Tinkoff-Saxo kept fighting on the fast crosswinds stage 6 in Catalunya despite being four men down due to a stomach influenza. While Ivan Basso and Jesus Hernandez were forced to withdraw from the race, Alberto Contador was brought down by a crash within the 3km marker – Contador, however, remains 3rd overall, while Chernetckii took stage glory in the breakaway.

Stage 6 of Volta a Catalunya was carried out in a fast pace with crosswinds affecting the finale. In a roundabout less than 3 kilometers from the finish a rider entered at full speed and touched Alberto Contador's rear wheel, which resulted in the team captain crashing. Contador sustained superficial wounds on his left thigh, leg, knee, arm and hand but will, according to team DS Steven de Jongh, most likely start the final stage 7.

“Alberto was brought down in a crash, luckily it happened within the last 3 kilometers, which means that he keeps his 3rd place in the GC. Right now, he has some pain in his back and superficial wounds but he is OK. We expect Alberto to start tomorrow, for the moment we do not see any concerns in letting him do so and then we hope that he has a good day”, tells Steven de Jongh.

Jesus Hernandez and Ivan Basso both had to abandon Volta a Catalunya. Alberto Contador subsequently received treatment from the team doctor after arriving at the team hotel. Furthermore adding to the misfortune on stage 6, two important pieces in the Tinkoff-Saxo race puzzle, Ivan Basso and Jesus Hernandez, were forced to abandon Volta a Catalunya before and just after the start of Saturday’s stage. Just like Rafal Majka and Michael Rogers, the two had suffered from fever and what is expected to be a stomach influenza.

“We are happy that Alberto is OK. But on the downside, Ivan Basso and Jesus were really ill today and abandoned the race. They were also sick yesterday, and it was the right thing to do, as their symptoms didn’t subside. The last three teammates Paulinho, Valgren, Kiserlovski did a hell of a job and worked the entire day to keep Alberto well-positioned in the crosswinds. I’m pleased with their performance”, adds Steven de Jongh.

The stage was decided amongst a 19-rider breakaway, where only a group of eight entered the finishing straight after a tough battle in the wind. Katusha’s Sergei Chernetckii was the fastest on the line. The GC remains unchanged going into the final stage of Volta a Catalunya, where Richie Porte remains in the lead, 7 seconds ahead of Alberto Contador.