As it happened: Classics star betters GC favourites on gravel finale on stage 2 of Tirreno-Adriatico 2026
The wet gravel suites Van der Poel, Del Toro and Pellizzari best as they rode away from the peloton
Tirreno-Adriatico 2026 - Preview
Tirreno-Adriatico 2026 - Route
Race Situation
Van der Poel wins in slippery San Gimignano ahead of a late surge by Del Toro and Pellizzari
Tomorrow's stage should be the first opportunity for the sprinters with the likes of Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek), Tobias Lund (Decathlon-CMA CGM), Paul Magnier (Soudal-QuickStep) and others all hoping to get a win. Join us then for our live report as the Tirreno-Adriatico 2026 continues!
This is becoming a familiar sight. Isaac Del Toro in a leader's jersey at a WorldTour race, mainly races run by RCS Sport with the Giro d'Italia and UAE Tour being recent races where he has led. He now has a small lead over Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe's Giulio Pellizzari.
It was the expected winner, but he didn't make it look easy with Del Toro and Pellizzari really challenging Van der Poel all the way to the line.
And, don't miss the final few teams in Paris-Nice's team time trial as the lead changes with Daan Hoole (Decathlon-CMA CGM) taking the lead ahead of Visma-Lease a Bike...
Make sure to have a read of the post race report after that dramatic finale in San Gimignano...
General Classification after stage 2
1. Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 5:06'01"
2. Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) +3"
3. Magnus Sheffield (Ineos Grenadiers) +13"
4. Alan Hatherly (Jayco-AlUla) +17"
5. Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) +18"
6. Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious) +20"
7. Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) +31"
8. Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers) +34"
9. Javier Romo (Movistar) same time
10. Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) +36"
Mathieu van der Poel wins stage 2 of Tirreno-Adriatico 2026 ahead of Isaac Del Toro and Giulio Pellizzari as they skid and slide over the ice-like paved road in San Gimignano.
500 metres to go.
Almost three minutes back to Arensman after his disastrous crash on the same corner that almost saw Van der Poel come down.
Del Toro is doing the majority of the work with Van der Poel and Pellizzari following the Mexican champion.
Van der Poel almost lost it in a corner and had to swing his wheel around and unclip. That sees Del Toro open a gap but the cyclocross world champion closes the gap again.
Del Toro and Pellizzari get back to Van der Poel.
Back in the peloton, Ganna leads the chase ahead of Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) who won't do any work with Pellizzari out front.
Del Toro and Pellizzari are closing but Van der Poel looks so so calm and smooth.
Del Toro dropping Pellizzari and is bridging back across to Van der Poel. He is looking very impressive. Absolutely no-one other than these three in shot.
Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) comes to the front on the gravel as several riders go backwards. Van der Poel hits the front with Jorgenson following.
Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor) hits the front with Van der Poel in second wheel.
Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe come to the point of the peloton alongside Uno-X Mobility and Visma-Lease a Bike as they turn onto the gravel.
Into the final 8km of the stage and here is what the riders have to deal with as Ganna leads the race ahead of Arensman. Just over 1km to the gravel climb. There is a very tight turn onto this climb to Sam Gimignano.
The peloton suddenly hit a very wet part of the road. The rain doesn't seem to be raining too hard but the spray from all the standing water is causing a lot of riders to get absolutely soaked.
There is a real intense battle in the final 20km to hold the lead of the bunch and to have a good position before the final climb and the gravel.
Ineos Grenadiers are doing a fine job of keeping their three leader's jersey wearers, Ganna, Arensman and Sheffield, right up at the front of the race. Haig did a wonderful effort, he is now back at the team car.
The riders are now on the uncategorised 2.2km long climb of the Casole d'Elsa.
Ineos Grenadiers are very keen to dominate the peloton. They're doing a terrific job but will it all be worth it at the end of the day in San Gimignano.
Jack Haig is the man who is doing the work for Ineos Grenadiers at the front of the peloton alongside Bahrain Victorious, UAE Team Emirates-XRG and Jayco-AlUla.
Enjoying our live race coverage? Subscribe to Cyclingnews for an all-access pass to our unrivalled reporting of WorldTour racing, bike tech and exclusive in-depth features. Plus, access to the Cyclingnews app to follow the action on-the-go! Find out more.
The break have managed to pull the gap out to 23 seconds again.
Ineos Grenadiers, Soudal-QuickStep, Alpecin-Premier Tech and UAE Team Emirates-XRG are battling for control in the peloton.
Sevilla back in the group of four again but they only have 13 seconds on the peloton, now.
Sevilla pushing on ahead of his breakaway companions as the peloton draw ever closer to the catch.
Arnaud De Lie (Lotto-Intermarche) dropped in the peloton, among others.
It is starting to rain properly now.
A few spots of rain starting to fall.
