Masnada wins stage 6 of Giro, Conti takes overall lead

SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO, Italy (AP) — Fausto Masnada of Italy claimed his first victory in a Grand Tour by winning the sixth stage of the Giro d’Italia on Thursday, while compatriot Valerio Conti seized the overall lead.

The Italian duo were in a two-man breakaway for nearly 30 kilometers and Conti then allowed Masnada to grab the stage win without contesting the sprint, knowing he would take over the leader’s pink jersey.

The two had pulled away from an original 12-man breakaway which went early on the 238-kilometer (148-mile) route from Cassino to San Giovanni Rotondo.

Jose Rojas finished third, 38 seconds behind Masnada.

Conti grabbed the lead from Slovenian cyclist Primoz Roglic, who had worn the pink jersey since winning the opening time trial on Saturday.

Friday’s sixth stage is a hilly, 185-kilometer route from Vasto to L’Aquila.

The Giro finishes in Verona on June 2.