Volta a Catalunya: Cimolai wins stage 6 sprint in Vilanova i la Geltrú

Image 1 of 28

Davide Cimolai snatch victory for the Lampre-Merida team at the end of a hectic chase of the breakaway to Vilanova i la Geltrú at the Volta a Catalunya during stage 6.

The Italian won the sprint after Cameron Meyer (Dimension Data) was caught and passed in the final hundred metres of the stage. He had been part of the break of the day that fought hard to stay away and was only pulled back in the final kilometre. Meyer used his track speed and skills to surge away but the peloton caught him just in time for Cimolai to emerge to give Lampre-Merida their first victory of the 2016 season.

Cimolai beat Nikias Arndt (Giant-Alpecin), Tosh Van der Sande (Lotto Soudal) and Simon Gerrans (Orica-GreenEdge) as the riders fought shoulder to shoulder to find a way to the line.

Nairo Quintana (Movistar) finished safely in the peloton and so retained his overall race lead. Alberto Contador (Tinkoff) is second at seven seconds, with Richie Porte (BMC) third at 17 seconds and Daniel Martin (Etixx-Quickstep) fourth, at 18 seconds.

The Volta a Catalunya ends on Sunday with a 136km hilly circuit stage around Barcelona’s Montjuïc area, that hosted the 1992 Olympic Games.

How it happened

The sixth stage of the Volta a Catalunya was again a fast affair, with riders fighting to get in the early break of the day only for the peloton to chased them down as riders well placed overall fought for precious bonus seconds at an early intermediate sprint, placed after just 12km.

Five riders formed a good move but the peloton pulled them back and Dan Martin (Etixx-QuickStep) won the sprint ahead of Philippe Gilbert, who was protecting the interests of teammate and third overall Richie Porte.

Other riders quickly attacked but the peloton chased them again and the 11-rider break only got away after 65km of fast and aggressive racing.

In the move were Petr Vakoc (Etixx-QuickStep), Esteban Chaves (Orica-GreenEdge), Laurens Ten Dam (Giant-Alpecin), Ryder Hesjedal (Trek-Segafredo), Bert-Jan Lindeman (LottoNL-Jumbo), Alex Howes (Cannondale), Cameron Meyer (Dimension Data), Axel Domont (AG2R-La Mondiale), Romain Hardy (Cofidis), Rudy Molard (Cofidis), Marco Minnaard (Wanty-Groupe Gobert).

The move was serious about its intentions and opened a five-minute gap but so was the Lampre-Merida team that lead the chase for the rest of the stage and kept the break within reach. The climbs and speed gradually took their toll on the break, with several riders either falling out the back or being ordered to return to the peloton during another hard day of racing, including Hesjedal and Howes.

In the final 30km, Trek-Segafredo decided to help Lampre-Merida, and Tinkoff also hit the front after a careful recon of the finale. However the side winds and Tinkoff attack failed to split the peloton or pull back the remaining nine riders up front, with the gap still 40 seconds, with only 15km remaining.

Vakoc decided to hit out alone but was soon pulled back and the remains of the break worked together to try to surprise the peloton. Their lead fell only gradually and was still 20 seconds with seven kilometres to go. The sprinters’ teams thought they had things under control but Vakoc attacked again and dragged Molard, Meyer and Lindeman clear.

He could see the finish and was cheered on by the crowds but then the peloton was on him and he sat up, caught only 100 metres or so from the line. At that point Cimolai emerged from the chaos and managed to hit the front as the line approached. He was overjoyed to win and take Lampre-Merida’s first win of the 2016 season.

Full Results