RACE LEADER MICHAEL Matthews of Australia won the gruelling sixth stage of the Giro d’Italia on Thursday as compatriot Cadel Evans lurked on a day’s racing marred by a nasty crash.

Ireland’s Nicolas Roche was one of those involved in the crash in question, which caused him to lose 15 minutes in general classification and left his hopes of success in jeopardy.

Matthews, 23, surged home in a sprint finish to the 257km stage from Sassano to Montecassino, the longest on the Tour, ahead of Belgian Tim Wellens and Evans.

The leading peloton had a 49sec advantage over the main chasing pack that included a host of rivals to Evans, the big beneficiary of the day’s racing.

Heavy rain made for a slick surface and there were two falls in the final 12km, 8.7km of which was a steep climb.

Evan’s BMC teammate, Switzerland’s Steve Morabito, accelerated away to build up a lead that the fallen riders were unable to reel in.

In the general classication, Matthews has a 21sec lead over Evans, with Colombian Rigoberto Uran at 1min 18sec.

Friday’s seventh stage is a 231km ride from Frosinone to Foligno.

Results in the Giro d’Italia on Thursday, after the 257km sixth stage from Sassano to Montecassino:

Stage

1. Michael Matthews (AUS/ORI) 6hr 37min 01sec, 2. Tim Wellens (BEL/LTB) same time, 3. Cadel Evans (AUS/BMC)s.t., 4. Matteo Rabottini (ITA/NRI) s.t., 5. Ivan Santaromita (ITA/ORI) at 13sec, 6. Steve Morabito (SUI/BMC) 23sec, 7. Wilco Kelderman (NED/BKN) 49, 8. Mauro Finetto (ITA/NRI), s.t., 9. Diego Ulissi (ITA/LAM), 10. Fabio Duarte (COL/COL),11. Ryder Hesjedal (CAN/GRM), 12. Diego Rosa (ITA/AND), 13. Fabio Aru (ITA/AST), 14. Domenico Pozzovivo (ITA/ALM), 15. Rigoberto Uran (COL/OPQ), 16. Daniel Moreno (ESP/KAT), 17. Michael Rogers (AUS/TIN), 18. Pierre Rolland (FRA/EUC), 19. Nairo Quintana (COL/MOV), 20. Francesco Manuel Bongiorno (ITA/BAR) all 49sec

Selected

28. Ivan Basso (ITA/CAN) 49sec … 35. Damiano Cunego (ITA/LAM) 1min 29sec … 171. Nicolas Roche (EIR/TIN) 15:08

Overall

1. Michael Matthews (AUS/ORI) 24hr 18min 14sec, 2. Cadel Evans (AUS/BMC) at 21sec, 3. Rigoberto Uran (COL/OPQ) at 1min 18sec, 4. Rafal Majka (POL/TIN) 1:25, 5. Steve Morabito (SUI/BMC) 1:25, 6. Matteo Rabottini (ITA/NRI) 1:25, 7. Ivan Santaromita (ITA/ORI) 1:47, 8. Fabio Aru (ITA/AST) 1:51, 9. Tim Wellens (BEL/LTB) 1:52, 10. Ivan Basso (ITA/CAN) 2:0611. Nairo Quintana (COL/MOV) 2:08, 12. Wilco Kelderman (NED/BKN) 2:11, 13. Maxime Bouet (FRA/ALM) 2:11, 14. Domenico Pozzovivo (ITA/ALM) 2:11, 15. Diego Ulissi (ITA/LAM) 2:22, 16. Robert Kiserlovski (CRO/TRE) 2:24, 17. Michele Scarponi (ITA/AST) 2:28, 18. Samuel Sanchez (ESP/BMC) 2:34, 19. Dario Cataldo (ITA/SKY) 2:36, 20. Gianluca Brambilla (ITA/OPQ) 2:46

Selected

26. Damiano Cunego (ITA/LAM) 3:13 … 39. Ryder Hesjedal (CAN/GRM) 4:39 … 80. Nicolas Roche (EIR/TIN) 15:55

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