Groves wins neutralised Giro sixth stage, former winner Hindley abandons

Australian Kaden Groves sprinted to victory in the rain-hit sixth stage of the Giro d'Italia in Naples on Thursday as Dane Mads Pedersen remained in the pink leader's jersey after organisers neutralised the general classification battle.

Alpecin-Deceuninck's Groves pipped Belgian Milan Fretin and Frenchman Paul Magnier at the line in testing conditions after winning a stage on the Giro in 2023.

"To get the first win of the year is a relief," Groves said.

"I'm quite good in the cold, wetter conditions.

"It's super nice to win in Napoli, it's an iconic city," the 26-year-old added.

🎬 A stage like no other. Normal until it wasn’t. In Napoli, the sprinters reigned supreme, but they very nearly didn’t.

🎥 Highlights of Stage 6️⃣

🎬 Non una tappa come le altre. Sul lungomare di Napoli se la giocano i velocisti ma per poco la fuga non ha fatto il colpaccio.… pic.twitter.com/QV7U2cjrfC
— Giro d'Italia (@giroditalia) May 15, 2025

🎙️ "I arrived here without a win, so it's a big relief." - 🏆 🇦🇺 Kaden Groves (ADC)#GirodItalia pic.twitter.com/j7ZUZe3UXj
— Giro d'Italia (@giroditalia) May 15, 2025

The race was neutralised with around 70km to go after a mass crash in heavy rain forced Groves' compatriot Jai Hindley to withdraw with concussion, three years on from winning the race.

Lidl-Trek's Pedersen was also involved in the crash but able to continue.

The 29-year-old former world champion holds a 17-second advantage over 2023 champion Primoz Roglic, with team-mate Mathias Vacek in third place in the overall standings.

"I've had better days," said a bruised Pedersen.

"It's never nice to crash in a downhill like this at 70kph. There were bikes everywhere, I lost mine as well.

"I feel the pain on my right hip, it was not ideal for racing for the win. I just couldn’t be part of a sprint and win today.

"I wasn’t keen to take more risks, we’re still a long way away from Rome. A decision to neutralise the race was made and I think it was fine.”

🎙️ "I've had better days. It's never nice to crash. I feel the pain " - 🩷💜 🇩🇰 @Mads__Pedersen (LTK)#GirodItalia pic.twitter.com/NfvcgFzvul
— Giro d'Italia (@giroditalia) May 15, 2025

'A REAL BLOW'

After the incident, the riders continued to move forward at a slower pace for around 20km before a new start was given and racing resumed towards the finish.

The organisers then announced all the riders would be classified in the same time and no bonuses would be awarded at the finish, with only the stage victory on the line.

With 10km to go, the peloton arrived in the outskirts of the southern city, with conditions dry after downpours earlier in the day.

Frenchman Enzo Paleni and Dutchman Taco van der Hoorn then attempted to break away but were caught with 2.5km left.

In the final kilometre, alongside the port, Wout van Aert made a preemptive split before Groves powered past him for victory.

Following the earlier incident, Hindley climbed into an ambulance after sitting on the pavement for several minutes following a crash that occurred after around 150km from the start in Potenza, in-land to the south from Naples.

On roads made very slippery by rain, many riders fell, including Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz, winner of the 2019 Giro, Magnier and Briton Adam Yates.

Hindley was the hardest hit and, despite being able to get up on his own, was forced to abandon, depriving Red Bull Bora team-mate Roglic of an important ally in the mountains.

His team later announced he had suffered from a concussion and would spend the night under observation in hospital.

Team sporting director Patxi Vila said Hindley's absence would be "a real blow" for Roglic and the team.

The Slovenian was counting on him from Friday for the 168km seventh stage in the Apennines which will arrive in Tagliacozzo after a climb of 11.9 km, including the last four kilometres at more than 10 percent gradient on average.

German rider Juri Hollmann was also forced to pull out with a suspected fractured arm, according to his team, Alpecin.

STAGE 6 RESULTS

1. Kaden Groves (Alpecin – Deceuninck) 4:59:52

2. Milan Fretin (COFIDIS, Solutions Crédits) +0

3. Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step) +0

4. Max Kanter (XDS Astana Team) +0

5. Giovanni Lonardi (Team Polti VisitMalta) +0

6. Maikel Zijlaard (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) +0

7. Martin Marcellusi (VF Group - Bardiani CSF – Faizanè) +0

8. Luca Mozzato (Arkéa - B&B Hotels) +0

9. Matevž Govekar (Bahrain Victorious) +0

10. Olav Kooij (Team Visma-Lease a Bike) +0