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As it happened: Italian sprint star takes final stage as Isaac Del Toro takes Tirreno-Adriatico 2026 overall

Jonathan Milan came late to storm to victory with Sam Welsford and Laurenz Rex rounding off the stage podium

Tirreno-Adriatico 2026 stage 7
(Image credit: © Getty Images)

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Tirreno-Adriatico 2026 stage 7 route

Tirreno-Adriatico 2026 stage 7 route (Image credit: RCS Sport)

Race Situation

Isaac Del Toro wins the GC as Jonathan Milan takes the stage

Buongiorno and welcome to Cyclingnews' live report for stage 7 of Tirreno-Adriatico 2026

It has been a wonderful 61st edition of the Race of the Two Seas with action from start to finish on a typically Tirreno-Adriatico course. Some new and exciting finishes and climbs along the way as well as a superb battle for the blue jersey.

All the stage winners, so far...

S1 - Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers)
S2 - Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech)
S3 - Tobias Lund Andresen (Decathlon-CMA CGM)
S4 - Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech)
S5 - Michael Valgren (EF Education-EasyPost)
S6 - Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)

Just one more stage to go. It should be one of just two days for the fast men.

Let's take a moment to relive to epic racing of yesterday first, though. It was a magnificent day of racing with a perfectly ridden day by race leader, Del Toro. He stayed calm and just followed the moves before launching with just under 200 metres to go to take his first stage win at the race.

>>> Tirreno-Adriatico: Isaac del Toro wins stage 6 summit finish to extend race lead

CAMERINO, ITALY - MARCH 14: Isaac Del Toro of Mexico and UAE Team Emirates - XRG - Blue Leader Jersey celebrates at finish line as stage winner during the 61st Tirreno-Adriatico 2026, Stage 6 a 188km stage from San Severino Marche to Camerino 656m / #UCIWT / on March 14, 2026 in San Severino Marche, Italy. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images)

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Jerseys:

Blue, GC - Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)
Purple, Points - Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)+
Green, KOM - Diego Pablo Sevilla (Polti-VisitMalta)
White, Youth - Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)*

+Worn by - Tobias Halland Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility)
*Worn by - Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe)

Isaac Del Toro leads Tirreno-Adriatico 2026

(Image credit: Getty Images)

The neutral start is in 20 minutes.

Alan Hatherly (Jayco-AlUla) has been performing superbly at this year's race and sits in 13th overall. Today is the South African's 30th birthday, quite a way to celebrate...

>>> 'I'm learning to embrace the inherent risk of road racing' - Mountain biker Alan Hatherly continues fast track WorldTour transformation at Tirreno-Adriatico

WINTER PARK - ALULA, SAUDI ARABIA - JANUARY 29: Alan Hatherly of South Africa and Team Jayco AlUla prior to the 6th AlUla Tour 2026, Stage 3 a 142.1km stage from Winter Park - Alula to Bir Jaydah Mountain Wirkah 955m on January 29, 2026 in Winter Park - Alula, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)

(Image credit: Getty Images)

It is mixed feelings for Del Toro beating Pellizzari on his hometown stage yesterday as the two good friends did battle in the Marche region...

>>> 'He's a friend, but you also need to do your job' – Isaac del Toro distances Giulio Pellizzari and Matteo Jorgenson to set up overall Tirreno-Adriatico success

CAMERINO, ITALY - MARCH 14: Isaac Del Toro of Mexico and UAE Team Emirates - XRG - Blue Leader Jersey celebrates at finish line as stage winner during the 61st Tirreno-Adriatico 2026, Stage 6 a 188km stage from San Severino Marche to Camerino 656m / #UCIWT / on March 14, 2026 in San Severino Marche, Italy. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images)

(Image credit: Getty Images)

It has been a very difficult few days for local hero, Pellizzari, who feared abandoning due to tendon issues but has pushed through to likely finish second in the final GC...

