Tirreno Adriatico 2023 serves us with an absolute fantasy delight. The openness of the field at all level from stage wins to the general classifications combined with the affordability of most riders makes it a race to look forward. Paris Nice 2023 is the other velogames stage race championship going on and you could check my preview here.
Tirreno-Adriatico 2022
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Tadej Pogacar defended his title brilliantly and left nothing to his challengers. Jai Hindley, Jonas Vingegaard and Remco Evenpoel, all grand tour winners to be later, all were victims and never troubled the Slovenian.
Tirreno-Adriatico 2022 Velogames
Best possible @velogames team for #TirrenoAdriatico:
— Calum Lonie 🇮🇪🇨🇵🇪🇺 (@CalumLonie) March 13, 2022
Tadej Pogačar
Jonas Vingegaard
Damiano Caruso
Olav Kooij
Phil Bauhaus
Jai Hindley
Thymen Arensman
Xandro Meurisse
Davide Bais
3976 points, 100 credits
Pogacar (28) and Vingegaard (20) were worth all their gold by harvesting 1174 and 737 points respectively, It is noteworthy to note that Remco Evenepoel at 22 points earned 559 points with his ITT win but was not in the best possible points after finishing 11th.
The secret recipe: 5 general contenders, 2 sprinters, 1 successful baroudeur and 1 KOM points chaser/ jersey shower.
The full rider standings can be checked here!
Tirreno-Adriatico 2023
The 2023 edition of the coolest trophy in cycling will consists of: 3 stages set for sprinters, 1 time trial, 1 high mountain finish and 2 hilly stages.
Stage 1
Two straight roads connected by a U-turn and an S bend on this very non technical opening time trial.
⭐️⭐️⭐️: Filippo Ganna
⭐️⭐️: Wout Van Aert
⭐️: Thymen Arensman
Stage 2
After more than half of the stage, being favorable to a break away with a classifiy climb and an intermediate sprint, the riders enter the lap ciruit of 21kms. This is set for a potential sprint finish
⭐️⭐️⭐️Jasper Philipsen , Fabio Jakobsen, Dylan Groenewegen, Jordi Meeus
⭐️⭐️: Wout Van Aert, Biniam Girmay, Mark Cavendish, Fernando Gaviria, Alberto Dainese, Nacer Bouhanni, Juan Sebastian Molano, Phil Bauhaus
⭐️: Simone Consonni, Attilio Viviani, Edward Theuns, Peter Sagan, Elia Viviani
Stage 3
There will be no excuse from the big sprinters here and their teams to let it slip up from a bunch sprint finish.
A battle between the top sprinters in the world.
Stage 4
The finale to this stage if a lap circuit that will be taken thrice. The finish is an uphill drag of 3km with 7% average gradient but a flat road at the end.
⭐️⭐️⭐️: Guilio Ciccone
⭐️⭐️: Wout Van Aert
⭐️: Julian Alaphilippe
Stage 5
The queen stage of the race a very undulating terrain leading up to that final climb, a mountain top finish at the end of the 14.6 km with average gradient of 6.5%. Surely, Tirreno Adriatico will be won here!
⭐️⭐️⭐️: Enric Mas
⭐️⭐️: Mikel Landa
⭐️: Primoz Roglic
Stage 6
This looks more likely to go to the break away unless someone still dangerous to the GC manage to sneak out and give a real headache to the race leader and his team.
Should it all come back together, this stage is a really challenging one with its lap circuit and ramps with gradient of 16 % for 1 km and infinite walls and that 16 % gradient at 3 km to the line.
⭐️⭐️⭐️: Biniam Girmay
⭐️⭐️: Mathieu Van der Poel
⭐️: Guilio Ciccone
Stage 7
After a first half of the stage that will further break some legs, sprinters who remains will have a final chance to fight it out.
