Stage Six is a tricky one: perfect for a breakaway, and with that flat finish in Murcia, it ought to be one for the sprinters. If only it weren't for that Category Two ranked climb only 17km from the finish line.....
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15:29 CEST
Hello and welcome back to the Vuelta a Espana. We continue trekking to the east today, to Murcia, home of Alejandro Valverde and Luis Leon Sanchez (only one of whom is in this race....)
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15:33 CEST (96km remaining from 151km)
As usual, a break goup got away early. Today's group features Markus Eichler (Milram), Juan Javier Estrada (Andalucia) and Freddy Bichot (Bbox). Their gap is now 5:20, down from a high of 9:17.
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15:38 CEST
Cofidis is leading the chase, and has brought the gap down to 5:20.
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15:43 CEST
We have an interesting profile, today, most of it being downhill. Other than that we might call it “rolling”. Up until 20km to go, that is: then it goes up a category two ranked climb. Once down again, it is almost perfectly flat to the end.
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15:49 CEST
The finish line today is on the Avenida Miguel Indurain. Now where have we heard that name before....
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15:54 CEST (77km remaining from 151km)
Cofidis is still leading the chase and has brought the gap down, but the three in front are hanging on. The gap has stablized at 4:38.