Vuelta a Espana: Chris Froome extends overall lead by one second
- Published
Marczynski, 33, had never before won a stage at one of cycling's Grand Tours
Britain's Chris Froome extended his Vuelta a Espana lead by one second as Tomasz Marczynski claimed victory on stage six.
BMC's Tejay van Garderen, who began the day second overall, 10 seconds behind Froome, was involved in a crash and lost time on the Team Sky rider.
Orica-Scott's Esteban Chaves moves up to second, 11 seconds behind Froome.
Froome, 32, is aiming to become the third man to win the Vuelta and the Tour de France in the same year.
Van Garderen crashed when descending the day's final climb, on which Froome had defended himself from several Alberto Contador attacks.
At one point Van Garderen was almost two minutes behind Froome's group, but the American managed to reduce that gap, finishing only 17 seconds slower, despite suffering a second crash in the closing kilometres.
He is now in fourth place overall, 27 seconds behind Froome.
Spaniard David de la Cruz, who started the day in fifth, also lost 17 seconds on Froome, and he fell to sixth, with Italy's Vincenzo Nibali moving above him.
Poland's Marczynski was one of three breakaway riders contesting a sprint finish at the end of Thursday's 204.4km ride from Vila-real to Sagunt, in Valencia province.
The Lotto-Soudal rider's countryman Pawel Poljanski of Bora-Hansgrohe was second, with Spain's Enric Mas of Quick-Step Floors in third.
With just under 14km to go it appeared the breakaway was about to be reeled in and the lead group's fourth rider, Luis Leon Sanchez, rejoined the peloton with the split down to six seconds.
However, the three remaining riders managed to break clear once again, and Spaniard Sanchez eventually finished fourth, eight seconds off the pace.
Froome's group finished 26 seconds further back.
"The guys did another amazing job today from start to finish. They were all over that race and I've got them to thank for still being in this jersey," he said.
"Alberto [Contador] may have already lost time in the overall standings but I have to follow when he goes. He's still a danger and has shown just how strong and tenacious he is. He will fight all the way for the rest of this race I'm sure."
Friday's stage is a 207km ride from Lliria to Cuenca that takes in three category-three climbs.
Stage six result:
1. Tomasz Marczynski (Pol/Lotto-Soudal) 4hrs 47mins 02 secs
2. Pawel Poljanski (Pol/Bora-Hansgrohe) Same time
3. Enric Mas (Spa/Quick-Step Floors)
4. Luis Leon Sanchez (Spa/Astana) +8secs
5. Jan Polanc (Slo/UAE Team Emirates)
6. Warren Barguil (Fra/Sunweb) +26secs
7. Giovanni Visconti (Ita/Bahrain-Merida)
8. Chris Froome (GB/Team Sky)
9. Fabio Aru (Ita/Astana)
10. Jack Haig (Aus/ Orica-Scott)
Overall standings after stage six:
1. Chris Froome (GB/Team Sky)
2. Esteban Chaves (Col/Orica-Scott) +11secs
3. Nicolas Roche (Ire/BMC) +13secs
4. Tejay Van Garderen (US/BMC)+27secs
5. Vicenzo Nibali (Ita/Bahrain-Merida) +36secs
6. David De La Cruz (Spa/Quick-Step Floors) +40secs
7. Fabio Aru (Ita/Astana) +49secs
8. Adam Yates (GB/Orica-Scott) +50secs
9. Michael Woods (Can/Cannondale) +1mins 13secs
10. Simon Yates (GB/Orica-Scott) +1mins 026secs
- Published24 August 2017
- Published8 September 2017