Tirenno Adriatico 2023 overall standings preview
⭐️⭐️⭐️: Enric Mas
⭐️⭐️: Mikel Landa
⭐️: Guilio Ciccone
This is all based on the form seen so far this season and we have not seen Primoz Roglic. Enric Mas started the season on flying colours and was the closest to Pogacar. He would have finished as runner up in Ruta del Sol was it not for a mechanical. Mikel Landa also looks confident and usually rides well in Italy. Finally Guilio Ciccone looked the best climber in Valenciana, albeit shorter climbs. The short distance of the opening time-trial will please the pure climbers meaning that they could overcome the deficit on stage 5.
Tirreno-Adriatico 2023 Velogames
Riders can be classified as
Type 1: General contenders wo also have a shot at winning the time-trial and the mountain stages and will challenge in Stage 1,4,5,6
Type 2: GC contenders who will climb well only as they will also have to make up the deficit encountered on stage 1. ( stage 4,5,6)
Type 3: Puncheurs, those aiming to win Stage 4 and 6 only as they do not have the speed to mix in the bunch sprints.
Type 4:: Big fast sprinters who have no chance once the route elevates. Will challenge in Stage 2,3 and 7 only.
Type 5: Sprinters who will compete in bunch sprints of stage 2,3 and 7 and will also be challenging on the uphill sprints of stage 4 and 6.
Type 6: Breakaways experts who will go to the end of their efforts and their most likely chance is in stage 6
Type 7: Riders who will be in the breakaway almost every day collecting KOM points and those who are here to show the team jerseys or wants to show their abilities with the aim of securing a contract for the future.
| Wout Van Aert | 26 | A type 5 rider who can also timte-trial, he can be in the mix for 6 stages win, (1-4, 6 and 7). He is starting his season and form is unknown but he always rides to win |
| Primož Roglič | 22 | A type 1 rider at his best. He is also making his season start after a surgery last year. At 22, he might be too risky, given his team announce he is riding with no pressure. He has the speed and power to win stage 4 atleast. |
| Enric Mas | 20 | He is the best climber here and his form should win him stage 5. The favourite for the GC if he can limit the damage on stage 1. |
| Mikel Landa | 18 | Will also look to limit the damage on stage 1, he is doing really well on the climbs lately. The only issue is that Buitrago did as well as him in Ruta del Sol and only cost 12 points. |
| Aleksandr Vlasov | 18 | Finished 5th in Valenciana. The climbs were shorter there and 18 points could be split more wisely here. He also sprints well and will contend in stage 4. |
| Adam Yates | 18 | He looks good in UAE tour and will be the one of the favourite on stage 5. The only issue is that he might have to hold back given his team’s multitude of leaders. |
| Mathieu Van Der Poel | 16 | Type 4 rider who will challenge in stage 4 and 6. Strade Bianche showed that he is not at his peak and will work for Philipsen in sprints. |
| Julian Alaphilippe | 16 | Disappointing at strade Bianche, stage 4 is his best shot at a stage win. |
| João Almeida | 16 | A type 1 rider who has been rather disappointing in his time-trial lately, given it was his forte at the start of his career. He has his own style of riding and he does not work well in team and will be sharing leadership here. |
| Ben O’Connor | 14 | He is supported by a really strong team here, has improved massively in team-trial and shown good form in Tour Down Under. A type 1 rider. |
| Jasper Philipsen | 14 | Type 4 sprinter who is only started his season at Omloop due to illness. He also crashed last week, but he has a good leadout and a stage win should be in the pocket. |
| Jai Hindley | 14 | Usually stuggles in time-trial and he will be sharing duties with Vlasov. |
| Thymen Arensman | 14 | Could be a type 1 rider and will be in the top 5 for the TT. The issue is his climbing form has been utterly disappointing this season so far. |
