Pelayo Sanchez secured Movistar’s 24th Giro d’Italia stage victory with a tight stage-six win in Rapolano Terme.
Spaniard Sanchez, 24, battled to the line with Soudal-QuickStep’s Julian Alaphilippe and shook his head in disbelief after finishing the hilly 180km course in four hours and one minute.
Jayco AlUla rider Luke Plapp faded slightly towards the end of the three-man sprint to come home in third place.
Two-time Tour de France champion Pogacar stays top of the overall standings for a sixth straight day and remains 46 seconds ahead of Britain’s Geraint Thomas.
After taking his maiden Grand Tour stage win, Pelayo said he has been “trying to save energy” for the Torre del Lago Puccini to Rapolano Terme test, which tackles the white gravel roads of Tuscany.
“This is amazing. I don’t have words,” he said.
“I knew that it was going to be a really hard day, all day full gas. I tried to save energy and wait for my moment. After two hours of racing everyone started attacking, so I made my move.”
Friday’s stage seven is a 38.5km individual time trial from Foligno to Perugia which features a 6.6km climb at the end.
