With a second-place finish over the Alto de la Montaña de Cullera Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) regained the lead of the general classification, taking the jersey off French cyclist Kenny Elissonde (Trek-Segafredo). The Slovenian now possesses a lead of 25 seconds over Enric Mas (Movistar) and 36" to Miguel Angel Lopez (Movistar).
General classification teams were keen to ensure their best climbers would battle it out for time, however, none could keep up when Roglič turned up the heat on the final kick to the finish.
The dual defending champion Roglič made his assault with just over 300 metres to go, dropping the main contenders and going in search of race leader Magnus Cort Nielsen (EF Education–Nippo). Cort Nielsen was able to find enough in the tank to hold off the Slovenian - "I looked back with 150 metres to go and I could see him coming,” Cort said of Roglič tracking him down at the finish. “I sprinted with everything I had and I luckily could keep him behind."
There was a massive revamp to the general classification after the stage. Former race leader Elissonde expressed how much he enjoyed his rein at the top but now changes his focus to stage honors after dropping 4'31 up the Alto de la Montaña de Cullera to Roglič. "It was really nice, but I hope to win a stage in this Vuelta. Then it will be a really, really nice Vuelta." Elissonde said.
With the slipping of Elissonde and Lilian Calmejane (AG2R-Citroen) from the top three, Spanish team Movistar now has three of the top four riders on GC - Enric Mas 25" in 2nd, Miguel Angel Lopez 36" in 3rd, and the timeless Alejandro Valverde 41" in 4th, all behind the Slovenian leader Roglič.
Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma), 1st overall
"In the end, I had good legs," Roglič said. "We will see who will be the strongest into Santiago" The humble Jumbo-Visma leader expressed as he knows better than most that the race isn't over until you cross the finish line on the final stage.
Enric Mas (Movistar), 2nd overall, 0'25" behind
“Everybody knows the kind of riders we have here, a lot of high-quality performers, and today we showed that,” Mas said. “Up until now we hadn’t taken control of the race because we knew what was coming up from today onwards was important, and even more so from tomorrow onwards.
“The Balcón de Alicante [on Friday] and Velefique [on Sunday] summit finishes are very hard stages, and we’re going to have a lot at stake there.”
Alejandro Valverde (Movistar), 4th overall, 0'41" behind
“We know we’ve got to grab what options we can because we know that Roglič is a very strong rider and with the time trial that’s coming up in Santiago, he’s got a trump card up his sleeve,” Valverde said.
Egan Bernal (INEOS Grenadier), 5th overall, 0'41" behind
“We had to try. If you’re in front and can take the opportunity, then you have to do it,” said Bernal. “In a Grand Tour, the race isn’t just in time trials or on climb. You can win – or lose – with an echelon or on a downhill too.”
"I think we can’t talk about tactics now, we need to see. In every Grand Tour, you just go day by day, but I’m feeling good so far,” said Bernal.
Comments from Juan Manuel Gárate on Hugh John Carthy (EF Education-Nippo), 33rd overall, 4'28" behind
For Garate, Carthy’s time loss “is not a reflection of his real form.”
“He’s in good shape physically, so we’ll have to look at the situation and change our plans from hereon. It’s going to be a different Vuelta a España for us from now on.”
The Vuelta a España continues with Stage 7 a mountainous day in the saddle for the riders from Gandía to Balcón de Alicante over 152 kilometres. The broadcast on SBS VICELAND and SBS OnDemand starts at the earlier time of 2120 AEST, with the SKODA Tour Tracker starting at 2105 AEST.
