Stage 6 of Volta Ciclista a Catalunya 2025 – the popular race through Catalonian territory – invited the riders to a battle in hilly and mountainous terrain. The race organizers had chosen a 159-kilometer route from Berga, through mountainous territory, and culminating in a high-altitude finish in Berga Queralt. There would be no rest for the riders in the challenging territory, and the stage was expected to have a decisive influence on the general classification.

Juan Ayuso was leading the general classification of Volta Ciclista a Catalunya 2025 for UAE Team Emirates before today’s stage 6. Primoz Roglic (Team Red Bull – Bora – Hansgrohe) was just one second behind him, while Movistar’s Enric Mas was in third place, 21 seconds back. Mikel Landa (Soudal-QuickStep) was fourth, and Lenny Martinez fifth for Bahrain-Victorious.

Yesterday’s stage winner Matthew Brennan of Team Visma – Lease a Bike was a non-starter in stage 6 as he had abandoned the race. Felix Gall (Decathlon-AG2R), Brieuc Rolland (Groupama-FDJ), Nils Eekhoff (Team Picnic-PostNL), and Jon Aberasturi (Euskaltel-Euskadi) did not appear at the start line either.

The race was expected to get off to a fast start, but the race organizers decided to neutralize the start of the race, due to adverse weather conditions on a segment of the race route. The race organizers were contemplating modifying the race route due to the strong winds. The riders were riding under controlled conditions as a combined peloton.

The race route was later modified, so parts of the stage route were removed, and the riders would end up contesting a shorter round two times of which one would be neutralized racing. The most significant climbing stretches had been stripped from the route of stage 6.

The race pace was extremely slow and Primoz Roglic, Juan Ayuso, and other riders moved to the front of the race to engage in heavy discussions with representatives of the race organizers, who were in the team car. 

Some wanted the stage cancelled, others wanted a short, fast race to the finish line, others were afraid the race would drag on for too long, which would cause the stage to finish too late, as the riders had to travel to Barcelona in the evening and prepare for an early stage start for tomorrow’s final stage 7 in Barcelona, which would commence at 10 AM. It was all very confusing and the race organizer took long to decide and create the eagerly needed clarity.

It was later decided the neutralization would be cancelled and the riders would be released and compete for just twenty-five kilometers before reaching the finish line, where a stage winner would be found. The result for the general classification would be registered five kilometers for the finish line. 

The alleged reason for the riders not having to ride a second roundtrip was heavy winds, though no riders had been able to feel the wind while riding the roundtrip the first time. The route was taking the riders through beautiful nature and Hanibal and his troops and elephants had certainly been more courageous when they passed through the same mountain territory in ancient times.

The riders were eager to race and warm their bodies after the long wait, so it did not take long before three riders attacked. The group featured Carlos Verona (Lidl-Trek), Remy Rochas (Groupama-FDJ), and Frank van den Broek of Team Picnic-PostNL. Diego Uriarte (Equipo Kern Pharma) later joined the long-awaited fun at the front.

Movistar Team riders were setting a fast pace in the main peloton and the four riders in the breakaway were just a few seconds ahead on the winding mountain roads of Catalonia.

Carlos Verona and Frank van den Broek left their two fellow breakaway optimists behind when thirteen kilometers remained of today’s shortened stage 6 challenge.

Verona and van den Broek were caught, and a united peloton was racing towards the finish line while being spearheaded by riders from Ineos-Grenadiers. 

Riders from UAE Team Emirates and Ineos-Grenadiers were setting a fast pace on the climb. The riders reached the five-kilometer mark and the times for the general classification were clocked. 

The speed in the peloton decreased because the GC riders and their helpers were no longer interested in working at the front of the race. 

New attacks were launched when four kilometers remained of stage 6 of Volta Ciclista a Catalunya 2025.

American Quinn Simmons attacked for Team Lidl-Trek. He created a small gap and was leading with five hundred meters left. The chasing peloton was struggling to establish a chase as the sprinter teams were discussing.

Quinn Simmons was almost caught by Pavel Bittner (Team Picnic-PostNL), but Quinn Simmons managed to cross the finish line as winner of stage 6 of Volta a Catalunya 2025. What a courageous effort from the American cyclist. 

Juan Ayuso remains general classification leader before tomorrow’s final stage 7 in Barcelona. Primoz Roglic is in second place.

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