Post by: search on March 05, 2018, 13:39
Tirreno-Adriatico[1]
(https://gallery.mailchimp.com/823d3a40b51c82f60f316baa5/images/22435ff1-3726-4070-a2f7-12aa060407c8.jpg)
The 53rd edition of the Tirreno-Adriatico, organized by RCS Sport / La Gazzetta dello Sport takes place from 7 to 13 March 2018. The race starts owith the Team Time Trial in Lido di Camaiore and ends with the classic Individual Time Trial in San Benedetto. In memory of Michele Scarponi, on Sunday 11 March, the 5th stage will finish in Filottrano, the city of the unforgettable Italian rider.Scarponi climbed up onto the final podium of the Tirreno-Adriatico three times, winning the 2009 edition, and was second (tied on time with the winner, Stefano Garzelli) in 2010 then third, behind Cadel Evans and Robert Gesink, in 2011.
(https://gallery.mailchimp.com/823d3a40b51c82f60f316baa5/images/f7e22103-5d4e-419b-8be1-fecfe47525cb.jpg)
It’s a classic route with the opening Team Time Trial on the Versilia seafront at Lido di Camaiore (21.5km); two stages for sprinters (stages 2, Camaiore-Follonica, and 6, Numana-Fano), two suitable for the finisseurs (stages 3, Follonica-Trevi, and 5, Castelraimondo-Filottrano "Tappa dei Muri"), an uphill finish - Saturday 10 March (stage 4) - which will bring the group from Foligno to Sarnano (Sassotetto) with over 14km of final ascent. The race ends with the traditionally exciting Individual Time Trial of San Benedetto del Tronto, 10km long.It’s a classic route with the opening Team Time Trial on the Versilia seafront at Lido di Camaiore (21.5km); two stages for sprinters (stages 2, Camaiore-Follonica, and 6, Numana-Fano), two suitable for the finisseurs (stages 3, Follonica-Trevi, and 5, Castelraimondo-Filottrano "Tappa dei Muri"), an uphill finish - Saturday 10 March (stage 4) - which will bring the group from Foligno to Sarnano (Sassotetto) with over 14km of final ascent. The race ends with the traditionally exciting Individual Time Trial of San Benedetto del Tronto, 10km long.(http://static2.tirrenoadriatico.it/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/T01_LidoCamaiore_alt-1024x607.jpg)
(http://static2.tirrenoadriatico.it/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/T02_Follonica_alt-1-1024x585.jpg)
(http://static2.tirrenoadriatico.it/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/T03_Trevi_alt-1-1024x608.jpg)
(http://static2.tirrenoadriatico.it/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/T04_SassoTetto_alt-1024x630.jpg)
(http://static2.tirrenoadriatico.it/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/T05_Filottrano_alt-1024x591.jpg)
(http://static2.tirrenoadriatico.it/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/T06_Fano_alt-1024x589.jpg)
(http://static2.tirrenoadriatico.it/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/T07_SanBenedetto_alt-1024x569.jpg)
(http://static2.tirrenoadriatico.it/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/T02_Follonica_alt-1-1024x585.jpg)
(http://static2.tirrenoadriatico.it/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/T03_Trevi_alt-1-1024x608.jpg)
(http://static2.tirrenoadriatico.it/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/T04_SassoTetto_alt-1024x630.jpg)
(http://static2.tirrenoadriatico.it/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/T05_Filottrano_alt-1024x591.jpg)
(http://static2.tirrenoadriatico.it/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/T06_Fano_alt-1024x589.jpg)
(http://static2.tirrenoadriatico.it/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/T07_SanBenedetto_alt-1024x569.jpg)
Additionally to the 18 World Tour Teams, #gazprom Gazprom - Rusvelo, #academy Israel Cycling Academy, #nippo Nippo - Vini Fantini - Europa Ovini and #wilier Wilier Triestina - Selle Italia were invited to participate in Tirreno-Adriatico.
Now in its 53rd edition, the race will see 154 riders on the start line, representing 22 teams between them. Among them will be many of the best cyclists in the world, including the entire Tour de France 2017 podium and two thirds of the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España podiums, thanks to Chris Froome (winner of Tour and Vuelta), Tom Dumoulin (winner of the Giro), Vincenzo Nibali (third at the Giro and second at the Vuelta), Rigoberto Uran and Romain Bardet (respectively second and third at the Tour). And if this wasn't enough, among the riders fighting for the General Classification will be Fabio Aru, Richie Porte, Mikel Landa, Miguel Angel Lopez, Adam Yates, Rohan Dennis and Geraint Thomas.
