Euskaltel survive another day in Italy

Today's sixth stage of the Giro was pretty much a repeat of yesterday's stage with team leader Mikel Nieve finishing safely inside the peloton while half the team struggled to cope.

Disappointingly, Euskaltel missed out on the day's break, a break which turned out to go the distance. Androni's Rubiano took an almightily surprising win, Malori took second and pink with it, while the pack finished 1:51 in arrears. Nieve, Izagirre, Oroz and Velasco all looked solid and finished inside the pack, the first two especially prominent near the sharp end of the field on the many climbs that littered the route.

The remaining five riders continued to suffer, everyone coming in well back. On a bright note, at least Minguez moved off the foot of the standings.

Stage results:

• (1, Miguel Angel Rubiano Chavez (Androni), 5:38:20
• 21, Jon Izagirre, 1:51
• 50, Mikel Nieve, s.t.
• 66, Juan José Oroz, s.t.
• 86, Iván Velasco, s.t.
• 103, Amets Txurruka, 8:53
• 111, Víctor Cabedo, 10:39
• 132, Pierre Cazaux, 15:40
• 146, Adrián Sáez, 21:11
• 176, Miguel Minguez, 23:53

Photo: www.fundacioneuskadi.com