AUSTRALIAN SIMON GERRANS won the penultimate stage of the Tour of Catalonia on Saturday as Ireland’s Daniel Martin once again extended his lead at the top of the overall standings.
Gerrans, who rides for Orica-GreenEDGE, prevailed in a sprint finish to the penultimate day’s 178.7km run from Almacelles to Valls, beating Belgian Gianni Meersman and Daniele Ratto of Italy into second and third respecitively.
Race leader Martin extended his advantage over Joaquim Rodriguez by three seconds to 17 with Nairo Quintana 45 seconds back in third with just one stage to go.
The sixth stage was featured an eight-man breakaway which was eventually swallowed by the peloton four kilometres from the end.
Sunday’s seventh and final stage is a 122.2km ride from El Vendrell to Barcelona, with the finish up the slopes of Montjuic where Rodriguez will be aiming to attack Martin.
AFP contributed to this report.
