Spain's Pelayo Sanchez of the Movistar team emerged from the dust, gravel and hills after a 180-kilometer ride through Tuscan vineyards to beat Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe by a bike length in the 2024 Giro d'Italia sixth stage Thursday.

The pair broke away from the main peloton 40 kilometers from home accompanied by Australian Lucas Plapp, who took the virtual lead during this stage, ensuring the big guns hunted the trio all the way to the line.

The 180 kilometers were covered in a mere 4 hours, 1 minute and 8 seconds of pulsating racing, with the peloton arriving just 29 seconds adrift, despite the hills and the gravel.

This sixth of 21 stages then was raced just as frantically as the previous five on a nervy Giro d'Italia still led by the Slovenian Tadej Pogacar.

The race leader had been expected to attack again but sounded relieved after the race.

"That's another stage ticked off, frankly I'm just glad it's over," Pogacar said. "It was nice, but Ineos rode so hard on the gravel it just never stopped."

The white gravel roads that give the Tuscany wine their taste also feature in the Strade Bianche classic, won by Alaphilippe in 2019, and almost delivered the Quick Step veteran a new triumph.

Two-time world champion Alaphilippe was unbowed, claiming he still was confident of a stage win on this Giro. He also praised the victor.

"The best man won, he was wilier and he was faster," said the 32-year-old Alaphilippe.

Pogacar won on the same roads this year, and on Thursday, he proved reluctant to allow his overall leader's pink jersey slip, as his team relentlessly chased the escape trio, likely denying Alaphilippe a win, as the 24-year-old Sanchez closed out faster.

"It was an insane day," third-place Plapp said. "The race was out of control the whole stage. It was ridiculous for the first 80 kilometers."

The winner echoed the same sentiment.

"It's crazy," Sanchez said. "I don't have words. All day full gas. I never imagined winning the stage."

Pogacar leads Geraint Thomas by 46 seconds and Dani Martinez by 47 ahead of Friday's long 40-kilometer individual time trial that culminates with a climb to the Perugia finish line.

"It's an interesting route," Pogacar said. "I'm not sure how to take it yet, I just want to feel good on the bike, have good legs. Let's see tomorrow."