As it happened: Flying Dutchman storms to victory with race lead changing hands
Mathieu Van der Poel outsprinted the rest with Giulio Pellizzari in second and Tobias Johannessen in third with Pellizzari taking the race lead
Tirreno-Adriatico 2026 - Preview
Tirreno-Adriatico 2026 - Route
Race Situation
It was a brutal and chaotic finale that saw Van der Poel storm to victory with a powerful sprint as second place on the day, Pellizzari, takes race lead
Buongiorno and welcome to Cyclingnews' live report on stage 4 of Tirreno-Adriatico 2026.
And what a fascinating race it has been so far. The time trial on day one brought us some Ineos Grenadiers brilliance with three in the top four led by Filippo Ganna.
All that action brings us to today, We are over the half way point in the Race of the Two Seas and we have a very tasty looking stage on offer to entertain us. 213km (or 210km depending on the page on Tirreno-Adriatico's website) of racing with four categorised climbs with one topping out with just under 15km remaining.
However, the final lumps are far smaller than the first and could see some sprinters who can climb, such as Paul Magnier (Soudal-QuickStep), Lund Andresen, Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek), Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech), all maybe have a chance.
In reality, it'll likely be a similar group that came to the line in San Gimignano on stage 2 with Van der Poel being key favourite yet again with some excellent training towards Milan-Sanremo on offer.
Some other riders who could be involved after a great start to the race are Andrea Vendrame (Jayco-AlUla), Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor), Paul Lapeira (Decathlon-CMA CGM), Thomas Silva (XDS-Astana), Wout Van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) among others.
Del Toro and co will be hoping for more pleasant weather today after the long cold and wet day yesterday... Unfortunately for them, it is raining at the start.
It was another amazing day for Lund Andresen and his new team Decathlon-CMA CGM as they celebrated taking victory in the bunch sprint...
There is a maximum of 30 points available today in the mountains classification. The new green jersey wearer, Diego Pablo Sevilla (Polti-Visit Malta), was out solo for the first half of yesterday's stage with his rivals taking minor points from the peloton. Will the Spaniard live to regret that effort with big points on offer today?
The riders are in the neutralised zone.
No attacks in the early kilometres. Perhaps they are waiting for the Ovindoli climb that comes after just over 25km of racing.
Reports said the break were caught, but they are still pushing to stay clear.
The break still have a small advantage on the peloton.
They only have about 12 seconds on the peloton.
The jerseys:
💙 💜 💚 🤍 Maglie. #TirrenoAdriatico @CA_Ita pic.twitter.com/k5FYsoyOUrMarch 12, 2026
The gap extends to over 20 seconds.
This talent packed breakaway may get away as the gap expands to a minute.
The sun has come out! And this powerful break is extending it's gap.
The break have started the first climb of the day, the 12km long Ovindoli with an average gradient of around 5%.
Rochas is doing a terrific job of closing the gap and is now just 33 seconds off the back of the breakaway.
The gap back to the peloton is now almost three and a half minutes.
Sevilla, the KOM jersey wearer, is the only rider with any points in the breakaway today. However, he could easily be overtaken today with over 70 points on offer and a maximum of 30 points for one rider.
The top of the Ovindoli climb is the highest point of the day at over 1300 metres and the second highest of the race after the Sassotetto which just beats this climb by a few 100 metres.
Rochas bridges to the break with just 2km to the top of the first climb of the day. Chapeau to him!
The break have lost over a minute on the peloton as the gap drops to two minutes and 10 seconds.
Sevilla extends his lead to 11 points over Joan Bou (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), who missed today's move.
Interestingly, it is UAE Team Emirates-XRG who are pushing the pace in the peloton. Perhaps a stage win is on the cards for Del Toro today.
Over the top of the first climb of the day the break put a bit more time back into the peloton. The majority of the lead group are not climbers and will make the difference on the downhill and flat sections of today.
The break have almost reinstated their three minute gap on the bunch.
The riders are now on the descent proper.
