As it happened: Race leader takes stage victory and extends his lead on stage 6 of Tirreno-Adriatico 2026
Isaac Del Toro led the race home in the blue jersey ahead of a fast finishing Tobias Halland Johannessen and a fading Matteo Jorgenson
Tirreno-Adriatico 2026 - Preview
Tirreno-Adriatico 2026 - Route
Race Situation
Isaac Del Toro gets his stage win after two second places earlier in the week
Buongiorno and welcome to Cyclingnews' live report on stage 6 of Tirreno-Adriatico 2026
It was a memorable day yesterday with a big GC day shaping what these last two days will look like but also an emotional first victory in five years for former Danish champion, Michael Valgren (EF Education-EasyPost). Relive the action with our full post race report...
Plus some reaction from the 34-year-old, Valgren, after taking the stage in dramatic fashion from the break that included Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor)...
Today's stage is yet another cracker in the offing. Several brutally steep climbs as well as the highest point of the race, the Sassotetto. This time, the famous climb will be climbed much earlier in the stage as is the norm with this usual summit finish ascent.
The riders are due to start racing in around 45 minutes.
It is all about today for Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) and Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) and the other GC contenders with a pretty flat day tomorrow in San Benedetto del Tronto...
If it wasn't for his crash on stage two when he was following eventual stage winner, Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech), on the gravel climb to San Gimignanon, Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) would've probably have been right in the fight with Del Toro and Pellizzari. He still could be as the rider from the USA shows good form way before main goals in the Ardennes...
The start town of San Severino Marche is also the hometown of second overall, Pellizzari. He would've hoped to still be in the leader's jersey going into today for his homecoming, but it wasn't to be. He does still wear the white best young riders jersey on Del Toro's behalf, though.
Jerseys:
The neutral start is in about 10 minutes.
Sign on is almost complete at the beautiful square in San Severino Marche.
The riders have started the neutralised zone.
A puncture for Gianni Moscon (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) delays the start.
Corbin Strong (NSN) didn't start today due to coming down with an illness.
The move by Van der Poel and Van Aert didn't stick and the peloton is, currently, all together.
Van Aert is really pushing in these early kilometres as he tries to force the break of the day with pure power alone, seemingly.
Once again, there are 30 points max up for grabs in the KOM classification. Diego Pablo Sevilla (Polti-Visit Malta) seems pretty empty after multiple days in the break, he has 12 points over Joan Bou (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) and 15 points over Remy Rochas (Groupama-FDJ United) going into today.
Riders who are definitely in the front split are race leader Del Toro as well as Van der Poel and Van Aert. No suggestion that other big GC names are in the group.
Peloton all back together with two riders out front. The bunch is being pulled along by Visma-Lease a Bike.
Van der Poel sat up on the final climb yesterday as he may have thought he didn't have the legs to compete with the likes of Del Toro. It also meant he lost enough time to allow him to go into breaks as he is now almost eight minutes down in the GC.
Van der Poel and Bettiol have just 10 seconds on the peloton.
Van der Poel and Bettiol caught.
Van der Poel and Bettiol may still be ahead of the bunch. Awaiting confirmation on that one.
Just 20km to the intermediate sprint in Sarnano at the base of the Sassotetto climb.
Van der Poel and Bettiol were, indeed, caught.
Tiberi doesn't get away though. He was chase down after getting a small gap solo.
Ineos Grenadiers currently lead the peloton.
Puncture for Silvan Dillier (Alpecin-Premier Tech).
Attack
Gregor Mühlberger (Decathlon-CMA CGM)
Vincenzo Albanese (EF Education-EasyPost)
Clement Braz Afonso (Groupama-FDJ United)
Walter Calzoni (Pinarello-Q36.5)
Timo Kielich (Visma-Lease a Bike)
Guillermo Thomas Silva (XDS-Astana)
Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers)
Just 5km to the intermediate sprint in Sarnano with the break pulling away with a gap onf one minute 24 seconds.
The riders are just about to start the all category climb to the highest point of the entire week, the Sassotetto.
The riders have almost 4000 metres of elevation gain today.
5km to the top of the climb.