The list of stage hunters is also impressive, starting with the three (consecutive) times UCI Road World Champion Peter Sagan, his historic rivals Greg Van Avermaet and Michal Kwiatkowski, Philippe Gilbert, Diego Ulissi, Edvald Boasson Hagen and the sprinters Fernando Gaviria, Mark Cavendish and Caleb Ewan – among the many candidates for a stage win.
| 1. | source of all text: RCS press release |
Post by: L'arri on March 05, 2018, 19:25
Post by: Leadbelly on March 05, 2018, 19:45
There were some rumours over the winter that the San Benedetto del Tronto council weren't going to stump up the cash (RCS wanted ~70k), but they obviously came to an agreement. Stages 3-5 look tasty, but it would be great if they weren't bookended with the same old same old.
Post by: Mellow Velo on March 05, 2018, 21:23
I agree with Leadbelly. These bookend stages, every year, are very stale.
At least Paris-Nice managed to come up with something a bit different within the Paris suburbs.
Oh and dare I say it? Stage 4 might looks better without the MTF tagged to the end.
A couple more of those teeth to make it even more of a leg breaker, then have stage 3 or 5 as a straight forward MTF.
Post by: search on March 06, 2018, 12:02
| Stage 1 | Stage 2 | Stage 3 | Stage 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Rai Sport | 13:00-15:15 | 13:00-15:15 | 14:00-14:50 | |
| Rai 2 | 14:50-16:20 | |||
| Rai 3 | 15:15-16:10 | 15:15-16:10 | 15:15-16:10 | |
 Eurosport 1 | 13:30-16:30 | |||
| Eurosport 2 | 14:00-16:30 | 13:30-16:30 | 14:00-16:30 | |
 l'Équipe | 13:50-16:30 | 13:30-16:30 | 13:30-16:30 | 14:40-16:30 |
| Stage 5 | Stage 6 | Stage 7 | ||
| Rai Sport | 14:00-15:30 | 14:00-15:15 | 13:15-15:15 | |
| Rai 2 | ||||
| Rai 3 | 15:30-16:10 | 15:15-16:10 | 15:15-16:10 | |
| Eurosport 1 | 13:30-16:30 | 13:30-16:30 | ||
| Eurosport 2 | 15:15-16:30 | |||
| l'Équipe | 14:30-16:30 | 13:30-16:30 | 13:30-16:30 |
(all times CET)
Post by: search on March 06, 2018, 13:18
Oh and dare I say it? Stage 4 might looks better without the MTF tagged to the end.
yeah, if you wanna use Sasso Tetto, this is where it belongs:
(http://06.live-radsport.ch/images/09022312584-hoehenprofil-tirreno---adriatico-2009---etappe-6.jpg)
Post by: search on March 06, 2018, 18:00
| 1 | 14:00:00 |  MOVISTAR TEAM |
| 2 | 14:05:00 |  TEAM SKY |
| 3 | 14:10:00 |  AG2R LA MONDIALE |
| 4 | 14:15:00 |  NIPPO - VINI FANTINI - EUROPA OVINI |
| 5 | 14:20:00 |  TEAM KATUSHA ALPECIN |
| 6 | 14:25:00 |  TEAM DIMENSION DATA |
| 7 | 14:30:00 |  BAHRAIN - MERIDA |
| 8 | 14:35:00 |  TEAM EF EDUCATION FIRST |
| 9 | 14:40:00 |  ISRAEL CYCLING ACADEMY |
| 10 | 14:45:00 |  UAE TEAM EMIRATES |
| 11 | 14:50:00 |  MITCHELTON - SCOTT |
| 12 | 14:55:00 |  WILIER TRIESTINA - SELLE ITALIA |
| 13 | 15:00:00 |  GAZPROM - RUSVELO |
| 14 | 15:05:00 |  ASTANA PRO TEAM |
| 15 | 15:10:00 |  BMC RACING TEAM |
| 16 | 15:15:00 |  TEAM LOTTO NL - JUMBO |
| 17 | 15:20:00 |  QUICK-STEP FLOORS |
| 18 | 15:25:00 |  TREK - SEGAFREDO |
| 19 | 15:30:00 |  LOTTO SOUDAL |
| 20 | 15:35:00 |  GROUPAMA - FDJ |
| 21 | 15:40:00 |  BORA - HANSGROHE |
| 22 | 15:45:00 |  TEAM SUNWEB |
Post by: Leadbelly on March 06, 2018, 19:02
Could be an intermittently wet (and thundery!) one.....
