Pelayo Sanchez (Movistar) saw off Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal Quick-Step) in a thrilling dust-up to win Stage 6 of the Giro d’Italia from a three-man breakaway as the GC big-hitters survived the white gravel of Tuscany.
Sanchez, Alaphilippe and Luke Plapp (Jayco AlUla) splintered off the front of a larger break with around 42km remaining and worked well together – save for the odd heated discussion and misjudged roundabout.
Despite the pace being increased behind, particularly on the three gravel sectors, the trio held on into the finish, where Sanchez and Alaphilippe left Plapp behind before the Spanish debutant proved the strongest in the race to the line.