Sicard upset the apple cart on Stage 5 and now the pure puncheurs will look to Stage 6 to fight back, especially wary of his time trialling abilities. Ponzi and Bakelants kept up with him, De Bie and Bobridge kept in touch, but Mohoric had a shocker.
They may be thinking of the finish, others are thinking earlier to move on from disappointment. Gautier and Boswell are attacking for the breakaway!
They are 2 of 17 going for it, and they each have a teammate for support. Phelan is back at it too, along with Mosca and Madouas - all three again supported.
A thrilling opening to the stage follows, as these 17 are strung out and riding hard for it. All contributing bar 5 - Boswell, Gautier, Lane, Mosca and Madouas.
Naturally, the peloton don't like either the size of it, or the presence of Boswell and Gautier.
Nooytens (Evonik), Katrasnik (Isostar), Fejes (Gazelle), Vesely (Aegon), and Boros (Moser) amongst those putting in shifts while they can, before Aker took over en masse with 6 riders in the relay train.
50 kilometres in and still the gap is just a minute, but we're about to start climbing for real.
And also, the breakaway group has gone beyond stretching point and falling apart. Phelan clearly felt he was done and not to be adding any points today, so Lane had already drifted forwards - but the first gap sees the other 'resting' riders caughting out, so now Madouas and Boswell do have to work.
And they've used the other riders to perfection here. Lane takes the front, Lammertink still holding on, but otherwise it is Boswell, Gautier, Mosca, and Madouas. Vorobev the best of the single team riders but is bidding farewell.
These five mid-stage climbs are all Cat 2 and worth 10 points to the winner - with Phelan's 40 to chase.
Boswell jumps clear to take the first climb, ahead of Gautier and Mosca - who already having 24 points, is now up to 30.
The peloton did slip to 3 minutes back but McKenna brings it back for Moser to that minute mark on the 2nd big climb. Lane and Madouas are dropped from the break now as well.
Gautier narrowly defeats Boswell for this second climb. Tallies: B 18, G 18, M 36.
McKenna continues to be one of the main chasers, along with Lars Boom. Gap down to 40 seconds before the peloton loses a bit of impetus again.
Recognising the gap widening, we see three new attackers. A new Repsol rider in Castroviejo, then Van Niekerk and Nardin.
Boswell opened the attack at the next climb, which doesn't work out. Gautier takes the full points here. Mosca 3rd again, but this is good enough to take the lead. M 42, G 28, B 26.
Boom continues his hard work, with the gap now out at 1'30 though, as the break comes together as a 6.
Bernard puts in a surge for a Fablok contribution, but while that's got it back to a minute, the KoM attacking will open it up again. Boswell leads it out once more.
Not a good move, as all 5 will pass him by the top. The fresh legs come to the fore with Castroviejo winning from Van Niekerk, Mosca again in 3rd. M 48, G 32, B 26, VN 18.
Onto the 5th KoM, and a Repsol team effort - interestingly though it is Mosca leading Castroviejo, which may not mean much points for Mosca.
But here's the first real sign of weakness from the stronger two. Gautier gapped, with Boswell behind him. Mosca blows the competition away to finally win a climb, and really take a big lead in the competition.
Boswell recovered to take 2nd though. M 58, B 34, G 32, VN 24.
Riders are being shed from the peloton and oh dear, this is inexcusable. Koretzky is out the back, with Kastrnatas and Kortsidakis, and they appear to be waiting for Petit. Awful.
A long mostly downhill section now. Bennelong playing a key role with Bayly and also Lane, recovered from his earlier time off the front. Indosat paying a keen interest too. Boom still contributing, along with Paillot, and a rider from Gazelle.
The gap down to a minute, and Repsol decide to play a possible 1-2 punch. It's Castroviejo first, Nardin with him. They hold a gap, but as we enter the final 10km and start the last KoM, Gautier and Boswell ride back up to them. But the peloton are right here too.
Last chance saloon for the breakaway, and Boswell still has more to give, and moves solo to take what is the 16 points on offer on this climb.
McKenna takes 2nd from Van der Hugenhaben. Van Niekerk held on for 4th, while Riesebeek is there in 5th to add to his tally from Stage 5.
No points here for Mosca but he ends the stage on 58, leading Boswell at 50, Riesebeek at 44, while Phelan at 40, then Gautier at 34.
Boswell has 24 seconds and takes that through the intermediate sprint - with Van Stayen of course sprinting for it, and taking 4 more points/seconds.
Into the last 5km and Boswell's day is done. A heroic effort, but the peloton just not let that gap grow out.
Dzamastagic now takes the front - a leadout after all of this for Van Stayen? He certainly strings it out, with Ponzi, Bibby and Dennis closest.
Buchmann, Mohoric, Bobridge and Bakelants are together, with Sicard a little further back alongside De Bie.
Well placed GC riders Prado, Zardini and Konrad still up here, Wirtgen too.
But again Ulissi is not covering himself in glory, and caught in the 2nd group.
Ponzi launches his attack, with 3km to go! Van Stayen looks to follow.
McCarthy had made the front group, but not anymore, it's reduced to 14 now, behind Ponzi and Van Stayen.
Dennis, Zardini, Bibby and Prado lead the group - the front two are getting away!
Van Stayen can't keep up with Ponzi here.
This is the moment for Simone Ponzi. He needs a gap today and it's quickly up to 28 seconds on Van Stayen.
Sicard and De Bie are moving forwards.
Not for the first time this race Van Stayen has cracked, and is caught, and it's Bakelants on the charge.
Bennelong in trouble! Dennis struggling, but Bobridge is the one off the back! The continuing surprise of Wirtgen is his best hope of keeping within gap distance now.
Ponzi wins the stage! The clock starts now.
Bakelants stops it at 25 seconds, picking up some useful time bonuses of his own - and Bibby takes 3rd - no bonuses for Sicard then.
Buchmann in 5th, Konrad, De Bie, Zardini, Mohoric and Prado picking up top 10 positions.
Van Stayen, Wirtgen and Dennis complete the group.
Bobridge just couldn't keep in touch, and the help of a flying McCarthy came too late. He is awarded 1'06 to Ponzi, a tough 41 second loss on the group ahead.
Ulissi too late as well with his finish, and loses 1'31. Gidich at 1'43 loses ground for GC, and also the U25 competition - Wirtgen now with a minutes lead there.
Generali also lose Kung from the top GC position as he lost 2'28. Rybalkin and Koch others who made the cut on Stage 5 but not today. Koretzky way back at 7'37, unfortunately.
So Ponzi moves into the lead, and his built himself a 30 second advantage to defend in the time trial. Bakelants at 37 seconds.
19 seconds separate 4th to 11th, with De Bie at the head. Buchmann will struggle to stay 5th, with Bibby, Dennis, Prado and Wirtgen the best time triallists in this selection.
Bobridge in 12th and further behind than he expected, while Mohoric has recovered to 13th, ahead of Ulissi, Gidich and Van Stayen. Despite the intermediate sprints, Van Stayen has lost the Points lead today - now 5 points behind Ponzi.
