Dutchman confirms talent with a bold ride to the finish
Bauke Mollema (Rabobank) won the sixth stage of the Tour of Poland, between Oświęcim and Terma Bukowina Tatrzańska in a solo breakaway. The Dutch climber won the toughest stage of the race, 7 seconds ahead of Michael Albasini (HTC-Columbia) and Grega Bole (Lampre-Farnese Vini) after escaping on the final ascent to the hilltop finish.
The toughest stage of the race was to take in six 1st category climbs, including three times up to Terma Bukowina Tatrzańska before finishing at the summit.
Having paid its respects to the victims of the Holocaust at Auscwitz Birkenau, the first attack on the peloton came from Stijn Devolder (Quick Step). The Belgian champion was unable to get far though, and a seven-man group as able to have more luck. Johnny Hoogerland and Michal Goias (both Vacansoleil), Marcin Sapa (Lampre-Farnese Vini), Mathew Hayman (Team Sky), Gorka Izagirre and Javier Armendia (both Euskaltel-Euskadi) and Alberto Losada (Caisse d’Epargne) were the ones to get away.
With around 30km to go, the break was down to just Hoogerland and Izagirre, before Izagirre finally went alone.
Pressure from the Garmin-Transitions team of race leader Dan Martin meant that the peloton caught Izagirre as he started the final two 11.8km finishing circuits. This provoked immediate attacks from a number of riders, including Oscar Pereiro (Astana) and Marek Rutkiewicz (Polska BGZ), but none were able to get away.
On the steepest part of the final climb with 3km to go Mollema put in his attack; with 2km to go he had a 20 second lead over the chasing group, which, with the 10-second bonus on the line, would have been enough for him to take the race lead. By the finish though, this had been cut to 7 seconds over Albasini, and 9 over Martin, meaning that the Irishman holds on to the yellow jersey for another day.
Result stage 6
1. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank
2. Michael Albasini (Swi) HTC-Columbia @ 7s
3. Grega Bole (Slo) Lampre-Farnese Vini
4. Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) BMC Racing Team
5. Tiago Machado (Por) Team RadioShack @ 9s
6. Alessandro Ballan (Ita) BMC Racing Team
7. Daniel Martin (Irl) Garmin-Transitions
8. Lars Petter Nordhaug (Nor) Team Sky
9. Sylwester Szmyd (Pol) Liquigas-Doimo
10. Marek Rutkiewicz (Pol) Team Polska BGZ
Standings after stage 6
1. Daniel Martin (Irl) Garmin-Transitions
2. Grega Bole (Slo) Liquigas-Doimo @ 8s
3. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank @ 10s
4. Michael Albasini (Swi) HTC-Columbia @ 20s
5. Alessandro Ballan (Ita) BMC Racing @ 21s