Julian Arredondo won stage 6 of the 2014 Tour de San Luis atop the Mirador del Sol climb today, marking his second win in this year’s race.
The Colombian rider crossed the finish line a mere second ahead of Sergio Godoy. Meanwhile, race leader Nairo Quintana followed five seconds later taking third place – and strengthening his hold on the overall victory with one stage remaining.
“I really wanted to win another stage, but when Pozzovivo attacked on the final climb I had to make a decision to go for the stage win or protect my overall lead,” said Quintana.
Quintana now leads Phil Gaimon by 35 seconds who finished eight in today’s race, with Godoy in third at 1:57 behind.
The 184.4 kilometer stage began in Las Chacras, and headed through the Valley of Conlara to a 7 kilometer summit finish atop Mirador del Sol that has an elevation gain 1,837 vertical feet with an average grade of 8.75%.
Today’s early breakaway group Gregory Brenes, Richard Mascarañas, Lawrence Warbasse, Juan Arango, Kenny Dehaes, Jens Keukeleire and Anthony Delaplace. However, all of them we’re swept up 20 kilometers before the climb; wherein the Colombian climbers took over.
Two riders for the Jamis Team, Eloy Teruel and Daniel Jaramillo, weren’t so fortunate however. Both had to abandon the race after going down in separate crashes.
Arredondo praised his teammates for their work on his behalf.
“I have a great squad. I dedicate this win to them for the great work they have done,” he said. “We came with the idea of winning the Tour de San Luis, but we couldn’t, though we have been able to win a few stages.”
Quintana likewise commended his comrades and added a compliment for the race organizers.
“The Tour de San Luis is a great race,” he said. “I congratulate the organizers. It has been really important to start the season here. I think the race is only going to get better. ”
Tomorrow’s final stage is a 148.1 kilometer route from San Luis to Terrazas del Portezuelo.
Stage 6, Las Chacras to Mirador del Sol:
1, Julian Arredondo (Trek Factory Racing) 184.4 kilometres in 4 hours 16 mins 54 secs
2, Sergio Godoy (San Luis Somos Todos) at 1 sec
3, Nairo Quintana (Movistar Team) at 5 secs
4, Cleberson Weber (Clube Dataro de Ciclismo-Bottecchia) at 9 secs
5, Jose Rodolfo Serpa Perez (Lampre-Merida) at 10 secs
6, Domenico Pozzovivo (AG2R La Mondiale) at 12 secs
7, Thomas Danielson (Garmin Sharp) at 14 secs
8, Phillip Gaimon (Garmin Sharp)
9, Adam Yates (Orica Greenedge) at 30 secs
10, Eduardo Sepulveda (Bretagne – Seche Environnement)
11, Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Team Katusha)
12, Darwin Atapuma Hurtado (BMC Racing Team) at 36 secs
13, Damiano Cunego (Lampre-Merida) at 39 secs
14, Enzo Moyano (San Luis Somos Todos) at 47 secs
15, Sander Armee (Lotto Belisol)
16, Isaac Bolivar (Team Unitedhealthcare) at 53 secs
17, Michele Scarponi (Astana Pro Team) at mins 54 secs
18, Peter Stetina (BMC Racing Team)
19, Gianluca Brambilla (Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team) at 58 secs
20, Gianfranco Zilioli (Androni Giocattoli) at 1 min 5 secs
21, Marc De Maar (Team Unitedhealthcare) at 1 min 9 secs
22, Winner Anacona Gomez (Lampre-Merida) at 1 min 12 secs
23, Christian Meier (Orica Greenedge) at 1 min 23 secs
24, Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Lotto Belisol) at 1 min 30 secs
25, Benjamin King (Garmin Sharp)
Overall standings:
1, Nairo Quintana (Movistar Team) 21 hours 35 mins 13 secs
2, Phillip Gaimon (Garmin Sharp) at 35 secs
3, Sergio Godoy (San Luis Somos Todos) at 1 min 57 secs
4, Julian Arredondo (Trek Factory Racing) at 2 mins 54 secs
5, Enzo Moyano (San Luis Somos Todos) at 2 mins 59 secs
6, Eduardo Sepulveda (Bretagne – Seche Environnement) at 3 mins 38 secs
7, Peter Stetina (BMC Racing Team) at 3 mins 46 secs
8, Marc De Maar (Team Unitedhealthcare) at 3 mins 51 secs
9, Darwin Atapuma Hurtado (BMC Racing Team) at 3 mins 52 secs
10, Domenico Pozzovivo (AG2R La Mondiale) at 4 mins 3 secs
11, Adam Yates (Orica Greenedge) at 4 mins 35 secs
12, Miguel Angel Rubiano (Team Colombia) at 5 mins 15 secs
13, Isaac Bolivar (Team Unitedhealthcare) at 5 mins 17 secs
14, Winner Anacona Gomez (Lampre-Merida) at 5 mins 32 secs
15, Lucas Euser (Team Unitedhealthcare) at 6 mins 9 secs
16, Christian Meier (Orica Greenedge) at 7 mins 18 secs
17, Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Trek Factory Racing) at 7 mins 52 secs
18, Gianfranco Zilioli (Androni Giocattoli) at 8 mins 4 secs
19, Damiano Cunego (Lampre-Merida) at 8 mins 8 secs
20, Robert Squire (Jamis-Hagens Berman) at 8 mins 19 secs
21, Thomas Danielson (Garmin Sharp) at 8 mins 43 secs
22, Michele Scarponi (Astana Pro Team) at 8 mins 49 secs
23, Cleberson Weber (Clube Dataro de Ciclismo-Bottecchia) at 8 mins 54 secs
24, Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Lotto Belisol) at 9 mins 19 secs
25, Florian Guillou (Bretagne – Seche Environnement) at 11 mins 21 secs
