Nairo Quintana (Movistar) has all but sealed overall victory in the 2014 Tour de San Luis, placing third on the final mountain stage on Saturday.
Quintana started the day 26 seconds ahead of former race leader and stage one winner Phillip Gaimon (Garmin-Sharp). An attack on the final ascent allowed Quintana to gain nine more seconds on his American rival with one flat stage remaining in the race. What should be noted is the fight that Gaimon put in to minimise his losses - thanks in no small part to the efforts of Garmin team-mate Tom Danielson.
However, Quintana didn't win the stage - he came home in third place behind fellow Colombian Julian Arredondo (Trek Factory Racing), taking his second win of the event. Home rider and one of this race's revelations Sergio Godoy (San Luis) placed second.
"I really wanted to win another stage but when Pozzovivo attacked on the final climb I had to make a decision to go for the stage win or protect my overall lead," said Quintana after the finish. "I have to thank Movistar for the incredible work the did today."
Like Mark Cavendish earlier, Quintana only had good words for the event: "The Tour of San Luis is a great race... there are lots of good roads and I am sure it will become bigger in the coming years."
British rider Adam Yates (Orica-GreenEdge) continued to ride strongly, placing ninth on the stage and maintaining his position in the best young rider's jersey and is up to 11th overall.
The UCI 2.1 ranked race concludes on Sunday with what should be a bunch sprint finish.
Results
Tour de San Luis 2014, stage six: Las Chacras to Mirador del Sol, 184.4km
1. Julian Arredondo (Col) Trek Factory Racing
2. Sergio Godoy (Arg) San Luis Somos Todos at 1 sec
3. Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar at 5 secs
4. Cleberson Weber (Bra) Clube Dataro de Ciclismo-Bottecchia at 9 secs
5. Jose Serpa (Col) Lampre-Merida at 10 secs
6. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Ag2r La Mondiale at 12 sces
7. Thomas Danielson (USA) Garmin-Sharp at 14 secs
8. Phillip Gaimon (USA) Garmin-Sharp at same time
9. Adam Yates (GBr) Orica-GreenEdge at 30 secs
10. Eduardo Sepulveda (Arg) Bretagne-Seche Environnement at same time
Overall classification after stage six
1. Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar
2. Phillip Gaimon (USA) Garmin-Sharp at 35 secs
3. Sergio Godoy (Arg) San Luis Somos Todos at 1-57
4. Julian Arredondo (Col) Trek Factory Racing at 2-54
5. Enzo Moyano (Arg) San Luis Somos Todos at 2-59
6. Eduardo Sepulveda (Arg) Bretagne-Seche Environnement at 3-38
7. Peter Stetina (USA) BMC Racing at 3-46
8. Marc De Maar (Ned) Unitedhealthcare at 3-51
9. Darwin Atapuma (Col) BMC Racing at 3-52
10. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Ag2r La Mondiale at 4-03
British
11. Adam Yates (GBr) Orica-GreenEdge at 4-35
Tour de San Luis 2014: Stage reports and news
Stage five: Adriano Malori wins Tour de San Luis time trial
Stage four: Quintana wins, Gaimon clings onto lead
Mark Cavendish leads out Tom Boonen in San Luis
Stage three: Nizzolo wins stage
Stage two: Arredondo wins, Gaimon keeps lead
Adam Yates makes professional debut in Tour de San Luis
Stage one: Phillip Gaimon wins opening stage of Tour de San Luis
Tour de San Luis 2014 coverage and preview
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