Landa limits losses

Mikel Landa limited his losses on a dramatic day at the Giro d'Italia and moved up one place on the general classification after stage six.

Mikel Landa limited his losses on a dramatic day at the Giro d'Italia and moved up one place on the general classification following a tough stage six.

Landa dug deep all the way to the line during a frantic last kilometre in Italy, as Jakob Fuglsang (Astana) and Ilnur Zakarin (Katusha) rounded out the podium placings after Tim Wellens (Lotto Soudal) had soloed to a fine breakaway victory into Roccaraso.

Team Sky worked hard to shut down numerous late attacks and Mikel Nieve brought a dangerous burst from Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) back 3km from home.

Race leader Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin) immediately counter-attacked in an attempt to preserve the maglia rosa and his attack proved to be more potent than Nibali's, as he forged a slim gap on the reduced bunch to come home fourth and maintain his GC lead. Landa's key lieutenants Nieve and Nicolas Roche finished just behind the Spaniard.

'I'm very happy with the work of the team'

Speaking to TeamSky.com back at the bus Landa praised the work of his team-mates.

He said: "I'm happy with the work of the team. The guys are supporting me really well and they did a very good job again today."

And despite losing some seconds to Dumoulin, Landa doesn't believe they will be decisive in the hunt for the overall title.

He added: "Some riders might be earning some seconds now, but I don't think they will be too important in the overall battle to win the Giro."

Tale of the day

A three-man break went clear from the gun in Italy and had built a healthy lead of four minutes atop the day's first categorised climb but, in treacherous conditions following a morning of hard rain, the peloton dragged them back on a slippery descent.

Once the bunch had regrouped at the bottom of the ascent though, they appeared content to let another break go, and it proved to be decisive. Eventual stage winner Wellens moved clear with team-mate Pim Ligthart, Alessandro Bisolti (Nippo - Vini Fantini), Eugert Zhupa (Wilier Trestina-Southeast) and Laurent Didier (Trek-Segafredo) and they quickly forged a lead of eight minutes.

The gap started to come down as the peloton neared the final second category climb 20km from the finish but the stage winner always looked likely to come from the five men out front, and Wellens was the first to attack and stay clear.

Fuglsang became the first rider to spring from the peloton 13km from home and he was quickly joined by Kanstantsin Siutsou (Dimension Data). The pair's gap settled at around 30 seconds, until Dumoulin made his move.

After Nibali had been brought back by Nieve, Dumoulin immediately counter-attacked, with Zakarin and Domenico Pozzovivo (AG2R-La Mondiale) joining him.

The five men did battle for the minor placings on the podium, while behind Landa dug in to cross the stripe 24 seconds down on second-placed Fuglsang.