Ballerini capitalises on Naples crash to claim Giro d'Italia stage six
Rain and a chaotic final sector reshuffle the sprint order, but general classification standings remain largely intact ahead of the Blockhaus climb.
Davide Ballerini secured victory in stage six of the Giro d'Italia in Naples, capitalising on a chaotic crash on the final cobbled sector that eliminated several sprint favourites. Riding for XDS-Astana, the 31-year-old Italian was positioned on the inside of the right-hand corner when conditions deteriorated, allowing him to slip past the fallen riders and hold off Belgium’s Jasper Stuyven of Soudal-Quick Step.
Rain began to fall as the peloton prepared for a bunch sprint, contributing to treacherous conditions on the cobbles. Four riders fell on a corner, including France’s Paul Magnier and Italy’s Jonathan Milan, causing significant disruption. The incident exhibited a classic 'domino effect' in cycling, where bikes slide out from under riders without direct contact, likely due to hurried braking. This chain reaction also took down Dylan Groenwegen, Elmar Reinders, Orluis Aular, and Tobias Lund Andresen.
While the crash reshuffled the sprint finish, it had minimal impact on the overall race leadership. Portugal’s Afonso Eulalio of Bahrain-Victorious retained the pink jersey, having won the previous epic stage in Potenza. Under race rules protecting riders who crash within five kilometres of the finish, Eulalio eased off before the line to ensure his time was preserved, maintaining his position at the top of the general classification.
The crash also affected other notable contenders. Magnier recovered to finish third, while British sprinters Ben Turner and Ethan Vernon finished fifth and 19th respectively after being caught in the incident. The stage results saw Jensen Plowright and Filippo Magli also finish in the top ten, highlighting the competitive nature of the mid-pack despite the chaos at the front.
Looking ahead, the race moves to the Abruzzo Apennines on Friday with a climb to Blockhaus. Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard, a two-time Tour de France winner and overwhelming favourite for the overall title, remains six minutes and 22 seconds behind Eulalio. The main contenders are expected to test their strengths on the upcoming mountain stage before the race concludes in Rome on 31 May.
