Amgen Tour of California: Ravasi climbs to 9th on stage, Durasek holds 9th on GC

The 6th stage of the Amgen Tour of California on Friday saw UAE Team Emirates’ riders spend over 5.5 hours on the bike and climb over 4,500 meters.

On the penultimate climb of the stage, the general classification contenders attacked with Kristijan Durasek and Edward Ravasi staying strong and following the wheels. Durasek and Ravasi powered to the line within the chase group to finish 9th and 12th on the stage behind winner Egan Bernal (Sky).

Durasek remains 9th in the general classification, 3’59” behind the yellow jersey. Ravasi moved up nine positions on the stage to 12th overall.

“It was a very hard and long day on the bike today,” Edward Ravasi said. “I stopped to pee midway through the stage and suddenly Team Sky went to the front to increase the pace. I had to use a bit of energy to get back and it cost me in the final kilometers.

“I’m happy with a top-10 finish and I moved up quite a bit on GC. I look forward to finishing the Tour of California tomorrow.”

Emirati national road race champion Yousif Mirza abandoned the race midway through. He is coming down from a peak in fitness and it has been a very hard week for him in support of Durasek and Ravasi on the mountain stage, and supporting Alexander Kristoff on the flat stages.

Saturday, May 18, the Amgen Tour of California finishes with stage 7 starting and finishing in Sacramento. The 143-kilometer stage is flat and will finish with 3 circuits around the California State Capitol in downtown Sacramento.

Stage 6 results:

1.Egan Bernal (Team Sky) 5h30’58”

2.Adam Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) +1’28”

3.Tao Geoghengan Hart (Team Sky) +1’30”

9.Edward Ravasi (UAE Team Emirates) +1’46”

12.Kristijan Durasek (UAE Team Emirates) +1’57”

General Classification after stage 6:

1.Egan Bernal (Team Sky) 22h26’40”

2.Tejay Van Garderen (BMC) +1’25”

3.Daniel Martinez (EF Education First-Drapac) +2’14”

9.Kristijan Durasek (UAE Team Emirates) +3’59”

12.Edward Ravasi (UAE Team Emirates) +6’11”