Cycling
Hushovd wins, Gilbert leads
2010-09-02 18:39
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Murcia - Thor Hushovd of Norway won the sixth stage of the Tour of Spain on Thursday, while Philippe Gilbert kept his overall lead for the fourth straight day.
Hushovd, who rides for Cervelo, finished the 151km leg in 3 hours, 36 minutes, 20 seconds. Daniele Bennati of Italy and Grega Bole of Slovenia crossed the line next in the same time as Hushovd.
"I was motivated for this stage, I knew this climb," Hushovd said. "I hung on and then the team did a great job for me."
Hushovd said taking a conservative approach on the steep descent from the peak of Cresta del Gallo near the close of the stage was key.
"Everybody said it was dangerous and technical so I stayed easy there, and on the bumps afterward," the Norwegian cyclist said.
Gilbert held on to the leader's red jersey once again after finishing sixth behind Allan Davis of Australia and Filippo Pozzato of Italy in the same time as Hushovd.
The Belgian cyclist for Pharma-Lotto holds a 10-second lead over Spanish duo Joaquin Rodriguez and Igor Anton, while Vincenzo Nibali of Italy trails by 12 seconds. Gilbert's time is 22:36:26.
Frank Schleck of Luxembourg was 66th in the same time as Hushovd to stay 50 seconds behind Gilbert while defending champion Denis Menchov of Russia placed 23rd to be 1:11 off the red jersey.
Sprinters will rejoice on Friday as the riders negotiate the relatively flat seventh stage, a 187.1km leg from Murcia to Orihuela.
Stage Six Results:
1. Thor Hushovd, Norway, Cervelo, 3 hours, 36 minutes, 20 seconds.
2. Daniele Bennati, Italy, Liquigas-Doimo, same time.
3. Grega Bole, Slovenia, Lampre-Farnese, same time.
4. Allan Davis, Australia, Astana, same time.
5. Filippo Pozzato, Italy, Team Katusha, same time.
6. Philippe Gilbert, Belgium, Pharma-Lotto, same time.
7. Peter Velits, Slovakia, Team HTC-Columbia, same time.
8. Pablo Urtasun, Spain, Euskaltel Euskadi, same time.
9. Samuel Dumoulin, France, Cofidis, same time.
10. Nicholas Roche, Ireland, AG2R La Mondiale, same time.
Overall Standings
1. Philippe Gilbert, Belgium, Pharma-Lotto, 22 hours, 36 minutes, 26 seconds.
2. Igor Anton, Spain, Euskaltel Euskadi, 10 seconds behind.
3. Joaquin Rodriguez, Spain, Katusha, same time.
4. Vincenzo Nibali, Italy, Liquigas-Doimo, :12.
5. Peter Velits, Slovakia, Team HTC-Columbia, :16.
6. Tejay Van Garderen, United States, Team HTC-Columbia, :29.
7. Xavier Tondo, Spain, Cervelo, :49.
8. Frank Schleck, Luxembourg, Team Saxo Bank, :50.
9. Ruben Plaza, Spain, Caisse d'Epargne, :54.
10. Ezequiel Mosquera, Spain, Xacobeo Galicia, :55.