Samuel Sanchez will lead BMC in the Vuelta a Espana and today he proved that he is getting into form for his big season objective. Despite riding conservatively, he finished 6th in the first mountain stage of the Tour de Pologne.

BMC Racing Team's Samuel Sánchez finished sixth Thursday at the Tour de Pologne while teammate Peter Velits moved into the top 10 after a summit finish in Velits's home country of Slovakia. Sánchez finished in the same time as stage winner Rafal Majka (Tinkoff-Saxo), and joins Velits as two of 15 riders who are only 11 seconds off the overall lead with two stages to go.

"Samuel did the last climb conservatively," BMC Racing Team Sport Director Fabio Baldato said. "This was the kind of finish he liked."

Petr Vakoc (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) held onto the overall lead by one second over Majka. Movistar Team riders Beñat Intxausti and Ion Izagirre finished second and third on the stage and are five and seven seconds off the lead in third and fourth overall.

The 15 riders who are 11 seconds off the lead follow, while two other BMC Racing Team riders – Steve Morabito and Dominik Nerz – are less than 40 seconds back.

Baldato said the groundwork for the good finish was laid by Sebastian Lander. The past Danish national road champion was first part of an eight-man breakaway, then he attacked the move as a larger group was starting to bridge.

"Sebastian was amazing today," Baldato said. "He was very impressive on the climbs and so strong."

Lander said he fought hard to be part of the escape to help his teammates.

"Fabio told me there was  group coming from behind, so I decided to attack," Lander said. "There were three or four kilometers left in the climb and 10 or 15 guys bridging with no one from us, so I was glad I was there. Then I tried to help Peter and Steve Cummings, who were first to come up to me before the last climb."