Ares del Maestrat (Spain) (AFP)
Spaniard Jesus Herrada (Cofidis) won the 6th stage of the Tour of Spain on Thursday, marked by the takeover of Belgium's Dylan Teuns (Bahrain) and the abandonment of Rigoberto Uran (Education First) and Nicolas Roche (Sunweb).
It was said that the hilly course of the day, drawn between Aragon and the Valencian community, was perfect for a breakaway. Having left in the maid, Herrada and Teuns finished in pairs in the village of Ares del Maestrat, nestled at an altitude of 1,195 m, and shared the laurels after 199 kilometers of effort: the stage for the Spaniard, the red leader's jersey for the Belgian.
Teuns therefore dethrones the Colombian Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana), nicknamed 'Superman', who slipped to third place overall with a minute late.
If the Spaniard David de la Cruz (Ineos) gets in on the second step of the general, at 38 seconds, the differences remain unchanged between favorites for the final victory: just behind the podium, the Slovenian Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) is 4th at 1min14, Colombian Nairo Quintana, 5th at 1min23 and Spaniard Alejandro Valverde, 7th at 1min28.
Teuns continues its good season after winning the Tour de France in July a prestigious victory at the top of the Board of Beautiful Girls. The 27-year-old Belgian had also raised his arms on the Dauphiné.
- Jesus avenge Jose -
His brother Jose had tried yesterday, Jesus Herrada has done today: win a stage in the country of this brotherhood of cycling. Jose, 33 and also at Cofidis, was third in 5th stage on Wednesday, 22 seconds behind by another Spaniard, climber Angel Madrazo (Burgos). On Thursday, his youngest son, Jesus, avenged him.
Herrada and Teuns left in a group of eleven men at kilometer 46, before letting go of their companions in the last difficulties and ending their eyes in the eyes. Herrada taking the win after a final acceleration.
The breakaway of 11 included the American Tejay Van Garderen (Education First), victim of a crash in a corner.
Another fall in the peloton was more massive and caused the abandonment at kilometer 105 of several riders, including the Irishman Nicolas Roche (Sunweb), 5th overall on Thursday morning and former red jersey, and the Colombian Rigoberto Uran (Education First), 6th.
The Education First team is the big loser of the day with another abandonment, that of the British Hugh Carthy. Spaniard Víctor de la Parte (CCC) has also thrown in the towel.
On Friday, the riders will start from Onda (Valencian community, east) for a mountain stage to the top of Mas de la Costa, 183.2 km further north, with a steep final of 4.1 km at 12.3 %, where the favorites could be explained.
© 2019 AFP