>>> 'I just want to finish on the podium on Sunday' - Local hero Giulio Pellizzari fights the pain and Matteo Jorgenson for second overall at Tirreno-Adriatico

CAMERINO, ITALY - MARCH 14: Giulio Pellizzari of Italy and Team Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe - White best young jersey crosses the finish line during the 61st Tirreno-Adriatico 2026, Stage 6 a 188km stage from San Severino Marche to Camerino 656m / #UCIWT / on March 14, 2026 in San Severino Marche, Italy. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images)

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Sign on is almost complete and interviews are done, the riders are ready for one final stage at this year's Tirreno-Adriatico.

Jasper Philipsen before stage 7 Tirreno-Adriatico 2026

(Image credit: Getty Images)

The riders are in the neutralised zone.

Just 4.2km of neutral today.

142km to go

Racing begins for the final stage at Tirreno-Adriatico 2026!

Andreas Kron (Uno-X Mobility) is the latest rider to fall victim to illness and doesn't start today.

Attack

Xabier Azparren(Pinarello-Q36.5)
Dries De Bondt (Jayco-AlUla)
Roberto Carlos González (Solution Tech-Nippo-Rali)

Break stage 7 Tirreno-Adriatico 2026

(Image credit: Getty Images)

The trio get a gap of 40 seconds over the peloton.

A new move accelerates out of the peloton to try and join the leaders.

Valentin Madouas and Carlos Samudio try a counter attack on stage 7 of Tirreno-Adriatico 2026

(Image credit: Getty Images)

The chaser was Carlos Samudio (Solution Tech-Nippo-Rali). The rider from Panama wasn't able to join his fellow Panamanian and teammate, González, in the break and is now in the peloton once more.

130km to go

The gap has grown rapidly and now sits at almost four minutes for De Bondt, Azparren and González.

The riders have started climbing the first ascent of the two on the menu today. This first one is not categorised. Only five, three, two and one points available today. Diego Pablo Sevilla (Polti-Visit Malta) just needs to finish to win the green KOM jersey.

Multiple teams are working together at the head of the peloton.

Alpecin-Premier Tech
Lidl-Trek
UAE Team Emirates-XRG
Picnic-PostNL
Soudal-QuickStep

100km to go

The very high speed in the peloton has seen the gap drop to under two minutes up to the breakaway.

The riders are about to start the final climb of the race, the Ripatransone. Around 9km long at about 5% average gradient.

Jasper Philipsen speaking to TV before today... "It is a tough finish with some climbs in the middle but we'll see. It should be a nice day. We are a week in and legs are tired, I feel good and made a good step and I'm looking forward to today. I am also looking forward to Milan-Sanremo next week."

Alpecin-Premier Tech seem to be really testing the legs of some of the purer sprinters with almost the entire team on the front. Some gaps are starting to appear in the bunch as well.

Van der Poel hits the front with Philipsen on the front. They are absolutely flying up the Ripatransone climb. Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor) and Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) right at the front. Multiple riders losing touch.

Ineos Grenadiers having to close the gap to a very select group at the front of the peloton.

Pellizzari has missed the split with race leader Del Toro on the back wheel of Philipsen.

Out front, Azparren is pushing hard with González as De Bondt is starting to really hurt.

Philipsen is starting to drop back through the group as Van der Poel is absolutely hammering the tempo on the front.

Arnaud De Lie (Lotto-Intermarche), Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek), Madis Mihkels (EF Education-EasyPost) and more are really struggling with this pace.

About 30 riders or less are now moving away from the rest of the peloton.

Danny van Poppel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) abandons the race.

Ineos Grenadiers have really been caught out with Sam Welsford out the back. Wout Van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) has also lost touch.

Van der Poel still obliterating the peloton. Philipsen is still in this front group.

Mathieu van der Poel stage 7 Tirreno-Adriatico 2026

(Image credit: Getty Images)

De Bondt has recovered well with González and Azparren still out front as a trio. Only by nine seconds, though.

