Gaviria wins stage, Quintana leads into final day
Froome declares support for Sky boss Brailsford
CIVITANOVA MARCHE, Italy, March 13, (Agencies): Fernando Gaviria won the sixth stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico cycling race Monday, and Nairo Quintana retained the overall lead heading into the final leg.
Gaviria, who rides for Quick Step, held off world champion Peter Sagan in a bunch sprint at the end of the 168-kilometer (104-mile) route from Ascoli Piceno to Civitanova Marche to win by half a bike wheel. Jasper Stuyven was third.
“In Stage 3, I crashed and the legs weren’t excellent, but now I’m going well,” Gaviria said. “The climb before the finish made the race a little MilanSan Remo today. It’s always a nice duel with Peter Sagan but also a fight with the other riders.”
Quintana remained 50 seconds ahead of Thibaut Pinot, who moved into second, and 1 minute, 6 seconds ahead of Rohan Dennis.
The breakaway was halted for three minutes near the halfway point after the peloton was held up at a train crossing.
Tuesday’s final stage is a 10-kilometer (6-mile) individual time trial around San Benedetto del Tronto.
Three times Tour de France winner Chris Froome spoke out in support of his embattled Team Sky boss Dave Brailsford on Monday while apologising to fans who felt let down by mistakes over anti-doping and testing practices.
Froome added in a statement that the team “need to do better” in future.
“It disappoints me hugely to see the way in which Team Sky has been portrayed by the media recently. It does not reflect the support crew and the riders that I see around me,” said the rider.
“At the same time, I completely understand why people feel let down by the way in which the situation has been handled, and going forward we need to do better.
“I would like to apologise for this on behalf of myself and the other riders of
Gaviria
Team Sky who feel passionately about our sport and winning clean. I believe in the people around me, and what we are doing,” added Froome.
Former British Cycling performance director Brailsford has come under fire for failing to prove what was in a medical package ordered by a team doctor and delivered to Bradley Wiggins at the 2011 Criterium du Dauphine race.
Brailsford told lawmakers that the package contained the legal decongestant Fluimucil - although the lack of a paper trail has called into question Sky’s medical record-keeping.
Team Sky and British Cycling have both been subject to an investigation by UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) into allegations of wrongdoing in the sport. Both have denied any doping violations.
Several Team Sky riders have expressed support for Brailsford, who launched the team in 2010 and has led it to four Tour triumphs, although Froome had kept his silence on the matter until Monday.