Tim Wellens earned the first Grand Tour stage win of his career ©ANSA - PERI / DI MEO / ZENNARO

Belgium’s Tim Wellens celebrated the first Grand Tour stage win of his career after breaking away to finish alone at the end of a 157 kilometre route from Ponte to Roccaraso, which saw the main Giro d’Italia contenders clash for the first time.

Stage six of International Cycling Union (UCI) World Tour race presented a strong chance of success for a breakaway group due to the mountainous route, with Italy’s Alessandro Bisolti, Albania’s Eugert Zhupa and Russia’s Alexandr Kolobnev first to move clear early in the day.

With the leading group beginning to break up, The Netherlands’ Pim Ligthart, Luxembourg’s Laurent Didier and Wellens went on the offensive in the final 70 kilometres.

The peloton allowed the trio to go clear and they held a strong advantage of over six minutes as they hit the start of the final climb of the day at Castel di Sangro.

After strong work from his Lotto Soudal team-mate Ligthart, Wellens went solo and quickly pulled away as they ascended the climb towards Roccaraso.

The Belgian was able to remain clear to eventually cross the line as the stage winner in a time of four hours, 40min and five seconds.

His lead had been significantly reduced in the closing stages after pre-race favourite Vincenzo Nibali had launched the first major move of a general classification contender in this year’s race, with the Italian jumping clear of the chasing group with three kilometres to go.

Race leader Tom Dumoulin immediately launched a chase with the Dutchman, along with Denmark’s Jakob Fuglsang and Russia’s Ilnur Zakarin, able to catch and pass the home favourite.

Tom Dumoulin attacked late in the stage to extend his overall race lead
Tom Dumoulin attacked late in the stage to extend his overall race lead ©Getty Images

Fuglsang was able to pip Zakarin to second place on the stage, ending 1:19 behind the victor, while Dumoulin finished a further three seconds back to extend his overall race lead.

"My attack was not planned but I saw Nibali going so I went too,” said Dumoulin.

“There was only one opportunity and I took it, I really surprised myself.

“I was stronger than I expected, I didn't think I'd be in that shape for climbing.

“It was not a high mountain but it was still a proper climb today".

The Dutchman is now 26 seconds clear of second place Fuglsang, while Zakarin is a further two seconds off the pace.

Dumoulin will be buoyed, though, by extending the time gaps between him and Spain’s Alejandro Valverde as well as Nibali, with the pair currently 41 and 47 seconds adrift, respectively.