The gap has dropped a touch to three minutes and 22 seconds.
The break are about to crest the Sassotetto climb.
KOM (Sassotetto)
1. Kielich 15pts
2. Ganna 10pts
3. Calzoni 7pts
4. Albanese 5pts
5. Mühlberger 3pts
6. Braz Afonso 2pts
7. Silva 1pt
Even if Kielich won every single KOM today including the one to the finish, he would still not beat Sevilla's 33 points. The Spaniard will be pleased to know his jersey is safe for another day.
Two hours of racing done. The break have an advantage of four minutes and 20 seconds on the peloton.
The break have almost completed the main part of the descent off the Sassotetto. They have three short climbs to do before finally descending to the valley and head towards the finishing circuit.
The race make it to the valley and the halfway point on the stage.
Back in the peloton, it is the team of the race leader, UAE Team Emirates-XRG who set the pace. Del Toro will be keen to get a stage win after two second places.
Multiple teams on the front of the peloton as the gap hovers around four minutes to the breakaway of seven riders.
So we are basically on the finishing circuit now, they don't cross the finish line for the first time in Camerino.
Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor) and a rider from Polti-Visit Malta briefly had a little gap on the peloton but he looked like he was just setting his own tempo rather than attacking.
Alaphilippe actually has his GC leader, Michael Storer (Tudor), a few wheels behind as he may be setting up a very early attack.
Alaphilippe's pacing is absolutely destroying the peloton as he works for Storer. He has taken a minute off the breakaway's advantage.
KOM leader, Sevilla, out the back but he will keep the jersey today thanks to no-one dangerous being in the break. He just needs to stay on his bike and finish inside the time cut.
The riders are now on the finishing circuit.
Alaphilippe is doing a terrific ride here. He has brought the gap down to two minutes up to the break. And even dropping it inside that.
Alaphilippe continues pushing with Storer now on his wheel.
Its amazing Vermaerke is still riding after his crash. He lost it on the corner and very nearly held it up. His momentum just kept taking him towards the wall which he hit, then he hit his head and then careered on the asphalt. Quite something that it was only him that came down.
The peloton is maybe made up of about 40 riders. Maybe less.
Onto the Camerino climb for the first time that will take the riders across the finishing line for the first time.
Alaphilippe is now at the back of the peloton and appears to be done with his work for Storer.
Albanese starting to really struggle in the breal. Likewise Ganna, Kielich, Silva and Calzoni as Mühlberger and Braz Afonso push clear.
Mühlberger and Braz Afonso have about 35 seconds on the chasing group of Ganna, Calzoni, Kielich and Silva with a further 30 seconds back to Carapaz and Albanese.
Carapaz distances Albanese.
The break has put over a minute back into the peloton with the gap at two minutes and 18 seconds.
Carapaz, who started the day two minutes and 11 seconds down on Del Toro, has a minute on the peloton now after his attack.
50km to go
Mühlberger and Braz Afonso lead by 52 seconds on the chasers and one minute 15 seconds to Carapaz. The peloton are two minutes and 15 seconds back.
Carapaz joins the Ganna group who are 56 seconds down on the two leaders.
Jan Christen (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) is working on the front of the peloton and has pulled 30 seconds off Carapaz's gap despite the Ecuadorian working hard with Ganna, Kielich, Silva and Calzoni.
Carapaz needs the road to start going up again as he is losing time on the leaders and is slowly being caught by the Christen led peloton.
The peloton are about to catch the Carapaz group thanks to Vermaerke.
Vermaerke leads the peloton ahead of riders from Bahrain Victorious, Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe and Visma-Lease a Bike.
The peloton being destroyed yet again on the Camerino climb as the riders tackle it for the second time. Christen takes over the pacing yet again.
Alessandro Pinarello (NSN) is having a superb week and the 22-year-old is sat on Christen's wheel in the peloton, just ahead of Del Toro and the rest.
30km to go
Mühlberger and Braz Afonso only have 46 seconds on the peloton.
One lap to go as Braz Afonso leads Mühlberger across the finish line. Will they be ahead the next time around? Very very unlikely as the UAE Team Emirates-XRG led peloton are just 38 seconds behind them.
