As the riders flew through the 110.3 mile course of Stage Six on Saturday afternoon at an average pace of 29.85 mph, it was Francesco Chicchi of Team Liquigas-Cannondale who was able to ride the lightning to the finish line and beat out “God of Thunder” Thor Hushovd of Team Cervelo for the victory.

The vigorous finish was not enough to stir up the results of the Tour of Missouri general classification; Team Garmin-Slipstream’s David Zabriskie still holds a 30 second lead over the second place rider. Each of the other points competitions also retain the same leaders; Hushovd with the green sprints jersey, and Dario Cataldo of Team QuickStep in the white young-rider jersey.

Stage Four’s century-plus-ten mile route from Chillicothe, Mo. to St. Joseph, Mo. featured northern Missouri’s flat but wind prone region. The peloton stayed tight and teams tucked away their top riders early in the race. Contrary from other stages this week, it was Team Garmin-Slipstream that set the pace and controlled the moves of the main pack in effort to protect the lead tour leader Zabriskie.

The tour ends Sunday when the riders compete for victory in Stage Seven in Kansas City, Mo. Similar to Stage One in St. Louis, Stage Seven will be run as a circuit race throughout the streets of downtown Kansas City. Zabriskie will be looking to defend his yellow jersey, and to take his first ever multi-stage race victory. With a 30 second gap between the next closest podium spot, it would take an epic breakway performance by an opponent to take the lead from Zabriskie.

By Tour of Missouri Correspondent Tyler Peeples