Davide Ballerini claimed victory in stage six of the Giro d'Italia on Thursday, as a late crash on the cobbles near the finish line in Naples eliminated several top sprinters. The Italian rider, representing XDS Astana Team, crossed the line ahead of Belgium's Jasper Stuyven (Soudal Quick-Step) after a flat 142-kilometre journey from Paestum.
Chaotic Finish in Naples
The stage, which had been relatively uneventful, came alive in the final kilometres as sprinters jostled for position. However, light rain made the cobbled surface treacherous, and a crash inside the final kilometre brought down Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek), Dylan Groenewegen (Unibet Rose Rockets), and several other riders.
Milan expressed his frustration with the route. "I don't understand why we have to face such complicated finishes. Why can't we go straight? With just a few drops of water, it becomes a huge mess. I'm disappointed because I was in a good position," he said. Groenewegen was more philosophical: "It was a bit slippery, and these things happen. It's disappointing, but sometimes you have bad luck."
Ballerini and Stuyven managed to avoid the chaos and powered to the line, with Ballerini proving too strong. France's Paul Magnier finished third. "I had thought about winning a stage in the Giro, but today wasn't really on the plan," said the 31-year-old Ballerini. "When the crash happened, I saw a gap and took it."
General Classification Unchanged
It was a quiet day for the general classification contenders, who finished safely in the bunch. Portugal's Afonso Eulálio (Bahrain Victorious) retains the pink jersey, holding a two-minute, 51-second lead over Spain's Igor Arrieta (UAE Team Emirates XRG).
Looking Ahead to Stage Seven
Stage seven, starting from Formia, promises to be one of the toughest of this year's Giro. The 244-kilometre route concludes with a gruelling 13.6-kilometre climb to the Blockhaus mountain in the Apennines. Friday's stage could see the first major move from race favourite Jonas Vingegaard, currently in 15th place, six minutes behind surprise leader Eulálio.
