are signing on.

With everyone signed on, the riders are ready to roll out for the 6.7km of neutralised riding.

Jungels is in pink, Gaviria wears the Cyclamen points jersey, Adam Yates (Orica) wears the best young rider's white jersey because Jungels is in pink and Jan Polanc (UAE Team Emirates) wears the blue mountains jersey.

They're off! The riders roll out of Reggio Calabria.

The riders were slightly worried about the wind today. It could cause for a nervous ride north up the Calabria coast.

In his preview of today's stage, Alasdair Fotheringham described the finish to Terme Luigiane as 'punchy'.

Alasdair writes:

With the flag dropped, we've had some first attacks as riders to get in the break. They think they could have a chance of staying away today so taking the pink jersey.

Postleberger, Pederson and Stuyven amongst those trying their hand.

The peloton is not letting the trio go clear.

Indeed, the three are caught and a newc nove goes away with Barbin, Mohoric and Busato.

It seems that Nicola Boem is also in the move but the break is not gonig clear. The climb of Barritteri will be the key to the break gonig away.

Now Andreetta and Dillier have gone off the front in pursuit of glory. 

It seems we finally have the break of the day as the different attacks join forces: Pedersen & Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo) are with Postlberger (Bora)
Andreetta (Bardiani-CSF) and Dillier (BMC).

188km remaining from 217km

The thoughts are mostly on the finish today and the 2km climb to the line.

"It's definitely not one for the bunch sprinters," said Katusha-Alpecin directeur sportif Dimitri Konyshev, winner on the same finale in 1993 with a lone attack, noting that "if he were here, it'd be perfect for a guy like Diego Ulissi."

Although most of the stage is fairly flat, a short, steep climb of Fuscaldo 24 kilometres from the line acts as a curtain-raiser for the complicated finale.

The final climb, though with few changes of direction, is steadily rising and some two kilometres long, averaging five percent but with a ten percent ramp 500 metres from the line.

"It's a good little climb," Konyshev says, "I got away on one of the descents before and I got there. Thursday is the same finish, but there's a longer, harder circuit beforehand, a climb and then a descent and then up again."

Konyshev refuses to call the finish difficult, arguing - with another smile - that "when you win, nothing is complicated."

To read all of Alasdair Fotheringham's stage 6 preview, click here.

This image shows the peloton soon after the roll out.

Fernando Gaviria spoke briefly to Italian television before the start. He played down his chances for the finish but could also be playing mind games with his rivals. 

Pedersenm Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo), Postlberger (Bora), Andreetta (Bardiani-CSF) and Dillier (BMC) are no on the first climb of the day. It will be important for them to gain as much time as possible.

We've updated the 'Situation' on the right of our live updates.

186km remaining from 217km

This is the fifth time a Giro d'Italia stage finished in Terme Luigiane. The last time in 2003, Stefano Garzelli won the rush to the line, managing to better the likes of Alessandro Petacchi.

There was a special guest at the start of today's stage: Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme.

The gap for the break is up to 7:20.

Andre Greipel got a huge cheer at the start. The German national champion is in fine form and could be a contender today if the race stays together.

160km remaining from 217km

153km remaining from 217km

 

153 km still to go, and the gap is over 8 minutes. 

Apparently this is the first stage of this year's Giro that does not have a rider from Gazprom-RusVelo in the break group!

Interesting to note that most of the riders in the break group are from large teams -- Trek, Bora, BMC. Usually the break group is made up of smaller teams who are out there to get their sponsors some TV time.

Cannondale better work a bit harder to catch the break. The gap is now at 8:48.

No apparent wind at the moment. Too bad it is not expected to stay that way.

The gap of 8:32 means that there is 4.8 km between the lead group and the peloton.

136km remaining from 217km

The five leaders are working well together, calmly riding along. 

The work of the Cannondale team and other riders has pegged the gap to 8:00.

Also helping with the chase are Wilier Triestina, who are riding for Pozzato.

115km remaining from 217km

The average speed is 39.9km/h after two hours of racing. It's a steady day out there before the expected hectic finale. 

The Wilier Triestina team is chasing the break with Cannondale to hopefully set up Pozzato for the rising finish.

The gap is down to 5:45 now, with the peloton lined out as the speed is kept high by Cannondale and Wilier Triestina.

This is a great photo of the break of the day.

The break is passing through the feed zone near the Lamezia Terme airport.

The main peloton is also feeding now, slowing the speed of the chase for a while.

87km remaining from 217km

Bora, Astana and CCC have grabbed their musette now.

The Cannondale team has seven riders on the front now, lining out the peloton.

The list of potential stage winners for today is very long.

The Lotto Soudal team and FDJ teams are also helping with the chase.

Alex Howes and Joe Dombrowski are doing some big licks on the front for Cannondale.