Tobias Lund Andresen (Decathlon-CMA CGM) is still in the lead group who are just about to catch the break.

Breakaway caught with 92km to go.

Around 20 seconds splitting the lead group and the rest of the peloton led by Ineos Grenadiers.

Van Aert recovered very well and did manage to get to the front group before the race split.

90km to go

Van der Poel continues to lead the front group with still about 25 seconds on the chasing pack.

KOM (Ripatransone)

1. Van der Poel 5pts
2. Del Toro 3pts
3. Roglič 2pts
4. Jorgenson 1pt

Mathieu van der Poel stage 7 Tirreno-Adriatico 2026

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Pellizzari also right up to the front of the front group.

It appears that Philipsen has been dropped by his teammate, Van der Poel. The former world champion is still riding very hard still, though.

De Lie is over a minute down on the lead group. Pavel Bittner (Picnic-PostNL) is also off the back.

Ineos Grenadiers pushing hard in the peloton just 26 seconds behind the Van der Poel led front group.

Magnier and Milan are in the peloton with Welsford and, we believe, Philipsen who seems to have been distanced by the front group.

80km to go

Van der Poel still leads the way with no teammates at all in the group with him. The peloton now 34 seconds down with De Lie's group now at one and a half minutes.

Thymen Arensman (Ineos Grenadiers) is waving for the camera motorbike to go further away as he believes that the moto is assisting Van der Poel.

The descending is done and the flat roads begin. You can immediately tell this as the gap between the lead group and the peloton has shrunk to 18 seconds.

The race enters the finishing circuit for five laps in San Benedetto del Tronto.

Another abandon, Mattia Stenico (Bardiani CSF-7 Saber)

70km to go

Van der Poel is still pushing hard with Lund Andresen in this lead group, Van der Poel is just dragging the winner of stage 3 to the finish here with no other pure sprinters aside from maybe Van Aert.

The peloton appears to be about 10 seconds off the back of the lead group now.

The peloton finally makes contact with the back of the lead group with Jan Christen (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) doing the work in the chase so he can support his leader, Del Toro.

Van der Poel finally pulls off the front with Soudal-QuickStep taking over the pacing.

De Lie is almost two minutes behind the peloton.

Attack

Alessandro Covi (Jayco-AlUla)

The Italian rider with the odd coloured shoes launches. Timo Kielich (Visma-Lease a Bike) thought about joining him but he was told to pace on the front of the bunch, instead.

60km to go

Covi has 10 seconds on the peloton with one minute 51 seconds back to the De Lie group.

Visma-Lease a Bike have the entire team on the front of the peloton, interestingly.

Visma-Lease a Bike may actually be working for Jorgenson to have a go at the bonus seconds in the intermediate sprint as he sits one second behind Pellizzari in the GC.

Attack

Xabier Azparren (Pinarello-Q36.5)

He launched across to Covi who just sat up and now the Spaniard leads solo just five seconds ahead of the peloton with four laps to go. The next time across the finish line is the intermediate sprint.

Bike change for De Lie, his day going from bad to worse!

Some interesting news coming out of the race is that Javier Romo (Movistar) allegedly grabbed the neck of Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) after stage 6 yesterday. The news was reported yesterday on Het Laatste Nieuws, Feltet and Velora.

SAN GIMIGNANO, ITALY - MARCH 10: Matteo Jorgenson of United States and Team Visma | Lease a Bike crosses the finish line during the 61st Tirreno-Adriatico 2026, Stage 2 a 206km stage from Camaiore to San Gimignano 332m / #UCIWT / on March 10, 2026 in San Gimignano, Italy. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images)

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Azparren caught by the Visma-Lease a Bike led peloton as they really have the pace very high with Tim Rex leading the train of yellow and black.

The average speed after two hours of racing is 45.5kph. This is absolutely rapid and that is with almost all of the 1100 metres of elevation done as well.

