The first of three straight mountain stages. It's an easy ride for the most part until a double climb to the finish line. Not a day for the KOM hunters as we expected the GC favourites to contest the win.
The first attacker is Berthet followed by Blouwe and Baksaas.
Antonelli and Aliyev have made it across, but the peloton are not happy and are still chasing hard.
They must have thought Berthet is too dangerous to let go so after lots of chasing the breakaway is over only 60 km into the stage.
A new group forms and peloton is fine with letting the following rider go:
Plamondon Pita Hidrobo Politt Child
The peloton are less than 3 minutes behind the escapees as they start climbing.
Nothing changes with just 6 KOM points, but Pita Hidrobo does take those. We'll see if we see him in the break again tomorrow.
Pita Hidrobo was the last rider in front, but he was caught 7.5 km from the finish.
Cort Nielsen provides the first acceleration just ahead of the 5 km sign. Fernandes is on his wheel followed by Carcueva and Cras.
There is a slow down in tempo after Cort Nielsen finished with his attack. Osorio is pacing with 3 km to go.
Osorio still leads the group as they start the final km. Burke, Cort Nielsen are next on the road followed by Obando, Stüssi and Prado.
Race leader Cras and Schlegel are way down at the end of this group!
Shikai comes to the front with 500 m to go. Cras and Schlegel are gapped.
Shikai beats a fast finishing Burke to win this mountain sprint. Osorio is 3rd ahead of Galta.
These four have a 15'' gap to Pira, Rachid, Harper and Ciccone.
The next group is down 34'', but Cras and Schlegel are another two groups behind at a whooping 2'22''.
Chen Shikai delivers a 2nd stage win for Karthago and lead the GC ahead of Galta and Osorio.
No changes in points, but Shikai also leads the KOM now. Obando takes over the white jersey as best young rider.
Vuelta al Tachira - Stage 6 
