Tour de Suisse: GC battle sees stalemate as Nico Denz wins from breakaway sprint

The sixth stage of the Tour de Suisse saw more drama before the start then during the stage, as the GC changed shape but because of the abandon of Aleksandr Vlasov. The day was for the breakaway, as Nico Denz thrived in the mountains, taking the win in a late sprint from the survivors.

The day started with absolute chaos, as race leader abandoned with Covid-19, as did another 29 riders who because of Covid, proximity and issues with the heat didn't start the day. Jakob Fuglsang started the day in the yellow jersey with a peloton that was noticeably slimmer than the usual.

On the early kilometers of the day a breakaway of 11 riders went up the road. Andrea Pasqualon (Intermarché - Wanty - Gobert Matériaux), Michael Matthews (TeamBikeExchange - Jayco), Fausto Masnada (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team), Quentin Pacher (Groupama - FDJ), Nelson Oliveira (Movistar Team), Clement Champoussin (AG2R Citroën Team), Quinn Simmons (Trek - Segafredo), Nico Denz (Team DSM), José Herrada (Cofidis), Roland Thalmann (Swiss national team) and Brent van Moer (Lotto Soudal) took the risk

A risk that was well worth it, as the group went on to fight for the stage win. Israel - Premier Tech took up the responsibilities in the peloton as many teams lacked the firepower and intention to reel in the escapee group.

Early in the slopes of the 17-kilometer ascent splits occured, with Masnada, Denz and Simmons staying in front. Simmons cracked with 11 kilometers to go as Masnada kept the pace up throughout the climb, caught by Champoussin and Herrada with four kilometers to go. Eventually Simmons also returned and the five riders went into a sprint, in which Nico Denz took an extremely tight win over Clement Champoussin. José Herrada finished third.

Until five kilometers to go the peloton rode a calm pace, as an attack from Max Schachmann triggered a response from the race leader. From there on Daniel Martínez paced for Geraint Thomas, a situation that was the case until the final meters where the GC riders sprinted over the line.