Arnaud Démare (Groupama-FDJ) snags back-to-back wins, taking Stage 6 of the 2022 Giro d’Italia, the 192km-long route starting from Palmi and finishing in Scalea (Riviera dei Cedri). Sprint rivals Caleb Ewan (Lotto Soudal) and Mark Cavendish (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team) were back in the game today and finished second and third respectively in a podium determined by photo finish.
Speaking seconds after the stage finish, Démare said: “It was very tight. I had the feeling that I had won but it was hot so I waited for the photo-finish. A win is sometimes decided by very little. It’s on my favour today. The team has done a tremendous job today. My positioning was excellent at every roundabout. It’s another great team victory. I only had 100 metres to overhaul Cavendish. I threw my bike on the line and it made the difference. Many people underestimate me but it’s my 86th victory today, my 7th at the Giro d’Italia. It counts. It’s wonderful.”
In the press conference, Demare added: “I’m not used to sprint(ing) from behind. I want to underline the great work of my team. I launched with a slight delay after Michael Morkov and Mark Cavendish went at 500m to go. I knew Cavendish would keep the door closed on the left hand side so I had to go to the right, also Caleb Ewan. I knew I was fast but I thought it would be too tight. I threw my bike, which is something I instinctively do when I train behind my father’s scooter or with my cousins. I feel privileged to have two leadout men with Jacopo Guarnieri and Ramon Sinkeldam. When one of them is missing, I can count on the other one and it’s even better when I have the two of them like today. It’s my goal to win the points classification but I know how hard and long a Grand Tour is. The key is to remain humble.”
A disappointed Caleb Ewan looked back on the stage of the Giro and already looks ahead to the next opportunity: “The team did what they had to do today and dropped me off perfectly. That way, I could start my sprint when I wanted to. It looked very good but in the end I just got beaten by an inch on the line. Of course, I’m really disappointed to just miss out on the stage victory. But we need to take away from today that it could have gone our way as well. The shape and the team are there and of course I am keen on taking revenge.”
Juan Pedro Lopez Perez (Trek-Segafredo) retains the Maglia Rosa. Perez said: “I don’t know why it was so slow today but for sure I enjoyed the day. It was all under the control of the sprinters teams. It will be very different tomorrow but we’re ready with the team to defend the Maglia Rosa.
“I believe every day is different at the Giro. Tomorrow I’ll give 200% to defend the Maglia Rosa,” he added. “I will not give up. This morning I spoke with Alejandro Valverde who I admire a lot. Moreover I went to the Movistar team bus to congratulate José Joaquin Rojas who became a dad last night but is still here racing the Giro.”
2022 Giro d’Italia: Stage 6 Brief Results
- Arnaud Démare (Groupama-FDJ) – 192 km in 5h’02’33″, average speed 38.076 km/h
- Caleb Ewan (Lotto Soudal) s.t.
- Mark Cavendish (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team) s.t.
General Classification After Stage 6
- Juan Pedro Lopez Perez (Trek-Segafredo)
- Lennard Kämna (Bora-Hansgrohe) at 38″
- Rein Taaramäe (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux) at 58”
Jerseys
- Maglia Rosa, leader of the General Classification, sponsored by Enel – Juan Pedro Lopez Perez (Trek-Segafredo)
- Maglia Ciclamino, leader of the Points Classification, dedicated to ‘Made in Italy’ – Arnaud Démare (Groupama-FDJ)
- Maglia Azzurra, leader of the Gran Premio della Montagna (KOM), sponsored by Banca Mediolanum – Lennard Kämna (Bora-Hansgrohe)
- Maglia Bianca, Best Young Rider, sponsored by Intimissimi Uomo – Juan Pedro Lopez Perez (Trek-Segafredo)
Tomorrow’s Stage – Stage 7, Diamante-Potenza, 196km
Stage 7 is a challenging parcours that journeys across the Southern Apennines. The start, along the sea, is the only flat stretch. Past Maratea, the route rolls continuously, with a mix of mild or harsh gradients. After climbing the Passo della Colla, and reaching Lauria, the riders will tackle Monte Sirino. The route then hits Viggiano, clearing the challenging Montagna Grande di Viggiano, and then takes a final ascent of Sellata before reaching Potenza. Throughout the course, the roads are usually narrow and can be damaged at points, twisting continuously along the mountainside.
The final kilometers are raced entirely on urban roads. The route runs uphill across the inner city, with sharp gradients at points, and then descends along wide and well-paved avenues. There is a short tunnel at the ‑2 km marker, leading into the finish avenue. The last 350m has an average gradient of 8%, but reaches 13% in parts.
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