With gravel on the menu today, Mathieu van der Poel says he wants to return to Strade Bianche in the future...
8km to the KOM of Castelnuovo Val di Cecina which is 9.7km at 3.3%, not the hardest but it does give a rider an opportunity to go onto the podium in the mountains jersey.
Mechanical
1km to go the intermediate sprint.
The roads are getting tight, twisty and undulating as they head into the hills now with the back of the peloton having to come to a track stand on multiple occasions already.
5km to the intermediate sprint in Pomarance.
Just a gap of one minute and 45 seconds between the break and the peloton.
Second overall, Thymen Arensman (Ineos Grenadiers), spoke to TV before the start this morning... "Maybe for me to wear a sprinters jersey is quite something, maybe the only time in my career, so I will enjoy it. I have won TTs in the past but it was a nice result and we had some nice improvements over the winter.
Bahrain Victorious now also join the teams on the front for Tiberi and Santiago Buitrago. Maybe Pello Bilbao after his solid TT performance.
There is a Moderate Thunderstorm Warning given for the San Gimignano for later this afternoon. The riders will be hoping it stays dry until after the finish as the gravel climb in a storm would be rather hellish.
The time gap dips under two minutes to the break as the riders head over the half way point.
Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe have moved up to very close to the front now in the peloton but Visma-Lease a Bike, Alpecin-Premier Tech and Ineos Grenadiers are being left to work.
100km of racing complete.
Local rider, Alberto Bettiol (XDS-Astana), spoke to TV before the start today: "It isn't a very technical run to the gravel climb, the climb suits Van der Poel, Van Aert but also the guys like (Isaac) Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) and (Antonio) Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious).
The time gap takes a big tumble since Steven Kruijswijk (Visma-Lease a Bike) joined the pacing in the peloton. The break now has two minutes 12 seconds of a gap.
Visma-Lease a Bike join Ineos Grenadiers and Alpecin-Premier Tech on the front of the peloton. Could this be for Wout Van Aert and a stage win chance? Or is it more focusing on their GC hope of Matteo Jorgenson?
Considering how little climbing there appears to be on the profile, the riders have an elevation gain of 2300 metres to contend with today. The highest point is the categorised climb of Castelnuovo Val di Cecina.
65km to the intermediate sprint.
Alpecin-Premier Tech return to the front of the peloton to work with Ineos Grenadiers. Mathieu van der Poel will be looking for a stage win today.
Both these week-long races are steeped in tradition, but do they mean anything when linked with the Grand Tours...
The leaning tower of Pisa has it's famous lean due to poor foundations being built on soft sandy soil. The building began in 1173 but, as construction got to the third floor, it began to lean just five years into the build. They tried to compensate by building floors slightly taller one one side to the other. Eventually, major stabilisation work was done as recent as the 1990s to save this famous quirky historic gem.
The time gap to the four man break drops to three minutes 40 seconds as they lose about 50 seconds in 10km.
The riders have a very long period of flat roads now and the pace hasn't really picked up, either. That said, the gap to the breakaway dips back under four minutes.
Magnus Sheffield and his Ineos Grenadiers teammates look to play the numbers game rather than sit and let the race come to them...
It is an overcast but bright day in Tuscany with the temperatures at a very pleasant 17 degrees C.
The riders pass the city of Pisa and it's famous leaning tower.
"It's a really 'interesting' stage. We'll have to be ready for the finish and hit the gravel from the front."
Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers) is finding happiness in new focuses after taking two from two time trial victories this season...
The peloton is being led by the team of the riders in 1st, 2nd and 4th, Ineos Grenadiers. They have some help, though, from Alpecin-Premier Tech and Visma-Lease a Bike.
The gap has expanded to three minutes and 20 seconds.
All four of the expected breakaway teams are in the break today. Their gap is almost at three minutes on the pack.
The break of four have a gap of 2'54" on the peloton after 8km of racing.
No updates on whether the attackers have got away or not.
British time trial champion, Ethan Hayter (Soudal-QuickStep) woke up this morning with 25 UCI points and 500 CHF less than he had yesterday due to a fine that he received for showing his middle finger towards a passing motorbike in yestderday's race...
One non-starter:
Sign on has been completed by the riders as they ready for the start of the second stage and the first road stage of this year's race.
The finish location of San Gimignano is famed for it's 14 amazing towers from the original 72 that stood before. The towers were owned by each family that lived in the town, each family trying to out-do the other with height and decorations. It is also known for it's amazing frescos from the 14th and 15th centuries.
The jerseys:
It is a slow and steady start in terms of difficulty today for the riders with a largely flat beginning before the final third of the stage sees the hills begin and the action points of the first intermediate sprint and KOM sprint of the race.
Buongiorno and welcome to Cyclingnews' live report of stage 2 at Tirreno-Adriatico 2026.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