Post by: t-72 on March 06, 2018, 19:42
They could have grouped the favorites better to limit the chances of weather deciding the outcome.
Post by: search on March 06, 2018, 22:16
They could have grouped the favorites better to limit the chances of weather deciding the outcome.
it's decided by draw:
Quote
The starting order of the team time trial stage shall be determined by a drawing due to take place on Tuesday, March 6, during the technical meeting.
Should the field of competitors include the winner of the last edition, then his team will start at the last place.
Starts will occur in identical five-minute intervals.
Team timing will be calculated on the fourth rider arrived; the other riders of the team will be granted the recorded time upon their passing the finishing line.
In the event of an accident during the last kilometer, the provisions of article 2.6.028 of the U.C.I. Regulations shall apply.
and (as you can see above) it's now the time of the 4th rider over the line that counts, not the 5th anymore (as it was with 8 starters per team)
Post by: search on March 07, 2018, 18:13
(https://i.imgur.com/3pyH6Uj.png)
#dimension Cavendish crashed hard and missed the time cut
Post by: Mellow Velo on March 09, 2018, 09:20
(http://static2.tirrenoadriatico.it/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/T03_Trevi_dettaglio-Salita_web.jpg)
Post by: search on March 09, 2018, 10:20
(via @raffilpt)
Too bad that Yates and Roglic were held up by the crash yesterday, and there were some complaints about the dangerous circuit - but to be honest, it looked perfectly fine on TV.
Most of the sprinters made it through unharmed, and Kittel took a convincing first win of a season, after a massive leadout by Rick Zabel
Post by: Leadbelly on March 09, 2018, 10:24
and there were some complaints about the dangerous circuit
Gaviria for one.
https://twitter.com/DoCiclismo/status/972050213299990528
Post by: search on March 09, 2018, 10:28
Post by: Mellow Velo on March 09, 2018, 11:30
Comes across as more than a bit churlish.
Look what happened 7kms out on that circuit to the GC boys who were caught behind.
Who is he to define what Kwiatkowski's goals for the race may be?
Surely he remembers how Milan-San Remo panned out last year....
Post by: search on March 09, 2018, 18:40
here is a more detailed look at tomorrow's finish, via @raffilpt:
(http://static2.tirrenoadriatico.it/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/T04_S01_SanGinesio_web.jpg)(http://static2.tirrenoadriatico.it/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/T04_S02_Gualdo_web.jpg)
(http://static2.tirrenoadriatico.it/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/T04_S03_PennaSG_web.jpg)(http://static2.tirrenoadriatico.it/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/T04_S04_Sassotetto_web-1.jpg)
Post by: search on March 09, 2018, 22:17
Post by: Arb on March 10, 2018, 02:34
Post by: search on March 10, 2018, 18:09
Due to Thomas' late mechanical the GC is still pretty close at least. And Leadbelly will be pretty happy with his #academy boys
Tomorrow's Scarponi memorial stage will probably not result in more than 5k of action as well - but those should be fun to watch at least :cool
(http://static2.tirrenoadriatico.it/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/T05_Filottrano_MuroFilottrano_web.jpg)
Post by: Arb on March 11, 2018, 03:26
Post by: search on March 11, 2018, 16:57
With Kelderman finishing last, this probably looks like Kwiatkowski's race to lose now. There's not much competition left to threaten him in the time trial, eventhough the course isn't quite perfect for him.
Tomorrow's stage is unlikely to change much in terms of gc, as the fun part comes right in the beginning:
There could be some rain though, and with #mitchelton Ewan out of the race and #katusha Kittel likely to struggle in that part, a strong break could go clear and fight for the win in the end.
Post by: t-72 on March 11, 2018, 21:57
what a special bird!
Post by: search on March 12, 2018, 18:33
From the gc contenders, Pozzovivo and Bardet lost ~50s and dropped two places in GC - but given their (lack of) time trial abilities, they probably weren't too confident in storming up the order tomorrow anyway.
