Giro d’Italia (Italy) - Press Release: Pelayo Sánchez wins stage 6 of the 2024 Giro d’Italia.

• Movistar’s Pelayo Sanchez fends off Alaphilippe to achieve first career Giro win and ends a 90-stage drought for Spain at the Corsa Rosa.
• Tadej Pogačar retains the Maglia Rosa after Stage 6.

Pelayo Sanchez (Movistar Team) has won Stage 6 of the 107th Giro d’Italia, the 180km long Torre del Lago Puccini (Viareggio)-Rapolano Terme. Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal Quick-Step) and Luke Plapp (Team Jayco AlUla) finished second and third respectively.

Pelayo Sanchez “speechless” as he becomes 6th youngest Spaniard to get Giro win:

Speaking seconds after the stage finish, the stage winner Pelayo Sanchez said:

“I don’t realise what I’ve done. I’m speechless. Since the beginning of the year, the plan was that I’d save energy in the first stages for today.

I had in mind to win the stage from a breakaway but to make was difficult. I knew during the race that it would be hard to stay away. I did my best to save energy for the very end. I tried to stay calm when everyone was attacking. I made my move.

I tried to drop Plapp and Alaphilippe but it was impossible for me. So my only way to win was the sprint. I’ve always dreamed of riding Grand Tours. I did La Vuelta with Burgos-BH last year, now it’s my first Giro d’Italia. To win a stage here is just craziness”.

Pogačar “not thinking about winning” as Slovenian retains Maglia Rosa:

The Maglia Rosa Tadej Pogacar said:

“For us, it was perfect if the breakaway stayed away because I didn’t want to spend too much energy on the gravel and in the hills. Even if Luke Plapp was to take the Maglia Rosa it would have been fine.

For me, it was a good stage and enjoyable to ride again on the roads of Strade Bianche. The crowds were great again. But I still prefer Strade Bianche.

I had good legs today and I hope they’ll be good again for the time trial tomorrow. It’s an interesting parcours. I’m not thinking about winning. I just want to feel good on the bike”.