| Fabio Jakobsen | 14 | He only won one stage so far this season. The fastest man on the planet will not have Morkov here. He is in danger of losing a Tour de France spot to Tim Merlier. |
| Brandon McNulty | 14 | He fits as the type 1 rider, except that he is only starting his season and he is only building towards the Tour de France. |
| Alexey Lutsenko | 12 | Below par, in Oman and UAE tour, where he had a less challenging field than here. |
| Santiago Buitrago | 12 | The young Colombian finished 3rd at Saudi tour and 3rd behind Pogacar and Landa in Andalucia. At 12 points, he is the best Velogames choice for Bahrain. |
| Damiano Caruso | 12 | 7th at Andalusia, he is also the 3rd in line for Bahrain leadership. Not the best options. |
| Thibaut Pinot | 12 | On his farewell season tour, he will be aiming for stage wins mainly. His form is good enough to win him Stage 5. |
| Filippo Ganna | 12 | The opening time-trial is set for him and he could hold on to the leader jersey until stage 5. |
| Tao Geoghegan Hart | 12 | His current form is the closest we have seen him since winning the Giro 2020. His time-trial abilities put him in the brackets of type 1 riders. |
| Thomas Pidcock | 12 | While he has the abilities to win the General classifications, it is more likely that he will be aiming to win stages only here. It will be hard to beat him on stage 4. |
| Biniam Girmay | 12 | A type 5 rider. He will do his utmost best to hold on to the best in Stage 4 and challenge. He otherwise will be fighting with the best on 4 other stage (2,3,6 and 7) |
| Wilco Kelderman | 12 | As Roglic, he is only starting his season here. He will definitely be having his own shot at glory and everything is not about Roglic, yet. |
| Fernando Gaviria | 12 | What a return to form, it was been for him at Movistar. 5 top5 5 finished and a stage win so far these season! |
| Dylan Groenewegen | 12 | Well tuned in his team now, he has 2 stage wins under the belt already this season. |
| Peter Sagan | 12 | There exist no possible scenario other than a successful breakaway on stage 6 where we can see him being a profitable velogames option at 2 points. |
| Hugh Carthy | 12 | he would have oreferred longer clins but can snatch a top 10 |
| Mark Cavendish | 10 | He is still adapting himself at his new team and might not be the best 10 points sprinter here. |
| Phil Bauhaus | 10 | Won stage 7 last year, he has that ability of always wining a stage at any time.he already won at Tour down under this season. He also has a decent leadout here with Pasqualon and Arndt. |
| Jordi Meeus | 10 | He is Bora’s main sprinter but has yet to win this season. He does have 5 podium finishes though. |
| Guillaume Martin | 10 | He has yet to show good form this season. A peak Guilaume Martin could win stage 4. |
| Valentin Madouas | 10 | Second at Strade Bianche, climbing with the best at Algarve, time-trial is not his field. At 10 points, he is an attractive option for someone who finished 10th at last year Tour de France! |
| Attila Valter | 10 | If Kelderman, he is definitely in good form enough to step up to Jumbo-Visma leadership if Roglic is not ready yet. |
| Alex Aranburu | 10 | Valenciana proved that he has taken his climbing to another level this season. Was it not for Gaviria contending the bunch sprints, he would have been a must. Yet we hace seen Movistar sprinting to 2,3,4 positions this season already. |
| Giulio Ciccone | 10 | The explosive Italian is in really good form. His explosivity will make him one to watch on stage 4. His form is good enough to help him climb with the elite on stage 5. A potential top 5 finisher. |
| Edward Theuns | 10 | Trek Segafredo designated sprinter for stage 2,3 and 7. |
| Davide Formolo | 10 | The Italian was impressive in Strade Bianche after coming back from a bike change. He will ride in his own fighter way. He will aim to win a stage from a break away. |
| Juan Sebastián Molano | 10 | He won in UAE tour without a lead out. He can absolutely repeat his feat here. |
| Benoît Cosnefroy | 8 | He shares the best puncheur title with Dylan Teuns but stage 4 might prove to be too long for him. |