De Lie has teammates, Huub Artz, Liam Slock and George Zimmermann with him as well as Sevilla, Alexandre Balmer (Solution Tech-Nippo-Rali) and Luca Mozzato (Tudor) at one minute and 20 seconds behind the peloton.

2.5km to go until the intermediate sprint.

De Lie and co are now just 47 seconds behind the peloton.

Intermediate sprint (San Benedetto del Tronto)

1. Jorgenson 5pts 3"
2. Van Aert 3pts 2"
3. T. Johannessen 2pts 1"
4. Roglič 1pt

Jorgenson now jumps over Pellizzari in the GC to take second in GC.

Attack

Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe)

He is rapidly chased and caught before he congratulates Jorgenson.

Attack

Dries De Bondt (Jayco-AlUla)

The Belgian goes for the second time today but doesn't last long. Uno-X Mobility now getting involved in some new moves.

Tobias Halland Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility) needed to take the maximum five points in the intermediate sprint to take the points jersey from Del Toro but instead only took two leaving him two points behind the race leader.

40km to go

Soudal-QuickStep, Tudor and Decathlon-CMA CGM now take the front to pace for their sprinters.

De Lie and co are now 52 seconds back.

De Lie, Zimmermann, Slock, Artz, Mozzato, Balmer and Sevilla make it back to the peloton after a hellish chase since being dropped on the climb.

30km to go

The race is all together for the first time in a very long time.

Two laps of the circuit to go.

Decathlon-CMA CGM and UAE Team Emirates-XRG lead the peloton with 25km to go.

Bike change for Ivan Garcia Cortina (Movistar)

The race has settled into the familiar pattern of the build up towards a bunch sprint.

Stage 7 of Tirreno-Adriatico 2026

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Attack

Dries De Bondt (Jayco-AlUla)
Alessandro Covi (Jayco-AlUla)

Decathlon-CMA CGM shutting it down immediately with Paul Lapeira. Ayco Bastiaens (Soudal-QuickStep) helping the chase, too.

20km to go

The Jayco-AlUla duo are working well and have opened up a little bit more of a gap but they are just ahead and not really challenging the bunch.

Covi and De Bondt are caught.

One lap to go in Tirreno-Adriatico 2026.

Tirreno-Adriatico 2026 stage 7

(Image credit: Getty Images)

UAE Team Emirates-XRG leading the peloton.

10km to go

Visma-Lease a Bike take over control at the front of the peloton with Decathlon-CMA CGM, Polti-VIsitMalta, Alpecin-Premier Tech and UAE Team Emirates-XRG battling to join them.

Ineos Grenadiers are trying to move up the left side of the peloton to set up Welsford.

Picnic-PostNL moving up for Bittner as they still search for their first win of the season.

VIsma-Lease a Bike, Pinarello-Q36.5, Picnic-PostNL, Decathlon-CMA CGM, Ineos Grenadiers and UAE Team Emirates-XRG lead the peloton with 8km to go.

Attack!

Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X Mobility)

He was led out by a teammate as he goes solo now with 7km to go. Alessandro Tonelli (Polti-VisitMalta) tried to follow but didn't get very far.

Louis Vervaeke (Soudal-QuickStep) leads the chase of Abrahamsen with 6km to go, the big Norwegian has 10 seconds on the bunch.

5km to go

Abrahamsen riding very well and is holding 10 seconds on the bunch with the peloton's chase stalling.

Visma-Lease a Bike, Pinarello-Q36.6, Picnic-PostNL and Ineos Grenadiers all now come back to the front with 4km to go to try and bring Abrahamsen back again.

Just 3km to go with Bahrain Victorious and Tudor taking over on the front. Abrahamsen has 11 seconds on the peloton.

The peloton makes a big acceleration for the first tight corner.

Crash!

Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech)
Edward Planckaert (Alpecin-Premier Tech)
Ayco Bastiaens (Soudal-QuickStep)

Magnier may have also been involved.