Villela is also doing some big turns, that could mean that Michael Woods is Cannondale's leader for the finish.

For some reason the Cannondale riders take their musettes now. The feed zone was with 90km to go but perhaps their staff missed it.

The huge crowds in the south of Italy have been a pleasure to see but have also caused some problems.

60km remaining from 217km

The race is still on the mai coast road. That should help the chase but the gap remains at over 5:00. 

Adam Yates is wearing the best young rider white jersey. Watch out for him on the uphill finish.

Today is the fifth time the Giro d'Italia has visited Terme Luigiane.

To read what Konychev said about today's finish, click here.

45km remaining from 217km

Andre Greipel is one of the riders in the cars.

Dimension Data are helping the chase now but the break has the pyschological upper hand.

Astana has also sent two riders to the front but ot could be too late. The gap remains at 5:00. 

The five up front are fighting for a chance of a stage victory. None are well placed in the overall classification, with Dillier best placed 16:58 behind.

The stage is hugged close to the Calabria beach, with the mountains offering a backdrop on the right.

40km remaining from 217km

Team Sky DS Dario Cioni has spoken briefly to Italian television, confirming that they will ride to protect Geraint Thomas and Mikel Landa on the testing finish.

We have some great shots of the break. Here Jasper Stuyven leads the move.

The Movistar team has moved up in the peloton to keep Nairo Quintana safe. The little Colombian is tucked inbehind his body guard riders Rory Sutherland, Daniele Bennati and Jose Rojas. 

26km remaining from 217km

25km remaining from 217km

The 2km climb will hurt everyone today. It is at 6.8% and should spit out some of the sprinters before the finale.

Riders in the break grab a last bidon from team staff on the clumb.

The break is down to down to four. Pedersen has been distanced after doing a huge chunk of work for Stuyven to make sure the break stays away.

As the peloton hits the climb, the pink jersey is up front to stay out of danger.

The GC riders and finisseur riders are all near the front.

Jungels looks strong on the wheel of Eros Capecchi.

On the descent Pedersen has got back up to the break and is ready to help Stuyven again.

Rojas flats and that will hit his chances for the finish.

Quick-Step is leading the peloton now but the peloton will be slowed by the twisting, narrow road.

15km remaining from 217km

The race will soon go past the turn for Terme Luigiane for a loop along the coast and in the hills.

Movistar is near the front, with Quintana tucked behind Bennati. He clearly wants to avoid any problems or crashes.

10km remaining from 217km

Nobody should forget Lukas Pöstlberger (Bora-Hansgrohe) after his stage 1 win in Sardinia.

7km remaining from 217km

The break is now on the hillside road that twists and turns with a view across the sea.

Mads Pedersen is still working hard for Stuyven. The 22 Dane has played a huge role in the break staying away.

Pedersen has pulled off after one last big turn. Now the break is down to four.

Gaviria will also no doubt try to score points for the Cyclamen jersey.

5km remaining from 217km

Lukas Pöstlberger (Bora-Hansgrohe) goes after them, leaving three up front. The strongest three.

Now its time for the spectcular curves of Acquapesa.

The peloton will soon hit the hairpins for a spectcular moment of racing.

The three are back on the coast. It's time for the 2km climb up to the finish line.

Behind the peloton is lined out with some gaps.

Here we go. 2km to climb up to the finish!

The trio upfront are working together but watching each other.

1km remaining from 217km

Dillier is at the back of the trio.

Postlberger leads the trio.

The trio are still watching each other!

Behind Rui Costa attacks.

Dillier kicks first.

Dillier leads it out, Stuyven matches him but can't get past at the line.

Adam Yates and Cannondale rider lead the pack home.

Silvan Dillier won it well. He jumped first and then had the power to hold off Stuyven on the line.

The finish area is packed with riders and team staff.

Stuyven banged his bars in anger and frustration. 

Michael Woods won the sprint for fourth, leading home the peloton. But they were 39 seconds down on Dillier.

Simone Andreetta (Bardiani CSF) bravely hung on to finish fourth at 26, seconds, so Woods was actually fifth.

Woods edged out Yates and Jungels, who kept the pink jersey.

This is the stage result:

This is the overall classification after the uphill finish on stage 6.

Silvan Dillier (BMC) spoke brielfy before the podium ceremony.

Dillier walks out on the podium and takes the cheers and the prizes. 

Now Jungels is on the podium and opens the spumante after pullnig on a new pink jersey.

Most of the overall contenders have quickly headed to the team buses to recover from the stage.

Lukas Pöstlberger (Bora-Hansgrohe) spoke briefly after his third place.

There is a lot of debate about who should have chased down the break today and who didn't.

Filippo Pozzato (Wilier Triestina-Selle Italia) talked about the peloton's failure to catch the break.

Bob Jungels explained why Quick-Step Floors did not chase the break today.