| Andrea Vendrame | 8 | He has eyes in stage 6. Whether from a breakaway or in the group, the profile is well suited to him. |
| Andrea Pasqualon | 8 | With aim for win in stage 6 wheh Bauhaus will get drop. |
| Lennard Kämna | 8 | A firm fan favourite, he will be in breakaways. |
| Simone Consonni | 8 | He fits the the type 5 riders. His win in stage 5 of Saudi tour will give him confidence! |
| Axel Zingle | 8 | While it is not doubt, he will be in the mix in the hilly stage of stage 4 and 6. He might be working for Consonni on the flater parcours. |
| Lorenzo Fortunato | 8 | A true pure climber who is now watched and finds it difficult to integrate breakaway. Should finish in the top 15 of stage 5. |
| Quentin Pacher | 8 | More likely to go for breakaways or support Madouas. |
| Jake Stewart | 8 | Might be given the nod to sprint. |
| Magnus Sheffield | 8 | No word does justice to the talent of the 20 year old. Excellent time-trialist, he could also pretend to stage victory on stage 4. |
| Rune Herregodts | 8 | |
| Tiesj Benoot | 8 | he is more of classics rider but he can also climb if the form is here |
| Koen Bouwman | 8 | A punchy rider who also likes break aways. |
| Carlos Verona | 8 | He will be working for Mas here. |
| Andrea Bagioli | 8 | Stage 4 and 6 pretenders. |
| Davide Ballerini | 8 | He could also be prentending for stage wins but is here to guide Jakobsen mainly. |
| Warren Barguil | 8 | He won a stage here previously. One a good day, he will be impossible to beat. |
| Nacer Bouhanni | 8 | He keeps on crashing and coming back. This might drive him to finally win stage against. An attractive options at 8 for 3 stage placings. |
| Cristián Rodríguez | 8 | |
| Alberto Dainese | 8 | He has a really good train and the Italian finished 4th at le Samyn. |
| Andreas Leknessund | 8 | Both are good climbers who will be given lots of freedom. |
| Harm Vanhoucke | 8 | |
| Mathieu Burgaudeau | 8 | Won a stage last year in Paris Nice. |
| Quinn Simmons | 8 | Has the ambition to do better than his KOM title last year. |
| George Bennett | 8 | |
| Alessandro Covi | 8 | Eyes on stage 4 and 6 for him. |
| Lorenzo Rota | 6 | ALERT! Game changer introduction at 6 points. He will be a final top 10 finisher but he has that punch for stage 4 and 6. Climbed with the elite at Andalucia |
| Felix Gall | 6 | He could pretend to a final top 15, |
| Samuele Battistella | 6 | He can climb and sprint over short distances as seen with his 7th place in the first stage at Valenciania. He almost certainly will be in the breakaway on stage 6. |
| Victor Lafay | 6 | A courageous rider who will be the first to light things up on the final climb on stage 4. |
| Anthony Perez | 6 | Won Faun Drome classic in spectacular manner last week. |
| Rémy Rochas | 6 | |
| Jonathan Klever Caicedo | 6 | |
| Julius Van Den Berg | 6 | |
| Davide Bais | 6 | Break away guys who can also climb and punch. |
| Erik Fetter | 6 | |
| Luca Colnaghi | 6 | Team Bardiani designated sprinter but there is a better 6 points sprinter. |
| Alessandro Tonelli | 6 | |
| Mike Teunissen | 6 | Will be leading out Girmay. |
| Dylan Van Baarle | 6 | His role will be interesting to see. |
| German Nicolás Tivani | 6 | They will be alternating role and elading out each other for the sprints. Tivani is usually the fastest sprinter, but Attilo Viviani has been really impressive this season with4 top 10 finished. |
| Attilio Viviani | 6 | |
| Mattia Bais | 4 | Typical type 7 |
| Samuele Zoccarato | 4 | A household type 7 rider. |
| Jorge Arcas | 4 | Assist for Mas |
| Albert Torres | 4 | |
| Marius Mayrhofer | 4 | The 22 year old German is a interesting option. While Albert Dainese is DSM main sprinter here, his performance in Tour Down under with some top 10 finsihed coupled with a win in the Cadel Evans classics has open eyes. He could be givena chance at glory, particularly if he makes it on harder days of Dainese has miss it. 7th in the prologue at Tour down Under! |
| Simon Pellaud | 4 | Another type 7 option |
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