2026 Giro d'Italia Stage 6 Results & Recap
Stage 6 of the 2026 Giro d'Italia is in the books. The final results and standings are below, followed by our recap of how the race unfolded.
Race Recap
Riders were warning beforehand that this short stage into Naples could be "carnage" if the cobbles in the final kilometer were dampened by rain, and, unfortunately, they were proved correct as the main bunch sprint contenders either went down or were held up on the final 180-degree corner 400m from the line.
Davide Ballerini (XAT) was the only rider near the front who avoided the mayhem, and the Italian veteran took full advantage as he powered away to a first Giro stage win, Jasper Stuyven (LTK) chasing him all the way to the line to take second place. Double stage-winner Paul Magnier (SOQ) picked his way over and through the fallen riders and then blasted by several riders in the final straight to claim third place, with Jensen Plowright (APT) in fourth and Ben Turner (IGD) fifth.
With a sprint almost guaranteed, no one was keen to try for a breakaway in the initial kilometers. Edward Planckaert (APT) and Luca Vergallito (APT) eventually went clear and were joined by Martin Marcellusi (BCS), Manuele Tarozzi (BCS) and Mattia Bais (PTV).
Bais led over the only climb of the day, a 4th cat, and Tarozzi took first place at the intermediate sprint, before the break was swept up with 30km remaining.
Coming into the final 5km, Unibet Rose Rockets were always prominent, their riders returning to the front even when they'd been eased aside. They led into the final kilometer, with Dylan Groenewegen (URR) ideally placed to take advantage.
However, on that final corner Groenewegen and his lead-out man both slid off, followed by the likes of Jonathan Milan (LTK), Tobias Lund Andresen (DCT) and Orluis Aular (MOV), while Paul Magnier (SOQ) did astonishly well to stay upright, but lost all momentum in the process.
Riding more on the inside of the corner, Ballerini skirted the chaos and didn't look back. "Go! Go! Go!" his team director shouted on the radio. "You've got a gap!"
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