Three minutes of a gap splits the peloton, led by UAE Team Emirates-XRG, and the 12 man breakaway.
Just like I said, the gap continues to grow on the downhill and flat with the break expanding their lead to three and a half minutes.
10km to the base of the second climb of the day, the Valico delle Capannelle.
As the second climb of the day gets going, the gap to the break takes a dive and now sits at just over three minutes.
There are 15, 10, 7, 5, 3, 2 and 1 points available at the top of this climb. A potentially key moment for Sevilla and his quest for the green mountains jersey.
The elevation gain today is about 2500 metres according to the official race website.
It is a cold but, thankfully, dry day so far in the mountains. Snow capped peaks surround the riders but they will be thankful that they are not venturing up to those altitudes this week.
The gap continues to drop to two minutes and 27 seconds with 3km to the top of the climb.
15 points up for grabs for the first rider over the line. Will it be Sevilla in the KOM jersey?
The peloton have really stamped on the accelerator as the gap to the break takes a nose dive and is now barely above a minute as they crest the Valico delle Capannelle.
Sevilla now dominates the KOM standings with 30 points to his name with Rochas and Slock new in the top three on 13 and 8 points respectively.
It is now a long descent to the penultimate categorised climb of the day, the Castellalto. The gap has stabilised at one minute and 25 seconds.
French sprint star, Paul Magnier (Soudal-QuickStep), is using this race as prep for the upcoming Classics, but he didn't get the result he's have hoped for in the sprint yesterday. Maybe today could be for him if he's able to get over the climbs with the leades...
The rain begins to fall yet again. The break have a gap of one minute 40 seconds.
UAE Team Emirates-XRG are not happy letting this break have too much of a gap with Garcia Cortina and Del Grosso just too close as relatively dangerous riders in this race that lacks mountains.
UAE Team Emirates-XRG don't seem to have the upper hand on the break anymore as the gap continues to grow again.
Onto flatter roads now and the breakaway are working very hard to keep growing their gap. Currently at two minutes and 40 seconds.
Just 3km from the base of the penultimate climb of Castellalto.
Castellalto is around 7km long with an average gradient of around 5%.
Onto Castellalto and the break is led by former US champion, Larry Warbasse (Tudor).
The pace is rocketing in the peloton with Jonathan Milan working hard for Lidl-Trek potentially for Giulio Ciccone or Andrea Bagioli.
Ineos Grenadiers, Tudor and Visma-Lease a Bike all come to the front on the start of the Castellalto climb.
There's a dog on the road! The pup leaves the road side into a field, fortunately.
The pace in the peloton has seen about 50 seconds drop off the break's advantage.
Mechanical for Carlos Samudio (Solution Tech-Nippo-Rali) caught his jacket in his derailleur.
A few riders having to stop at the back of the peloton with Ethan Hayter (Soudal-Quickstep) being the one caught out most by it.
Alpecin-Premier Tech appear at the front with Van der Poel right up towards the front in the points jersey.
Rochas pushed clear solo and is now working hard to extend his advantage on the descent.
Sevilla now on 33 points with Rochas on 18 points and Slock on 10 points.
Co-operation in the breakaway is falling apart with one minute 38 seconds between the peloton and the break. Azparren is still ahead of the peloton but not by much.
Break splits!
Abrahamsen uses the flatter terrain to fly across the gap to the leaders in a really impressive showing of power.
Azparren caught by the peloton.
Otruba is pushing really hard in the lead group.
Various teams were in colour order on the front of the peloton earlier. Whereas, now... Ineos Grenadiers have control on the descent.
Sevilla caught by the peloton.
The riders trying to re-join the leaders are Rex, Rochas, De Bondt and Kielich. The three Belgians and the Frenchman are trying hard but still have about 10 seconds to close on the seven leaders.
The riders are starting the climb to the intermediate sprint in Mosciano Sant'Angelo.
The riders will be thankful that the last 20 or so kilometres have been dry and it appears its going to be dry for the rest of the day.
