The 6th stage of the Eneco Tour, with start from Heerlen and finish after 208,6 km in Houffalize, was similar to a little Liege-Bastogne-Liege, so it was no suprise that the protagonists were top riders.

LAMPRE-MERIDA tried to forget the bad and unlucky performance of the 5th stage and Jan Polanc helped in this task by joining after few a breakaway of 5 riders. Their action was neutralized with 67 km to go, during the first passage of the Cote Saint Roche where a big selection was made.

A further selection was done after a few kilometers, on the Cote Rue Bois des Moines (1.200 mt at 8%), with 50 km to go, when Ulissi and another 18 riders were left in the front of the race. The Tuscan cyclist from LAMPRE-MERIDA was doing a good performance until the second passage of the Cote Saint Roche, when he met a tough opponent which is very difficult to beat: a hunger knock which forced him to lose contact with the main group and to complete the stage in 47th position at 9'06 from the winner and new leader Wellens, in the same group as Luka Pibernik (38th).

"What a pity I had to face a hunger knock just in the most important moment of the stage," Ulissi commented. "I was in the front of the race with all the top riders and I had the feeling I had managed my energy in a good way. I was wrong and I had that problem, probably also because of the rain and the cold.

"I missed a good result, but I'm sure the intense days I spent in Eneco and in Poland will be useful for the next appointments."