Route should suit home hope Sanchez perfectly

Stage six: Vila-real to Sagunt
Starts 11.35am Thursday, Live on Eurosport 1 from 2pm

The first uphill finish of the Vuelta a Espana went the way of the breakway as Alexey Lutsenko powered to victory in Alcossebre.

And it was also a good day for Chris Froome, who gained time on all of his rivals bar Esteban Chaves in the general classification. Chaves is now the clear 5-1 second-favourite with Froome 4-9 to win the Vuelta.

After Wednesday's climb to the finish, it's all downhill after the riders crest the last of five climbs on stage six with a 36km run-in to the coastal town of Sagunt.

It's another classics-style course with four third-category and a category-two climb along the 204km route.

Julian Alaphilippe, seventh on stage five, is bookmakers' favourite for the stage at a general 9-1 but Spaniard Luis Leon Sanchez may offer better each-way value.

The Astana rider is a four-time stage winner at the Tour de France, and although he hasn't been a prolific winner in recent years, this course should suit him perfectly.

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L L Sanchez
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