Warren Barguil proved that he is ready to repeat last year's amazing Vuelta performance when he finished 6th in today's hardest stage of the Tour de Pologne after having done a very aggressive race. Having just finished his first altitude training camp, he was surprised to be so strong in the WorldTour race.

Warren Barguil eventually finished seventh on stage six of the Tour of Poland but he left everything out on the road in an attempt to wrestle the stage win. Barguil moved clear in a select group at the front of the race in the final kilometres before putting in several large attacks but he could not get clear to get out of sight and out of mind.

The finishing line sat atop one final hill and it was here that the winning move came as Rafal Majka (Saxo Tinkoff) pulled clear to solo to his second win in two days. Barguil, feeling the effects from his efforts in the preceding kilometres slipped back to eventually take seventh and move up to the same position in the general classification.

The sixth stage was also the final road stage with just an individual time trial to follow, so the overall contenders were out to make the most of the tough terrain with a parcours that resembled more of a roller coaster than a bike race.

The initial move was formed of eight riders and representing Team Giant-Shimano’s interests at the front of the race was Johannes Fröhlinger. This group spent the majority of the day ahead, gaining a maximum of five minutes before gradually being brought back with the final catch being made with around 23km to go.

From hereon in the pace was held high at the front of the bunch and the front group was whittled down to a select group, with Barguil having Tobias Ludvigsson and Georg Preidler for company. This group stayed together until the penultimate climb of the day, where Barguil moved clear in a small group of four.

With a lack of cohesion the group swelled on the approach to the finishing hill. Warren was not done though as he continued to attack, but each time he was gradually reeled back in before the final hill finish put paid to his efforts.

Preidler was next home for the team in 33rd position, over four minutes back.

“Today was a nice stage with the type of profile that I like – a bit like Liège-Bastogne-Liège,” said Barguil after the stage. “The team looked after me really well during the stage and I thank them all for that.

“At the end Tobias and Georg placed me really well for the final time up the wall where I was then able to follow Majka’s attack but after when there were six of us there was no collaboration which is a shame as we could have made good ground on the GC.

“I attacked on the descent to use it to my advantage but behind everyone came back together and brought me back. On the final hill I cracked a bit but it is good work ahead of the Vuelta. I really didn’t think that I would have this condition after the high-altitude training camp with the team so it is good to know that it did me good.”

Team coach Addy Engels said after the stage: “We were in a good position today with Johannes in the break during the stage which meant that there was no pressure behind.

“Then when it got tough at the end we still had three riders in the front group again. Tobias and Georg couldn’t hold on but Warren was really strong and that is good to see after a long period without racing. We will now see what he can do in the time trial tomorrow.”