Team Katusha’s leader Ilnur Zakarin finished 11th in the queen stage of the Tour de Pologne. In today’s 6th stage in Bukowina Tatrzańska the riders tackled 8 categorized and 4 non-categorized climbs (174 km). Zakarin finished the stage in one of the nearest chasing groups, 16 seconds behind stage winner Sergio Henao from Sky.

"Another really hard stage. All-day long the speed was very high. There was not any flat part in the whole stage – it was constantly up and down. In the last part of the race I tried to stay with the other leaders. Eduard Vorganov offered me great help in the final. The penultimate climb was ok for me, while on the last one I just missed a little to finish together with the others. But anyway the gaps are really minimal, just a few seconds. Tomorrow the time trial will decide everything. I rode this race last year, so I know what to expect from tomorrow’s ITT. Now I have to get maximal rest and recovery," said Ilnur Zakarin.

The sixth stage of the Tour de Pologne started with a number of attacks and breakaway attempts. Later, a group of 15 riders, including Eduard Vorganov, broke away. The composition of the break changed several times because of new attacks, but Vorganov was able to stay in front. Only in the last lap before the final three climbs of the day the break was finally neutralized.

After that it was time for the GC contenders to battle. On the last two climbs there were a lot of attacks but the decisive one came from Sergio Henao with only 3 km to go. He was able to get a small gap, enough for the victory. 8 seconds later Diego Ulissi from Lampre finished second. Third place was for Lawson Craddock from Giant-Alpecin. Ilnur Zakarin was 11th, +0.16.

In the general classification Sergio Henao is the new overall leader, while Ilnur Zakarin holds the 10th position, 27 seconds behind the leader.

Tomorrow it will be the decisive 7th stage, an individual time trial of 25 km in Krakow.