Portuguese rouleur from Movistar Team fights until very end for stage win, ultimately claimed by Würtz Schmidt (ISN). Soler remains 11th overall before decisive ITT.
It was a fierce contest from Nelson Oliveira (Movistar Team) to try and bring the Blues some joy on day six of the 2021 Tirreno-Adriatico, a rolling 169km route from Castelraimondo to a circuit in Lido di Fermo with a small climb where the Portuguese rider tried to leave behind a decisive move of six riders.
Together with Liepins (TFS), Velasco (GAZ), Bakelants (IWG), Van Moer (LTS) and eventual winner Würtz Schmidt (ISN), the Aveiro native was able to stay clear of the peloton after 50km of continuous attacks to make the break. They opened a gap over six minutes which the sprinters’ teams where never able to bridge back; despite Oliveira trying to further select that group on the last climb and launching the sprint in first place, his final punch was taken the better from by faster rivals. Oliveira finished 5th.
In turn, Marc Soler stayed in 11th place overall as Iván García Cortina was a DNS today to allow his injuries to fully heal following a crash on Thursday. The ‘Race of the Two Seas’ will come to its close on Tuesday with a 10km individual time trial in San Benedetto del Tronto.
– TT start times (Tuesday 16th): Torres 13.16, Oliveira 14.34, Cataldo 14.55, Villella 15.04, Serrano 15.06, Soler 15.38
Cover picture (c): BettiniPhoto