Stage 6 of the 2018 Vuelta a Espana was expected to end in a sprint, and Nacer Bouhani didn’t disappoint, besting Danny Van Poppel and Elia Viviani in a bunch sprint out of a reduced peloton at the finish in San Javier Mar Menor.
With two Category 3 climbs along its 155.7 kilometers, the route could not be considered flat, but the last 15km into the finish in Mar Menor was flat.
The day started with an early break with Jorge Cubero (BBH), Luis Ángel Maté (COF) and Richie Porte (BMC). The trio enjoyed a lead of 3’30” over the peloton after cresting the summit of the first Category 3 climb at 90km remaining. The leash was being held tight today, however, and that was their biggest lead. With less than 75km to go, the gap had dropped under 2 minutes.
Mate and Porte were caught with about 32km remaining in the stage and Cubero was swept up not long after.
A crash in the peloton with about 25km to go splits the peloton. Bora-Hansgrohe led the first pack, with Dimension Data at the head of the second group.
EF Education First laid down the gaunlet at first before Quick Step and Cofidis turned it up.
As expected, the finish came down to a sprint and it was Bouhani outgunning nn for the win.
2018 Vuelta a Espana Stage 6 Brief Results:
- Nacer Bouhani (COF) at 3h58’35”
- Danny Van Poppel (TLJ) s.t.
- Elia Viviani (QST) s.t.
- S. Consonni (UAD) s.t.
- Matteo Trentin (MTS) s.t.
- I. Garcia Cortina (TBM) s.t.
- Omar Fraile (AST) s.t.
- Miguel Lopez (AST) s.t.
- Peter Sagan (BOH) s.t.
- M. Morkov (QST) s.t.
General Classification After Stage 6:
- Rudy Molard (GFC) at 22h26’15”
- Michal Kwiatkowski (SKY) at 41”
- Emanuel Buchmann (BOH) at 48”
- Simon Yates (MTS) at 51”
- Alejandro Valverde (MOV) at 53”
- Jon Izaguirre (Bahrain Merida) at 1’11”
- Tony Gallopin (ALM) at 1’14”
- Nairo Quintana (MOV) s.t.
- Steven Kruijswijk at 1’18”
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