Today’s stage from Urbino to Porto Sant’Elpidio went off perfectly for Team NetApp. Cesare Benedetti succeeded in making the leap into the decisive group and sprinted to fifth place in the breakaway group finale. Miguel Rubiano Chavez (Androni Giocattoli) snatched victory from Adriano Malori (Lampre-ISD) and Michal Golas (Omega Pharma-Quickstep). 

Thanks to the success of the breakaways, the overall rankings have been shaken up and are now led by Adriano Malori (Lampre-ISD) followed by Michal Golas (Omega Pharma-Quickstep) and Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin Barracuda). The best Team NetApp rider in the overall ranking is now Cesare Benedetti, in 31st place in front of Jan Barta, who was able to make up time today and improved his position to 38th. 

“Cesare put in an outstanding performance today. He was already part of the first group and then managed to break into the second group as well. Cesare has developed really well in the last three years. Handling such a tough stage that well is no mean feat,” Sport Director Jens Heppner praised his rider’s achievement.

Today, it was above all the heat that gave the riders problems on the average difficulty stage. After an initial attempt to get away collapsed, a larger group of riders peeled off after 33 kilometers and proved to be the decisive breakaway group of the day. Cesare Benedetti and six more riders were quickly able to build up a lead of up to eight minutes. On the final kilometers Miguel Rubiano Chavez pulled ahead of the leaders. Benedetti and three more riders managed to follow and made out the other places between themselves. 

Tomorrow’s stages will take the team into the Apennines. Following the start in Recanati, the route continues over 205 kilometers. On the way, the riders can expect a mountain classification of the third category before the stage ends with a summit finish (category 2) in Rocca di Cambio.

“The Giro has only just really begun and today's stage has already cost many riders in the field a lot of energy. We’ll continue to do our best and see what tomorrow’s race holds for us,” Jens Heppner continued.

stage 6, 11 May: Urbino - Porto Sant’Elpidio, 210 km
stage 7, 12 May: Recanati - Rocca di Cambio, 205 km
stage 8, 13 May: Sulmona - Lago Laceno, 229 km
stage 9, 14 May: San Giorgio del Sannio - Frosinone, 166 km
stage 10, 15 May: Civitavecchia - Assisi, 186 km
stage 11, 16 May: Assisi - Montecatini Terme, 255 km
stage 12, 17 May: Seravezza - Sestri Levante, 155 km
stage 13, 18 May: Savona - Cervere, 121 km
stage 14, 19 May: Cherasco - Cervinia, 206 km
stage 15, 20 May: Busto Arsizio - Lecco/Piani dei Resinelli, 169 km
stage 16, 22 May: Limone sul Garda - Falzes/Pfalzen, 173 km
stage 17, 23 May: Falzes/Pfalzen - Cortina d’Ampezzo, 186 km
stage 18, 24 May: San Vito di Cadore - Vedelago, 149 km
stage 19, 25 May: Treviso - Alpe di Pampeago/Val di Fiemme, 198 km
stage 20, 26 May: Caldes/Val di Sole - Passo dello Stelvio, 219 km
stage 21, 27 May: ITT Milano - Milano, 30.1 km

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