With Peter Sagan starting stage 3 in the top ten of the GC, and on a course that would favour the sprinters, there was no doubt that this was going to be a day of action at Tirreno-Adriatico. In a bunch sprint in Montalto di Castro, Peter’s 4th place put him top of the points classification.
The 3rd stage of the 51st edition of the Tirreno-Adriatico took place over a 176km route that, in spite of climbs midway through the day, had a long downhill that would give sprinters the chance to bridge any gaps. In a Tirreno-Adriatico parcours that created opportunities for sprinters on only one stage, the final 30km would prove pivotal in who would take the stage win.
So, at 30km out, the Tinkoff riders began pushing for position, eager to close the gap on the breakaway that had been in front from the start of the stage, and slowly took time from the break, finally catching at 2km to go. The pace rising, Tinkoff took to the front, with Adam Blythe finally handing off to Peter Sagan for the sprint, which was narrowly taken by Gaviria of Etixx-Quick Step.
Speaking about the closing moments of the race, Peter praised his teammates. “It was very fast and very narrow for the last 40km. The conditions were good, I did my best and the team worked very well – it was important we didn’t crash”. Sports Director, Lars Michaelsen echoed Peter’s praise. “It was a pretty good, flat out day. We didn’t go in the groups and had the team there at the end to set Peter up for the sprint. The guys did a great job to get him into position coming into the final kilometres and at the end he got fourth around some very fast guys. It’s not a stage win but we tried and were right up there which is a positive.”
Adam Blythe gave some insight into the team’s approach at the end of the stage. “It was pretty good out there today. We were focussing on trying to get Peter into a good position. The plan was to get together in the last 15km around him and to keep him out of trouble and up there. Then it was to go into the downhill before the finish full gas, and carry the speed up into the sprint but it was quite a long one.”
With Peter taking the Maglia Rossa, Lars was looking to build on this and take stages later in the race. “The points jersey is a bonus – we’re came here to win stages and this is a nice reward for our work so far, but our focus will remain the same and we’ll take it day by day.”
Of the coming stages, Peter already had his eye on tomorrow’s course. “We’ll be focussing on the future. Tomorrow will be a good day for sure – we will see, we will try, and see how it’s going. A race is a race and every day is different. Tirreno-Adriatico is far from over and I think I can aim at a stage win. In addition, the season’s main goals still lie ahead and we are working to reach them.”
As the race goes on, the team’s form for the classics is becoming evident, as shown by Adam Blythe’s confidence for the coming classics. ”Me personally, I’m feeling better and better and I’m coming good towards the start of the big classics which is exciting.”
At 222km, stage 4 is the longest at this year’s race. With a parcours that takes in four climbs close to the finish in Foligno, GC riders will be looking to take control of the race, while there’s potential for the all-rounders to push for a stage win.
Stage Result
1. Fernando Gaviria (COL) Etixx – Quick-Step 04:17:28
2. Caleb Ewan (AUS) Orica-GreenEdge +00:00:00
3. Elia Viviani (ITA) Team Sky +00:00:00
4. Peter Sagan (SVK) Tinkoff +00:00:00
5. Leigh Howard (AUS) IAM Cycling +00:00:00
32. Adam Blythe (GBR) Tinkoff +00:00:00
67. Roman Kreuziger (CZE) Tinkoff +00:00:00
96. Oscar Gatto (ITA) Tinkoff +00:00:00
130. Maciej Bodnar (POL) Tinkoff +00:00:27
141. Manuele Boaro (ITA) Tinkoff +00:00:36
143. Daniele Bennati (ITA) Tinkoff +00:00:40
149. Evgeny Petrov (RUS) Tinkoff +00:00:49
