Rubiano Chavez wins sixth stage of Giro d'Italia; Malori takes lead

Colombian rider Miguel Angel Rubiano Chavez won the hilly sixth stage of the Giro d'Italia with a long breakaway and Italy's Adriano Malori took the overall lead on Friday.

Rubiano Chavez was one of several riders who broke away from the main pack just 14 miles into the 130-mile leg from Urbino to Porto Sant'Elpidio, then he charged in front alone for the final 19 miles.

Rubiano Chavez, who rides for the Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela team, clocked 5 hours, 38 minutes, 30 seconds.

Malori, also a member of the breakaway, crossed second, about 1 minute, 10 seconds behind. He leads Michal Golas of Omega Pharma-Quickstep by 15 seconds overall.

Previous leader Ramunas Navardauskas fell behind in the second half of the stage, one of several riders to struggle in the race's first hilly leg, with temperatures in the mid-80s also a factor for the first time.

The breakaway group at one point held a seven-minute lead over the main pack.

"At first I was just aiming for the mountain points, but then when I heard how far behind the group was I decided to take a risk and try a breakaway, and it went well," said Rubiano Chavez, who rides for the Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela team.

Thor Hushovd of Norway, the 2010 world champion, dropped out midway through the stage, apparently because of exhaustion. Spanish rider Pablo Lastras Garcia crashed during a downhill section and withdrew.

The 127-mile seventh stage on Saturday from Recanati to Rocca Di Cambio features the first uphill finish after passing through the L'Aquila region hit by a major earthquake in 2009.

The race ends May 27 in Milan.