How to watch Stage 6 of the Giro as Pogacar looks to key rivals at bay

ByEurosport

Published 08/05/2024 at 21:49 GMT

After two suspiciously quiet days, Tadej Pogacar will be back on the hunt for victory as the dirt roads arrive at the Giro d’Italia. The Slovenian leads the overall by 46 seconds from Geraint Thomas and, given his impressive form, may view a mechanical on difficult terrain as his biggest threat to keeping pink. So how can you watch Stage 6? And when does coverage start? Look no further.Stage 6 profile and route map: Torre del Lago Puccini – Rapolano Terme

Three sections of sterrato will spice up this unpredictable stage through Tuscany that also features a punchy climb to the hilltop town of Volterra.

Until that Cat. 4 test (4.2km at 5.5%), the route is flatter than a leftover glass of Prosecco the night after a big wedding, with the riders spiriting themselves inland from Torre del Lago, the seaside town dear to the composer Giacomo Puccini.

A total of 11.6km of gravel over three sections includes the 2.5km climb to Grotti Alto (6.6%). The third section of gravel rises for 2.4km to the semi-abandoned village of Pievina ahead of a technical descent to Asciano. After a false-flat there’s one small climb before the fast slightly uphill push onto the spa town of Rapolano Terme.

This amount of gravel is hardly comparable to Strade Bianche, but its position in a key part of a Grand Tour stage could make it a decisive point of the first week of racing. It’s the old cliché of the race not being won here, but vital ground potentially being lost.

Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) is already in pole position and will be looking to consolidate – or more likely increase – his 46-second advantage over Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) in the general classification.

How can I watch Stage 6 of the Giro d’Italia?

Watch Stage 6 of the 2024 Giro d’Italia on Thursday, May 9 from 13:30 UK time on Eurosport 1, while you can watch ad-free on discovery+.

The UK coverage will be bookended by The Breakaway, presented by Orla Chennaoui, who has a string of esteemed guests joining her across the three weeks. Usual suspects Dan Lloyd, Adam Blythe and 12-time stage winner Robbie McEwen will return, with former Jumbo-Visma star Nathan van Hooydonck swooping in for the final week as Blythe resumes his duties on the motorbike in Italy.

And fans of Jonathan Vaughters are in for a treat on Stages 8 and 9, with the outspoken EF Education–EasyPost supremo joining our coverage.

Meanwhile, the charismatic Jens Voigt (Stages 1-9), former road star Daniel Oss (Stages 10-14), two-time winner Alberto Contador (Stage 15) and Blythe (Stages 16-21) will be doing their thing on the back of a motorbike to bring fans closer to the action.

Stage 6 profile

Giro d’Italia 2024 TV schedule and route details

StageDateStart / FinishDistanceBreakaway on-air time (UK time)Stage 1Sat May 4Venaria Reale – Torino140km (hilly)12:30Stage 2Sun May 5San Francesco al Campo – Santuario di Oropa (Biella)161km (summit finish)11:45Stage 3Mon May 6Novara – Fossano166km (flat)12:00Stage 4Tue May 7Acqui Terme – Andora190km (flat)11:15Stage 5Wed May 8Genova – Lucca178km (hilly)11:30Stage 6Thu May 9Torre del Lago Puccini (Viareggio) – Rapolano Terme180km (hilly)11:30Stage 7Fri May 10Foligno – Perugia 40.6km (ITT)11:30Stage 8Sat May 11Spoleto – Prati di Tivo152km (summit finish)11:00Stage 9Sun May 12Avezzano – Napoli 214km (hilly)10:30Rest DayMon May 13—Stage 10Tue May 14Pompei – Cusano Mutri (Bocca della Selva) 142km (summit finish)11:45Stage 11Wed May 15Foiano di Val Fortore – Francavilla al Mare207km (flat)10:45Stage 12Thu May 16Martinsicuro – Fano193km (hilly)11:15Stage 13Fri May 17Riccione – Cento179km (flat)11:45Stage 14Sat May 18Castiglione delle Stiviere – Desenzano del Garda31.2km (ITT)12:00Stage 15Sun May 19Manerba del Garda – Livigno (Mottolino)222km (summit finish)09:15Rest DayMon May 20—Stage 16Tue May 21Livigno – Santa Cristina Valgardena/St. Christina in Groden (Monte Pana) 202km (summit finish)10:15Stage 17Wed May 22Selva di Val Gardena/Wolkenstein in Gröden – Passo del Brocon159km (summit finish)11:15Stage 18Thu May 23Fiera di Primiero – Padova178km (flat)11:45Stage 19Fri May 24Mortegliano – Sappada 157km (hilly)11:45Stage 20Sat May 25Alpago – Bassano del Grappa181km (mountainous)10:30Stage 21 Sun May 26Roma – Roma122km (flat)14:15Stream top cycling action, including the Giro d’Italia, Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana, live and on-demand on Eurosport, the Eurosport app and discovery+.

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