Abrahamsen has nine seconds with 2km to go.

Flamme Rouge!

Ganna hits the front for Ineos Grenadiers and that is bringing the gap to Abrahamsen down dramatically.

500 metres to go with Abrahamsen still leading with Ganna controlling the peloton.

400 metres to go and Abrahamsen is caught with Milan coming up very fast.

Jonathan Milan wins stage 7 of Tirreno-Adriatico for the third year in a row!

Isaac Del Toro was caught up in the late crash but he rolled across the line with no worries as they were well inside the final 3km as he crossed the line with most of his teammates.

Isaac Del Toro and his UAE Team Emirates-XRG teammates celebrate winning Tirreno-Adriatico 2026

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Stage 7 Top 10

1. Jonathan Milan (ITA) Lidl-Trek 3:04'54"
2. Sam Welsford (AUS) Ineos Grenadiers
3. Laurenz Rex (BEL) Soudal-QuickStep
4. Oded Kogut (ISR) NSN
5. Pavel Bittner (CZE) Picnic-PostNL
6. Tobias Lund Andresen (DEN) Decathlon-CMA CGM
7. Anders Foldager (DEN) Jayco-AlUla
8. Arnaud De Lie (BEL) Lotto-Intermarche
9. Giovanni Lonardi (ITA) Polti-VisitMalta
10. Ivan Garcia Cortina (ESP) Movistar all S.T.

SAN BENEDETTO DEL TRONTO, ITALY - MARCH 15: Jonathan Milan of Italy and Team Lidl - Trek celebrates at finish line as stage winner ahead of Laurenz Rex of Belgium and Team Soudal Quick-Step and Sam Welsford of Australia and Team INEOS Grenadiers during the 61st Tirreno-Adriatico 2026, Stage 7 a 142km stage from Civitanova Marche to San Benedetto del Tronto / #UCIWT / on March 15, 2026 in San Benedetto del Tronto, Italy. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images)

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Jonathan Milan after stage 7 speaking to TV "I was painful. But there is happines. It was tough week, tough day. I suffered on the climbs and today also was absolutely not easy. I have to say thanks to all of my teammates.

"They were always there for me in the race. It was really tough yesterday in the grupetto and they did everything for me.. We were missing Simone (Consonni) and Max (Walscheid) but we did so well to get the win."

Jonathan Milan winning stage 7 of Tirreno-Adriatico 2026

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Final General Classification

1. Isaac Del Toro (MEX) UAE Team Emirates-XRG 28:02'14"
2. Matteo Jorgenson (USA) Visma-Lease a Bike +40"
3. Giulio Pellizzari (ITA) Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe +42"
4. Tobias Halland Johannessen (NOR) Uno-X Mobility +1'14"
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"

Isaac Del Toro in the race leader's jersey after stage 7 Tirreno-Adriatico 2027

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Isaac Del Toro becomes the first ever Mexican to win Tirreno-Adriatico with Matteo Jorgenson becoming only the third American to podium the race after Christian Horner in 2011 and Greg Lemond in 1982.

Del Toro is also the youngest winner since Thomas Dekker in 2006.

Make sure to read our post race report and all the reaction of the final day of the Race of the Two Seas...

>>> Tirreno-Adriatico: Isaac del Toro seals overall victory as Jonathan Milan wins stage 7 sprint for third consecutive year

Isaac Del Toro stage 7 Tirreno-Adriatico 2026

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Final jerseys:

Blue, GC - Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)
Purple, Points - Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)
Green, KOM - Diego Pablo Sevilla (Polti-VisitMalta)
White, Youth - Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)

Del Toro almost managed full domination but finished 15 points behind Sevilla in the KOM standings in third place, Joan Bou (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) split them.

Final podium of the 2026 Tirreno-Adriatico with Del Toro ahead of Jorgenson and Pellizzari

(Image credit: Getty Images)

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