Giro d’Italia 2026 Stage 6 recap - Davide Ballerini wins in Napoli as sprinters held up after Dylan Groenewegen skids out

Giro d'Italia

Stage 6 | Flat | Men | 14.05.2026

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Highlights: Ballerini takes victory after chaotic finish on cobbles

Video credit: TNT Sports

BALLERINI AVOIDS CRASH ON THE COBBLES TO TAKE SURPRISE STAGE 6 WIN IN NAPOLI

Italy’s Davide Ballerini treated XDS Astana to their second win of the 2026 Giro d’Italia with an opportunistic victory in Napoli after a dramatic finish to Stage 6.

The Unibet Rose Rockets team of Dylan Groenewegen looked firmly in control until the final corner of the race where the Dutch sprinter and his lead-out man Elmar Reinders both hit the deck on the slippery cobbles.

Two-time winner Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step) and pre-stage favourite Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) both had to weave around the falling riders to avoid crashing themselves – effectively ruling them out of the dash to the line.

Ballerini, 31, powered up the rise to the line with Jasper Stuyven (Soudal Quick-Step) on his wheel before holding off the Belgian veteran for the eleventh – and best – win of his career.

Magnier recovered to take a battling third place ahead of Australia’s Jensen Plowright (Alpecin-PremierTech) and Britain’s Ben Turner (Netcompany INEOS).

Among the high-profile fallers at the finish were Norway’s Tobias Lund (Decathlon-CMA CGM) and Venezuela’s Orluis Aular (Movistar) as light rainfall and Napoli’s notoriously slippery cobblestones combined to devastating effect.

'It was always going to happen' - Ballerini takes stage win after 'massive crash' on cobbles

Video credit: TNT Sports

Overnight race leader Afonso Eulalio (Bahrain Victorious) finished safely in the pack after a largely uneventful first day in pink. The Portuguese climber will start Friday’s showpiece Stage 7 to Blockhaus with a 2’51” lead over Spain’s Igor Arrieta (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) in the general classification.

The 141km stage from Paestum saw a four-man breakaway never move further than around one minute clear of the peloton as the teams of the sprinters kept the escapees on a tight leash ahead of the expected fast finish in Napoli.

But with grey clouds looming throughout the day – and one heavy downpour along the way – the spectre of rain always threatened to derail the sprint.

Unibet Rose Rockets put together a textbook approach for their man Groenewegen, leading from the front of the peloton for most of the final five kilometres before looking to deliver their man to the foot of the final rise to the line in pole position.

But as the first rain drops started to fall, Groenewegen and Reinders skidded out – blocking the path of their rivals while opening the door for Ballerini and Stuyven. Ballerini did not need any prompting and jumped right in.

17:15

DAVIDE BALLERINI: ‘WINNING WAS NOT THE PLAN TODAY’

That was the 11th and biggest win of Ballerini’s career. Here’s what he had to say:

”I was thinking about winning one stage on the Giro but like all the other years I have been participating on this race. Today was not on the plan. I was trying to do the maximum for our sprinter [Matteo] Malucelli.

”When we arrive on the last corner, I see that the first guys had a crash. I just exited the corner and thought, ‘Go, go, go!’ I was hoping the line was coming really fast – and I made it. I’m really happy.

”Finally – it’s really important because we work a lot for this and in cycling there are always some problems. And then, especially when you don’t expect it, you get a win like this.”

'Today was not in the plan' - Ballerini after Stage 6 victory

Video credit: TNT Sports

17:02

17:02

NO CHANGE TO THE TOP 10

The general classification is unchanged as Afonso Eulalio comes through his first day in pink.

1. Afonso Eulalio (Bahrain Victorious)
2. Igor Arrieta (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +2:51
3. Christian Scaroni (XDS Astana) +3:34
4. Andrea Raccagni Noviero (Soudal Quick-Step) +3:39
5. Johannes Kulset (Uno-X Mobility) +5:17
6. Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek) +6:12
7. Jan Christen (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +6:16
8. Florian Stork (Tudor Pro Cycling) ”
9. Egan Bernal (Netcompany INEOS) ”
10. Thymen Arensman (Netcompany INEOS) +6:18

17:01

MILAN: ‘I DON’T GET WHY THE FINISHES ARE SO COMPLICATED’

Jonathan Milan was not happy with the route choices today…

”Luckily I didn’t crash – I was able to stay on my bike. But they fully crashed in front of me – it wasn’t their fault, we knew that it could be super slippery if it rains on this kind of cobbles.

"I really don’t get why we have to try to find these complicated finishes after… I really don’t get it. We know it could rain, so why not just do a finish where it’s straight? But with two drops of water, we have a huge mess, and I’m just disappointed because I was in a good position and I’m in good shape. It’s painful to see others sprint for the win and it’s painful to see other riders crash around you."

