Today’s penultimate stage here in Italy started out flat schstick (translation: “full gas”), straight into a headwind, with constant shuffles for 30 km before a break finally rolled. After missing the move two days prior, we were all pretty motivated to be in the action today. And I was the lucky one to be in the right split.

Our band of 13 worked well together, taking the gap up to almost 6 minutes. With 50 km to go on some tough finish circuits, we were all thinking that there was a good shot that the day’s winner would come from our crew. But there were other plans behind.

After 165 km out front, we were reeled in with 1 km to go, just near the top of a 4 km stair-stepper with the finish at the top. A select little group came from behind and Ryder was right where he needed to be. He finished in the front group and moved up to 10th on GC going into what should be a battle for the sprinters tomorrow.

We’ve been blessed with amazing weather all week long. But alas, it looks like there’s a chance it might be “France-ing” on us tomorrow. Fingers crossed for one more day of sun…

-Will

Slipstream stage 6 results
1. Oscar Freire 4:46′44″

14. Ryder Hesjedal
80. Will Frischkorn
86. Julian Dean
133. David Zabriskie
141. Martijn Maaskant
144. Chris Sutton
159. Timmy Duggan
161. Magnus Backstedt

Slipstream GC after stage 7
1. Fabian Cancellara 23:17′31″

10. Ryder Hesjedal +01′53″
56. Timmy Duggan +18′44″
107. David Zabriskie +28′30″
121. William Frischkorn +32′21″
126. Julian Dean +35′54″
134. Martijn Maaskant +39′05″
136. Chris Sutton +40′27″
162. Magnus Backstedt +1:07′22″