Here's the ~pdf full startlist (https://gallery.mailchimp.com/823d3a40b51c82f60f316baa5/files/99269d7b-a3a7-4321-aa1e-7370b13ace69/Start_Order.pdf) for tomorrow, and the starting times for some of the potential contenders:
| Time | Rider | GC | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6. | 13:20:00 | PHINNEY Taylor | |
| 10. | 13:24:00 | BODNAR Maciej | |
| 12. | 13:26:00 | HAGA Chad | |
| 13. | 13:27:00 | MULLEN Ryan | |
| 17. | 13:31:00 | KITTEL Marcel | |
| 21. | 13:35:00 | ARNDT Nikias | |
| 22. | 13:36:00 | SÜTTERLIN Jasha | |
| 26. | 13:40:00 | DOWSETT Alex | |
| 29. | 13:43:00 | BRANDLE Matthias | |
| 30. | 13:44:00 | KÜNG Stefan | |
| 34. | 13:48:00 | BEVIN Patrick | |
| 37. | 13:51:00 | KÄMNA Lennard | |
| 50. | 14:04:00 | BENNATI Daniele | |
| 55. | 14:09:00 | DENNIS Rohan | |
| 57. | 14:11:00 | CASTROVIEJO Jonathan | |
| 58. | 14:12:00 | CAMPENAERTS Victor | |
| 69. | 14:23:00 | VAN EMDEN Jos | |
| 70. | 14:24:00 | HEPBURN Michael | |
| 79. | 14:33:00 | BOASSON HAGEN Edvald | |
| 80. | 14:34:00 | GRIVKO Andriy | |
| 82. | 14:36:00 | KOREN Kristijan | |
| 86. | 14:40:00 | MOSCON Gianni | |
| 88. | 14:42:00 | OLIVEIRA Nelson | |
| 89. | 14:43:00 | OSS Daniel | |
| 92. | 14:46:00 | KIRYIENKA Vasil | |
| 93. | 14:47:00 | DURBRIDGE Luke | |
| 94. | 14:48:00 | MARTIN Tony | |
| 97. | 14:51:00 | SAGAN Peter | |
| 101. | 14:55:00 | AMADOR Andrey | |
| 105. | 14:59:00 | FROOME Chris | |
| 106. | 15:00:00 | KANGERT Tanel | |
| 107. | 15:01:00 | FELLINE Fabio | |
| 110. | 15:04:00 | ROGLIC Primoz | |
| 119. | 15:13:00 | VAN AVERMAET Greg | |
| 121. | 15:15:00 | JUNGELS Bob | |
| 122. | 15:16:00 | LUTSENKO Alexey | |
| 130. | 15:30:00 | ROSON GARCIA Jaime | +00:47 |
| 131. | 15:32:00 | BENNETT George | +00:41 |
| 132. | 15:34:00 | BENOOT Tiesj | +00:39 |
| 133. | 15:36:00 | FORMOLO Davide | +00:37 |
| 134. | 15:38:00 | YATES Adam | +00:36 |
| 135. | 15:40:00 | URAN Rigoberto | +00:34 |
| 136. | 15:42:00 | THOMAS Geraint | +00:29 |
| 137. | 15:44:00 | LANDA MEANA Mikel | +00:23 |
| 138. | 15:46:00 | CARUSO Damiano | +00:03 |
| 139. | 15:48:00 | KWIATKOWSKI Michal |
so, yes, there are plenty :D
Post by: L'arri on March 13, 2018, 09:06
TT today should be a formality for the guy in Pole position, not if but by how much. I think Caruso will do a decent ride and Thomas may have enough anger stored up to reach the podium.
Hard to say how things will shake out beyond that. Uran could also overtake Landa; Benoot and maybe Bennett will hold their spots or do a little better. Formolo might slide. Nibali could scratch the top 10 on a good day.
Post by: search on March 13, 2018, 10:22
Post by: search on March 13, 2018, 11:44
https://cyclingtips.com/2017/11/poised-big-breakthrough-mullens-quest-time-trial-gold/
He says the new bike alone brings him an advantage of more than one minute over one hour.
Translated to the distance today, that would mean something like a ~10-15 seconds improvement compared to last year, I think - where he finished 17 seconds behind the winner Rohan Dennis. Curious to see how it goes...
Post by: L'arri on March 13, 2018, 12:18
there was a really interesting feature about #trek Ryan Mullen on Cyclingtips this winter by the way, talking about his move to Trek and the improvements that came with it, just in terms of equipment
https://cyclingtips.com/2017/11/poised-big-breakthrough-mullens-quest-time-trial-gold/
He says the new bike alone brings him an advantage of more than one minute over one hour.
