Ganna will bring that strong lead into the sprinter's stage to Follonica on stage 2 and could even keep the blue leader's jersey through stage 5 to Sarnano-Sassotetto.
Tirreno-Adriatico is the traditional final preparation race for Milan-San Remo and the other Spring Classics, with the week of hard racing in the central Italian hills long considered as the best way to peak for the following month.
Tirreno-Adriatico competes against Paris-Nice but arguably offers better weather, better food and a taste of Italy to whoever is also targeting the Giro d'Italia in May.
In recent years race organisers RCS Sport have designed a harder race that has attracted some of the biggest Grand Tour riders in the peloton. Tadej Pogacar has taken home the winner's trident trophy for the last two years, with Primoz Roglic, Alberto Contador and Vincenzo Nibali also on the roll of honour.
Tirreno-Adriatico is part of the UCI WorldTour and so awards a haul of valuable ranking points and prestige.
Stephen is one of the most experienced members of the Cyclingnews team, having reported on professional cycling since 1994. Before becoming Editor-at-large, he was Head of News at Cyclingnews. He has previously worked for Shift Active Media, Reuters and Cycling Weekly. He is a member of the Board of the Association Internationale des Journalistes du Cyclisme (AIJC).
