BARCELONA, 17 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The German cyclist Nico Denz (DSM) has won this Friday the sixth stage of the Tour of Switzerland, disputed between Locarno and Moosalp over 177.5 kilometers, by winning the tight sprint of the climb to the finish line, while the Danish Jakob Fuglsang (Israel-Premier Tech) managed to retain a yellow jersey that the Russian Aleksandr Vlasov (Bora-Hansgrohe) gave up before the race when he left due to a positive coronavirus.
The final duel at the foot of the climb to Moosalp left a battle between the four escapees and the American Quinn Simmons (Trek-Segafredo), the last minute guest to win the sixth day. However, the climber failed to pull off the surprise after the quick reaction of Denz and Frenchman Clément Champoussin (AG2R Citroën).
Thus, the last meters of the race witnessed a duel between the three runners, although Denz managed to overcome Champoussin by a minimum to complete a breakaway made 144 kilometers from the end. On the other hand, the peloton did not hunt down the leader of the race, and focused on the fight for the yellow jersey.
The British Geraint Thomas (INEOS Grenadiers) tried it in every way and finished in fourth position, although he did not get the blow in the general classification by not beating Fuglsang by a second, who started the day as leader, after Vlasov abandoned, and finished it the same way.
Again, the coronavirus affected the aspirations of 29 cyclists, who did not start this Friday. Among them, those of the Bahrain Victorius team and the Belgian Alpecin-Fenix, who abandoned the Tour of Switzerland completely, as happened on Thursday with the goodbye of the Dutch team Jumbo-Visma.
Tomorrow, Saturday, will be the second and last opportunity for the climbers to be the protagonists. The seventh stage will take place between Ambri and Malbun after 194.6 kilometres, with three intermediate ascents, one in the first category and two in the third category.