Visma-Lease a Bike, Decathlon-CMA CGM and Bahrain Victorious are working hard to bring the break back as they look to set up their main men of Van Aert, Matteo Jorgenson, Lund Andresen and Antonio TIberi.
Mechanical for Edward Planckaert (Alpecin-Premier Tech).
Slock and Abrahamsen bridge the gap and Otruba brings it back together again.
Rochas have been dropped by the break. He spent a lot of the first part of today on his own.
Gaffuri never quite made it to Otruba's wheel and the Czech rider is pushing clear solo with De Bondt trying to bridge.
Rochas has been caught by the peloton.
De Bondt caught by the rest of the break. Otruba riding well.
NSN working hard for Corbin Strong in the peloton.
EF Education-EasyPost hit the front of the peloton. They have Ben Healy in GC and Madis Mihkels for the sprint.
De Bondt dropped by the chase group and is heading back to the peloton.
Just cresting the uncategorised climb before they hit the final climb of the Tortoreto.
Chase group caught by the peloton with 23 seconds to Otruba.
Visma-Lease a Bike is looking strong as they hit the front with Woout Van Aert in third wheel and looking good.
Healy and Van der Poel are right on the wheel of Van Aert as they edge closer to the Tortoreto climb. 1.5km with an average of 8.5% gradient.
Otruba leads onto the final climb of the day but the Visma-Lease a Bike led peloton are right on him.
Otruba caught with Jorgenson leading the way for Van Aert with Healy, Van der Poel and Ganna right up at the front.
Del Toro, Johannessen, Roglic, Pellizzari, Ciccone and Strong all there as well. Likewise, Jan Christen and, amazingly, Abrahamsen.
Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor) and Clement Champoussin (XDS-Astana) also in this lead group as the peloton has disintegrated.
Alaphilippe dropped. Magnus Sheffield (Ineos Grenadiers) is really struggling to hold on. Likewise Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost).
Jorgenson back on the front yet again.
Van der Poel and Del Toro now helping Van Aert and Jorgenson on the front.
Sheffield, Buitrago, Tiberi, Hatherly and Tiberi all missing from the front group.
Into the final 8km and Del Toro slows the tempo to allow Jan Christen back in, but also allows Andrea Vendrame (Jayco-AlUla) back in.
7km to go and the chasing group are 27 seconds behind but we don't know who's in that group.
Jorgenson, Van Aert, Del Toro, Van der Poel, Vendrame, Healy, Pellizzari, Roglic, Ganna, Christen, Pinarello, Johannessen, Ciccone and Champoussin in the lead group with 5km to go.
two chase groups said to be at 23 and 37 seconds respectively.
Jorgenson pushing hard on the front again for Van Aert but he is looking for a helping hand.
2km to go now. Some very fast riders in here in Van der Poel, Van Aert, Vendrame and Ganna being the main faster riders. Del Toro, Roglic and Ciccone aren't sluggish either.
Mathieu van der Poel wins stage 4 of Tirreno-Adriatico 2026 with an explosive acceleration gapping the rest.
A superb second place for Giulio Pellizzari who takes the race lead with six bonus seconds putting him two seconds ahead of Isaac Del Toro.
Tobias Johannessen takes an impressive third.
GC Stage 4
1. Giulio Pellizzari, Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe 15:27'00"
2. Isaac Del Toro, UAE Team Emirates-XRG +2"
3. Primož Roglič, Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe +21"
4. Matteo Jorgenson, Visma-Lease a Bike +34"
5. Ben Healy, EF Education-EasyPost +39"
6. Andrea Vendrame, Jayco-AlUla +42"
7. Magnus Sheffield, Ineos Grenadiers S.T.
8. Giulio Ciccone, Lidl-Trek +44"
9. Alan Hatherly, Jayco-AlUla +46"
10. Antonio Tiberi, Bahrain Victorious +49"
Make sure to read our post race report...
The jerseys after stage 4:
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