Translated to the distance today, that would mean something like a ~10-15 seconds improvement compared to last year, I think - where he finished 17 seconds behind the winner Rohan Dennis. Curious to see how it goes...
I think that is what other riders leaving #ef were hinting at when they mildly (or perhaps professionally) said that the team didn't really have a TT focus.
Post by: M Gee on March 13, 2018, 12:40
Funny that Sagan's bike handling skills got almost if not more notice than Kittel's second win. I only saw the highlights so I didn't get the full impression of the feat he achieved, but he certainly adds a different dimension to the spectating experience, which is always welcome on a flat stage.Kittel/Sagan: the sprint win was nice, but the escape/chase/sprint to 2nd was more dramatic, by a considerable margin. Since the media looks for drama as the story, well, no competition, I think. It was a shame for Gaviria. Sagan was right behind him, but rolled THROUGH the carnage, somehow seemingly unscathed, but with one foot unclipped for balance, and all a bit akimbo. He clips back in and rides past the intersection. I didn't see the bike change - only got that in the reporting. They did show a bit of him chasing. And the bunny hop shortcut was a "Holy sh*t, Batman!" sort of moment. Nobody else dared take that shortcut. Four km of chasing and effort, and he still manages to challenge for the win.
TT today should be a formality for the guy in Pole position, not if but by how much. I think Caruso will do a decent ride and Thomas may have enough anger stored up to reach the podium.
Hard to say how things will shake out beyond that. Uran could also overtake Landa; Benoot and maybe Bennett will hold their spots or do a little better. Formolo might slide. Nibali could scratch the top 10 on a good day.
I like your thoughts on the TT. Caruso has beaten Kwiatkowski in other TT. I think his team is trying to keep it low key for Caruso. It should be an interesting day. I will be interested to see how Landa does, too.
Post by: L'arri on March 13, 2018, 15:21
Awful headline idioms aside, the TT was more or less predictable, except that Landa and Uran lost more than I had expected, which helped Benoot to gain four places.
Not the hottest T-A in more than one sense, but a nice top 10 with a mix of abilities that reflect a mixed parcours.
Post by: M Gee on March 13, 2018, 16:14
Kwiatkowski rises to the occasion, Caruso hangs tough, Thomas steps up.
Awful headline idioms aside, the TT was more or less predictable, except that Landa and Uran lost more than I had expected, which helped Benoot to gain four places.
Not the hottest T-A in more than one sense, but a nice top 10 with a mix of abilities that reflect a mixed parcours.
Yeah. I'm thinking Landa is showing signs of having had a "flash in the pan" year last year. It happens often enough - it always takes me back to the classic example: Andy Hampsten. Won the Giro, took 4th at the tour while riding for Hinault and LeMond. Never managed to win another Giro. Managed to duplicate his 4th place at the tour once - even though he hovered near the top consistently. Something about putting a bunch of top echelon riders together often results in superior performances by each one. I think Porte is suffering from the same syndrome. Thomas may yet overcome it. Time will tell.
By all indications, it should be a good year.
Post by: search on March 13, 2018, 18:02
(https://i.imgur.com/TSSdpZM.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/u0u3GEB.png)
The conditions weren't quite the same for everyone by the look of it, those starting a bit later were significantly quicker in the first part, but unable to keep up the pace. In the end it wasn't decisive though, I think - also the rain didn't make much of a difference, as all gc contenders were affected in the same way, and neither of them probably would have been able to challenge Dennis anyway.
The surprise of the day for me was Mads Pedersen, who I didn't expect to be on that level already. Also young #movistar Jaime Roson did a fantastic time trial. His 47th place is a bit misleading, as he actually was one of the quickest starting in the rain, beating almost everyone around him (but Benoot).
there was a really interesting feature about #trek Ryan Mullen on Cyclingtips this winter by the way, talking about his move to Trek and the improvements that came with it, just in terms of equipment
https://cyclingtips.com/2017/11/poised-big-breakthrough-mullens-quest-time-trial-gold/
He says the new bike alone brings him an advantage of more than one minute over one hour.
Translated to the distance today, that would mean something like a ~10-15 seconds improvement compared to last year, I think - where he finished 17 seconds behind the winner Rohan Dennis. Curious to see how it goes...
#trek Ryan Mullen and his flying Trek machine on the other hand ended up in 19th, three seconds slower than last year on that rusty Cannondale bike
Post by: search on March 13, 2018, 18:09