Tour De Suisse 2016: Stage 6 Winner, Updated Standings and Highlights

Pieter Weening was victorious on Stage 6 of 2016 the Tour de Suisse on Thursday after a punishing summit finish in the mountains for a second day running.

The 35-year-old Roompot–Oranje rider comfortably prevailed on the 162.8-kilometre route from Weesen to Amden, Switzerland, as the field failed to match his climbing skill. 

Wilco Kelderman of LottoNL–Jumbo is the new general classification leader after the stage and has a 16-second advantage over France's Warren Barguil of Giant–Alpecin. 

Here are the latest stage results and new general classifications, according to the race's official Twitter feed:

Stage 6 Recap 

Rain blighted the sixth stage of the Tour de Suisse on Thursday as Weening made easy work of the leading riders in the high mountains. 

BMC Racing Team provided details of the latest mountain stage:

A group of 15 riders broke away from the pack early in proceedings as they attempted to gain an advantage before the perilous climbing later in the day. The group quickly led the peloton by three minutes after 30 kilometres of racing under their belt.

The breakaway was extended to five minutes after 53 kilometres with eventual winner Weening maintaining his place in the front riders.

The huge Klausen Pass was met with caution, as the leaders hit the dangerous climb as the heavens opened, making the road complicated to navigate in the wet.

Jordi Simon Casulleras of Verva Active-Pro Jet pushed on at the front, as a number of riders struggled in the inclement conditions.

AG2R La Mondiale's yellow jersey holder Pierre LaTour struggled—back in the peloton as the climbing became more fierce.

Road and Mud displayed footage of the tricky conditions as the race progressed:

Weening appeared comfortable as he tagged on to the front riders at the Pass—and this was to be the full story of his race—as Belgian cyclist Tosh van der Sande powered into the lead with BMC's Philippe Gilbert.

The pair continued to set the pace as they approached the Amden climb—with it's 10.2 per cent gradient—but the front pack reconvened with 24 kilometres left on the clock.

Movistar's Gorka Izaguirre attacked out of the peloton to claim the virtual leadership of the tour, as BMC, Sky and Astana did the back-breaking work in the chasing pack.

Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

With only seven kilometres remaining, Weening made his first fully fledged attack, and the Dutchman looked imperious as he made strides forward. 

Izaguirre continued to look like Weening's likely contender for the victory as he maintained his cadence, but the peloton caught him as he lost energy and momentum.

Weening led Izaguirre by two minutes, as Geraint Thomas and LaTour struggled to hold onto the leaders.

At the finish, Weening was a comfortable winner, with Argentina's Maximiliano Ariel Richeze claiming second and Poland's Maciej Paterski taking third. 

The Tour de Suisse shared footage of Weening on the podium:

Thomas appears dangerous as the stages evaporate, and he is within one minute of the lead.

He struggled toward the end of Stage 6 but has the power needed to further eat into Kelderman's advantage.

Weening was a deserved winner on Thursday, as none of the field could match his effort over the final kilometres of the race.

He looked in control at the finish and did the hard work earlier in the battle to offer himself a cushion when he needed it most.