Just 30 seconds for Braz Afonso and Mühlberger after a superb effort.
With that last ascent of the Camerino climb, it is confirmed that Diego Pablo Sevilla (Polti-Visit Malta) has won the KOM classification with a max of just five points available tomorrow. The Spanish rider just needs to finish the race within the time limit.
Visma-Lease a Bike hit the front with Tim Rex and Wout Van Aert to set up Matteo Jorgenson.
Pellizzari looks to be struggling to close the wheel to Primož Roglič but is still there for the moment.
Breakaway caught by the Van Aert led peloton.
20km to go
Rex and Van Aert are working hard on the front and, actually, Mühlberger and Braz Afonso are still clear by just six seconds.
About 25 riders left in this peloton.
Tim Rex is done and Van Aert takes over the sole job of working for Jorgenson.
21 riders in the main group with Mühlberger and Braz Afonso still holding on!
The duo out front have extended their gap again to 15 seconds.
Here is the Camerino climb. They have climbed it twice already but they have one more ascent of it to the finish at the top in the town.
Christen makes it back to the front with a very impressive ride for his teammate, Del Toro.
Finally, Gregor Mühlberger and Clement Braz Afonso are caught with 7km to go.
Del Toro moves up to second wheel just behind Christen with a Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe trio of Jai Hindley, Giulio Pellizzari and Primož Roglič then the Visma-Lease a Bike guys and the rest.
Christen dropped after giving his all for Del Toro.
3km to go and the final climb begins with Van Aert holding 10 seconds on the chasers.
Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe move to the front with Hindley.
Bilbao and Van Aert caught by the Primož Roglič led peloton.
Healy still pushing out front.
Attack!
Del Toro and Jorgenson are immediately onto that with Storer, Johannessen, Ciccone, Roglič and the rest all able to follow.
2km to go with Healy still leading with Del Toro leading the chase.
Anders Johannessen working for his brother, Tobias. They clearly want the stage and are closing in on Pellizzari who, in turn, is closing in on Healy.
Pellizzari drops Healy but Del Toro and Jorgenson are winching the local man back.
500 metres to go
Del Toro looks so smooth and will surely take this stage win after a last ditch move by Jorgenson moments ago.
200 metres to go
Isaac Del Toro wins stage 6 of Tirreno-Adriatico 2026
A rapid finishing Tobias Johannessen pips Jorgenson to second with Pellizzari only managing fourth in the end.
Two second places for Del Toro across this race but held the leaders jersey but he now has the stage win to go with it.
Stage 6 Top 10
1. Isaac Del Toro (MEX) UAE Team Emirates-XRG 4:46'50"
2. Tobias Halland Johannessen (NOR) Uno-X Mobility +3"
3. Matteo Jorgenson (USA) Visma-Lease a Bike S.T.
4. Giulio Pellizzari (ITA) Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe +9"
5. Giulio Ciccone (ITA) Lidl-Trek +11"
6. Santiago Buitrago (COL) Bahrain Victorious S.T.
7. Ben Healy (IRE) EF Education-EasyPost +21"
8. Magnus Sheffield (USA) Ineos Grenadiers +25"
9. Primož Roglič (SLO) Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe +27"
10. Andrea Vendrame (ITA) Jayco-AlUla +32"
General Classification after stage 6
1. Isaac Del Toro (MEX) UAE Team Emirates-XRG 24:57'20"
2. Giulio Pellizzari (ITA) Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe +42"
3. Matteo Jorgenson (USA) Visma-Lease a Bike +43"
4. Tobias Halland Johannessen (NOR) Uno-X Mobility +1'15"
5. Primož Roglič (SLO) Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe +1'21"
6. Giulio Ciccone (ITA) Lidl-Trek +1'26"
7. Santiago Buitrago (COL) Bahrain Victorious +1'49"
8. Ben Healy (IRE) EF Education-EasyPost +1'55"
9. Magnus Sheffield (USA) Ineos Grenadiers +2'02"
10. Alessandro Pinarello (ITA) NSN +2'06"
Make sure to have a read of our post race report of today's dramatic stage...
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