'I really don't get it' - Milan bemoans slippery cobbles finish after crash

Video credit: TNT Sports

16:56

TWO WINS AND A PINK JERSEY NOW FOR ASTANA

They are having a superb Giro, it has to be said. First Thomas Silva and now Davide Ballerini, with a few cameos from Christian Scaroni in between. Bravo...

16:54

GUTTED GROENEWEGEN PROMISES TO ‘GO AGAIN’

You have to admit that, besides that final bend, Unibet Rose Rockets rode a textbook finale there. The win will surely come if they keep this up. Here's what their sprinter Dylan Groenewegen had to say:

"Yeah, it was a bit slippery, I think. We did an amazing job – then we crashed. It can happen in a sprint. It was really slippery and, yeah, that’s what happened. I’m really proud of the team. They did an amazing job today and it was just bad luck at the end. It’s disappointing but we already look to the next one. It’s always easy to say, but we’re in the right position to go again for a victory. Sometimes you have bad luck. We need a bit of recovery now and then we go again."

16:47

STAGE 6 RESULT – TOP 10

It’s a first Grand Tour stage win for the versatile Italian…

1. Davide Ballerini (XDS Astana)
2. Jasper Stuyven (Soudal Quick-Step)
3. Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step)
4. Jensen Plowright (Alpecin-Premier Tech)
5. Ben Turner (Netcompany INEOS)
6. Alec Segaert (Bahrain Victorious)
7. Luca Mozzato (Tudor Pro Cycling)
8. Filippo Magni (Bardiani CFS 7 Saber)
9. Enrico Zanoncello (Bardiani CSF 7 Saber)
10. Casper Van Uden (Picnic PostNL)

'It was always going to happen' - Ballerini takes stage win after 'massive crash' on cobbles

Video credit: TNT Sports

16:43

UNIBET ROSE ROCKETS TO BLAME FOR CRASH

They looked so good until that final bend where both Groenewegen and his lead-out man hit the deck, causing carnage behind as everyone else either went down, dodged or was held up.

Ballerini and Stuyven were to the right of the duo who went down, which saved them as the riders skidded across the road. Both Milan and Magnier had to brake hard to avoid going down. It looked like Tobias Lund hit the deck as well, and Orluis Aular of Movistar, plus a host of others.

16:39

MAGNIER RECOVERS TO TAKE THIRD

Paul Magnier of Soudal Quick-Step was held up in the crash and had to unclip as he weaved through the melee. But all he could do was take third place today behind Ballerini and Stuyven.

16:38

BALLERINI WINS STAGE 6 FOR ASTANA!

What a ride from the Italian veteran Davide Ballerini of XDS Astana, who avoids those spills and then holds off Jasper Stuyven of Soudal Quick-Step up the ramp to take a fantastic win.

16:36

500M TO GO: CRASH!

There’s a crash near the front and all the favourites have been denied ahead of the rise towards the line.

16:35

FINAL KILOMETRE

Chaotic scenes as Decathlon put in a huge pull ahead of the flamme rouge. But it’s Unibet who are in control for now ahead of the cobbles. Under the kite they go with three riders on the nose, but the likes of Milan and Magnier just behind.

16:34

2KM TO GO: HERE WE GO

Soudal Quick-Step come up alongside Unibet through a succession of pinch-points and chicanes. Groupama are in the mix, Lidl-Trek, too.

16:32

4KM TO GO: RAIN AT THE FINISH

We’re hearing that the first drops of rain have started to fall… uh oh!

Unibet Rose Rockets still leading the pack, but Groenewegen is a bit out of position until he rides up. Phew.

16:31

5KM TO GO: HEART-IN-MOUTH RACING

It’s stressful just watching this, I can’t bear to think how tricky it must be riding it. After the wide roads, there’s a huge pinch-point through which Groenewegen’s Rose Rockets lead the strung-out peloton.

16:29

7KM TO GO: RACING THE RAIN

We’re hearing that the heavens will open in about 10-15 minutes – so if the riders keep up this pace, they might just miss it. Extra incentive there as they drop off the raised dual carriage way on a sweeping slip-road and approach the city centre streets.

16:26

10KM TO GO: IT’S SHOW TIME

The riders are zipping along in team formation as they approach the centre of Napoli ahead of today’s fast and technical finish. Will one of the big favourites seal the deal or will we have a surprise winner?

16:23

12KM TO GO: BIG BLACK CLOUD LOOMING

It’s touch and go whether it will open up and deposit its contents above the riders before they get to the finish. It will cause carnage if it does… For now, they’re still on a raised wide dual carriageway spiriting the peloton in towards the centre of Napoli. The outskirts of the city are, as you might expect, rather gritty.

16:20

15KM TO GO: WORK FOR UNIBET ROSE ROCKETS TO DO

Matyas Kopecky picked up an untimely puncture a few kilometres ago but he’s now being led back towards the front by another Unibet team-mate ahead of the lead-out, where he usually plays an important role for Dylan Groenewegen. Will he have time to recover enough?

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