After Sam Bennett’s third place yesterday, today BORA – hansgrohe rider Lukas Pöstlberger took his opportunity in the breakaway of the day. With more than 200 kilometers riding at the head of the race he took finally third place in a thrilling final in Terme Luigiane. This makes it the fourth podium for BORA – hansgrohe after only stage six in the 100th Giro d’Italia.
Today´s stage was basically flat, with just a few climbs, two intermediate sprints and the finish at the top of the short Terme Luigiane uphill stretch. The stage took the peloton from Reggio Calabria to Terme Luigiane over more than 200 kilometers. The final climb covered 2 kilometers with an average gradient of 5,3%.
BORA – hansgrohe rider Lukas Pöstlberger, was one of five riders who attacked early in the stage and built the break group for the day. The quintet had an ample gap of more than 7 minutes to the peloton already after some kilometers. When the group passed the first intermediate sprint of the day, it was Lukas Pöstlberger who took the points.
The quintet was gone for most of the stage, while also in the peloton hard work was to do due to crosswinds. With 50 kilometers remaining, the group had still a 5 minutes’ gap. Lukas Pöstlberger was one of the most active riders in the break, with putting in hard efforts to maintain the lead to the end of the stage, back in the peloton his teammates tried to support him as controlling the main bunch.
On the final kilometers the real thriller started, the former quintet was down to a trio, with Lukas still pulling hard on the front. All three watched each other to be able to respond to any move. On the last meters, S. Dillier (BMC Racing Team) turned out to be the guy with the most energy left and took the stage win. Lukas, who was more than 200 kilometers at the head of the race, didn’t have the legs anymore to match his sprint, but still finished in a strong third place. The second podium for Pöstlberger in this year’s Giro and the fourth podium result for BORA – hansgrohe out of the first six stages.
“I took the chance and went into the break today. In the final I knew I had to go earlier than the others, but after 200 kilometers in front, you didn’t know how your legs are. Today mine haven’t been good enough in the end and I took third place, which still makes me really happy. But I will try it again for sure in the next days, I still feel the flow from the pink jersey and my journey at this Giro is not over yet.” – Lukas Pöstlberger
“I am happy that Pösti improved today that he is more than a One-Hit-Wonder, but a strong rider who can achieve big results in all kind of terrains. But also, the team spirit is just overwhelming, the flow which have the riders is amazing, they work together and be there for each other in every minute of the race.” – Christian Pömer, sports director
