Francesco Gavazzi wins sixth stage as Sergio Miguel celebrates overall victory in Bicicleta 2011
Lampre – ISD team’s Francesco Gavazzi won the mass sprint of the sixth stage of Volta a Portugal em Bicicleta 2011 on Thursday, August 11. Sergio Miguel Vieira Ribeiro retained his overall leader’s yellow jersey.
The 27-year-old Italian professional road bicycle racer took the total of 5 hours, 52 minutes and 34 seconds to cover the distance of 215.9 kilometres.
The race leader Sergio Miguel Vieira Ribeiro of Barbot – Efapel was runner-up and Timofey Kritskiy of Itera – Katusha finished third with the same timing of Italian.
Recently, Gavazzi took the first stage of Tour of Basque Country and Sixth stage of Volta a Portugal. He also won the third stage of Basque Country and Coppa Ugo Agostoni in 2010.
After 90 kilometres, the group of four riders made their breakaway lead including, Julian Sanchez Pimienta (Caja Rural), Celio Sousa (Onda – Boavista), Antonio Carvalho (Portugal) and Davide Ricci Bitti (Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli).
All of them manage to gain a lead of few seconds over the peloton while Antonio Carvalho launched an attack with Davide Ricci Bitti but both of them failed. Cello increased his pace to follow Sanchez Pimienta in the final kilometres.
Pimienta increased his pace and managed to gain points in the first climb of the stage. With 124 kilometres to go, Julian Sanchez showed a tremendous effort and also took second climb.
In the last kilometres, Ribeiro tried to take a lead but failed and Gavazzi crossed the finish line without any difficulty. Evaldas Siskevicius (Velo-Club La Pomme Marseille) tried to catch the leading 36 cyclists but was unable to hold his pace and secured
37th place with the difference of 10 seconds ahead of Julien Antomarchi.
Miguel Vieira Ribeiro took the overall classification with the timing of 27 hours, 56 minutes and 20 seconds. Hernani Broco (LA-Antarte) was in second place with 14 seconds and Andre Fernando Santos finished third with 28 seconds behind Miguel.
Fabricio Ferrari (Caja Rural) took the overall King of Mountain title ahead of Broco and Garikoitz Bravo Oiarbide took the title of Young Rider standing with Silva.
The next stage will run in Sabugal and end in Guarda (ITT) as all the cyclists will cover the distance of 35.3 kilometres.
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