Giro d’Italia Stage 6 – Nono [Demare] nails it again

In today’s 188km scenic and sunny stage of the Giro d’Italia from Castrovillari to Matera, French champion Arnaud Demare (Groupama-FDJ) appeared from out of nowhere on the final corner. Launching his sprint on the finishing straight, he crossed the line a mile ahead of runner-up Michael Matthews (Sunweb) and third-placed Fabio Felline (Astana). With this second victory, Demare took the points jersey from Peter Sagan (BORA-hansgrohe). The general classification remained unchanged after race leader Joao Almeida finished in the bunch with the other favourites.

How the stage was won in style

The stage followed a familiar script with a quartet allowed to build a significant advantage until, with under 100km to go, Sagan’s BORA-hansgrohe team-mates worked at the head of the peloton to haul them back. Would this stage be a case of third-time lucky for Sagan?

"A day for Peter Sagan"

He's finished I tell you
#Giro2020

— Brad (@6WattsPerKg) October 8, 2020

As is so often the case on stages such as these, we sat back and enjoyed the fine weather and the splendid countryside while awaiting the final few exciting kilometres.

The scenery today at @giroditalia is stunning.

— Susan Westemeyer (@WestemeyerSusan) October 8, 2020

Dreamy scenery today from the Calabrian interior. That twisting track is crying out for some aggressively hipster facial hair, a gravel bike and a skateboard-inspired zany kit collaboration between EF and Palace #Giro2020 pic.twitter.com/5FCwex5v2D

— Felix Lowe (@saddleblaze) October 8, 2020

With everyone back in the peloton, we collectively moved forward onto the edge of our seats.

Last member of the breakaway has been caught by the #Giro bunch just as we prepare to take on the small climb taking to the finish in Matera, were some tricky corners and steep gradients will add salt and pepper to the fight for victory.

— Deceuninck-QuickStep (@deceuninck_qst) October 8, 2020

BLIMEY Bernie talking through the last 5km is making me anxious…head wind tail wind, washing machine, left right left, roundabout, CARNAGE, drag to the line.

Bernie tipping Nono…I'll not argue with the Ladies Favourite ( or Elia) #Giro2020

— midge (@pariswheels) October 8, 2020

#Giro 🇮🇹

Inside 3km to go!

It's a twisty, up and down run to the finish line 🏁 pic.twitter.com/k2yzjjSsE8

— Mitchelton-SCOTT (@MitcheltonSCOTT) October 8, 2020

The GC teams disrupted the run-in as they tried to keep their leaders safe, leaving wanna-be matinee idol Demare to pop up from nowhere and power to a clear victory, winning his second stage in this year’s race.

Demare now has 106 points to Sagan’s 67 in the race for the points’ jersey.

Nono

YES YES

What a finish…out of position and came back with strength pic.twitter.com/tNAD0yAro8

— midge (@pariswheels) October 8, 2020

Nono shows 💪 to everyone! #Giro103 pic.twitter.com/IJDvLuRQqS

— Eemeli (@LosBrolin) October 8, 2020

Incredible victory for Démare, so far back just before final km, a teammate (Guarneri?) guided him through and the French champ finished it in some style. Best sprinter at the moment? I reckon so #Giro #giroditalia

— Peter Cossins (@petercossins) October 8, 2020

Last stage he won was by a micro millimetre, this stage his won by a country mile. pic.twitter.com/ZFHjLfXpyV

— Journal Velo (@JournalVelo) October 8, 2020

I've spent the last 2 kms laughing at the Groupama guys who were looking back for Demare and couldn't find him and then suddenly he appears in the last corner and wins by 10 bike lengths. Me: 🤡. #Giro

— Mihai Simion (@faustocoppi60) October 8, 2020

Speaking seconds after the stage finish, the stage winner said:

Two days ago it wasn’t a perfect sprint but today it’s super! I wasn’t sure if I could overcome the climb but I found the best position when it flattened a bit. I said that the earlier I’d win a stage, the more stages I’d win in this Giro. This is pure pleasure!

I love it. He's proper old-school matinee idol. That smile.

— Bronagh (@BeebsyMcA) October 8, 2020

It wasn’t just Demare who was a happy bunny. His delightfully demonstrative team boss enjoyed today’s stage too.

Marc Madiot remet ça grâce à la 2e victoire d'Arnaud Démare sur le Giro ! 😁 #lequipeVELO #lequipeGIRO pic.twitter.com/WTlbRGraez

— la chaine L'Équipe (@lachainelequipe) October 8, 2020

Now, let’s enjoy that final kilometre all over again.

As for Sagan …

I feel like putting up a Wanted poster for Sagan’s fugitive mojo #Giro

— Racejunkie (@racejunkieblog) October 8, 2020

The Final Word

Stage 6: France's fastest finisher finds fine form, finishes first. #GIROversimplified

— Chad Haga (@ChadHaga) October 8, 2020

Stage 6 Results

1 Arnaud Demare (Groupama-FDJ) 4:54:38

2 Michael Matthews (Sunweb) same time

3 Fabio Felline (Astana) s/t

4 Juan Sebastian Molano (UAE-Emirates) s/t

5 Davide Cimolai (Israel-Start Up) s/t

GC Top 10

1 Joao Almeida (Deceuninck-Quickstep) 22:01:01

2 Pello Bilbao (Bahrain McLaren) +0:43

3 Wilco Kelderman (Team Sunweb) +0:48

4 Harm Vanhoucke (Lotto Soudal) +0:59

5 Vincenzo Nibali (Trek-Segafredo) +1:01

6 Domenico Pozzovivo (NTT Pro Cycling) +1:05

7 Jakob Fuglsang (Astana Pro Team) +1:19

8 Steven Kruijswijk (Jumbo-Visma) +1:21

9 Patrick Konrad (Bora-Hansgrohe) +1:26

10 Rafal Majka (Bora-Hansgrohe) +1:32

All the jerseys

🚴‍♂️ Stage 6, Castrovillari > Matera

💗 Maglia Rosa @EnelGroupIT: @JooAlmeida98 🇵🇹
💜 Maglia Ciclamino @segafredoitalia: @ArnaudDemare 🇫🇷
💙 Maglia Azzurra @BancaMediolanum: @GannaFilippo 🇮🇹
🤍 Maglia Bianca @EurospinItalia: @JooAlmeida98 🇵🇹 #Giro pic.twitter.com/UY1XkdHnJj

— Giro d'Italia (@giroditalia) October 8, 2020