Team Dimension Data’s Omar Fraile pulled out all the stops in the breakaway during stage six of the Vuelta a Espana from Monforte de Lemos to Luintra Ribera Sacra yesterday.
The breakaway had a good chance to decide the 163km stage and this resulted in another fast start as the teams battled to have representation in the early move.
Team Dimension Data’s Omar Fraile gave it his all in the breakaway on stage six of the Vuelta a Espana. Photo: Stiehl Photography
After 50km of racing, 11 riders got away from the main pack, joined by Fraile.
BMC Racing was hesitant to let the gap go out too far and 2’30” was all the break had to play with.
Orica-BikeExchange decided to up the tempo in the peloton with 60km to go which saw the gap plummet to just under 1’00”.
Fraile, not wanting to waste a stage effort in the lead, threw caution to the wind and attacked solo, 55km from home.
The Basque rider did well to lead over the only category two climb of the stage, but ahead there were a number of uncategorized climbs leading into the finishing town.
Despite opening the gap to 2’30”, Fraile was chased down by three of the original breakaway with 20km to go.
A reduced peloton was not far behind, but, in the end, Orica-BikeExchange’s Simon Yates countered an attack by Movistar’s Dani Moreno in the final 4km which saw him solo to a good win.
Astana’s Lluis Leon Sanchez came home in second and Trek-Segafredo’s Fabio Feline completed the stage podium.
“It was a day for a breakaway and we wanted to be part of that. It was not easy to get into it though as the pace at the beginning of the stage was very high.
“I felt good and saw a chance to arrive solo. I got a gap, but in the end the other guys came back. That’s racing, I guess, but I’ll try again,” said Fraile.
Fraile was awarded the most combative prize of the day, while BMC Racing’s Darwin Atapuma retained the overall race leader’s jersey.
