Van Avermaet denies Sagan on Tirreno-Adriatico stage 6
BMC rider takes race lead in late breakaway
A curious edition of Tirreno-Adriatico took another twist on its penultimate day in Cepagatti as Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) out-sprinted world champion Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) from a small breakaway group to claim stage victory and move into the overall lead.
If the cancellation of Sunday’s stage to Monte San Vicino had presented the likes Van Avermaet, Sagan and Zdenek Stybar (Etixx-QuickStep) with an unexpected opportunity to win the race overall, they demonstrated on Monday that they had every intention of grabbing it.
The trio were part of an elite eight-rider group that cannily snuck off the front on the first of two laps around the finishing circuit in Cepagatti. Together with Michal Kwiatkowski (Sky), they were the final survivors, fending off the furious pursuit behind to fight it out for stage honours.
Kwiatkowski made a long, searing effort in the final kilometre that burnt off first Fernando Gaviria (Etixx-QuickStep) and then the race leader Stybar, before Sagan sprung into life and careered past him with 200 metres to go.
After a string of near misses, it seemed as though the world champion, today wearing the red points jersey, was going to land his first win since claiming the world title in Richmond last year, but Van Avermaet – no longer, it seems, the eternal second – fought back to come around Sagan at the death.
In truth, Van Avermaet had contributed the least in the eight-man move that was powered by Tinkoff and the Etixx-QuickStep trio of Stybar, Gaviria and Matteo Trentin. With teammate Tejay van Garderen, on the same time as him overall and a far stronger time triallist, in the chasing peloton, Van Avermaet felt he had a cast-iron alibi.
“I tried to save myself for the finish because we had only Tejay and Caruso in the group behind so it was not the best situation,” Van Avermaet said afterwards.
At one point, the eight leaders had an advantage of 35 seconds over the peloton, but the fragmented bunch closed to within touching distance of their coattails on the final run-in to the line, but couldn’t make the junction.
Caleb Ewan (Orica-GreenEdge) showcased his ferocious finishing speed by winning the fragmented bunch sprint for 5th place, 7 seconds down on Van Avermaet. Alejandro Valerde, whose Movistar team had been active in chasing the move, placed 6th, ahead of Sacha Modolo (Lampre-Merida).
The ten-second time bonus for the stage win was enough to lift Van Avermaet into the blue jersey of race leader, seven seconds ahead of Stybar, who battled gamely to hold on before yielding in those breathless final metres.
Sagan, meanwhile, lies in third place overall, 8 seconds down on Van Avermaet, though all three could yet face a stiff challenge in the short final time trial from Bob Jungels (Etixx-QuickStep), who lies 4th at 21 seconds.
“It’s not my speciality,” Van Avermaet said. “10k is pretty long for me. I’m better in prologues but I’ll try. It’s a bit of a strange situation that I’m going for the GC in Tirreno.”
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
---|---|---|
1 | Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing Team | 4:34:14 |
2 | Peter Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff Team | Row 1 - Cell 2 |
3 | Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Team Sky | 0:00:02 |
4 | Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Etixx - Quick-Step | 0:00:04 |
5 | Caleb Ewan (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge | 0:00:07 |
6 | Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team | Row 5 - Cell 2 |
7 | Sacha Modolo (Ita) Lampre - Merida | Row 6 - Cell 2 |
8 | Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto Soudal | Row 7 - Cell 2 |
9 | Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bardiani CSF | Row 8 - Cell 2 |
10 | Moreno Hofland (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo | Row 9 - Cell 2 |
11 | Ramunas Navardauskas (Ltu) Cannondale Pro Cycling | Row 10 - Cell 2 |
12 | Paul Voss (Ger) Bora-Argon 18 | Row 11 - Cell 2 |
13 | Jarlinson Pantano (Col) IAM Cycling | Row 12 - Cell 2 |
14 | Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec | Row 13 - Cell 2 |
15 | Wouter Poels (Ned) Team Sky | Row 14 - Cell 2 |
16 | Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana Pro Team | Row 15 - Cell 2 |
17 | Pello Bilbao (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | Row 16 - Cell 2 |
18 | Adam Yates (GBr) Orica-GreenEdge | Row 17 - Cell 2 |
19 | Nikias Arndt (Ger) Team Giant-Alpecin | Row 18 - Cell 2 |
20 | Peter Kennaugh (GBr) Team Sky | Row 19 - Cell 2 |
21 | Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Dimension Data | Row 20 - Cell 2 |
22 | Bob Jungels (Lux) Etixx - Quick-Step | Row 21 - Cell 2 |
23 | José Gonçalves (Por) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | Row 22 - Cell 2 |
24 | Diego Ulissi (Ita) Lampre - Merida | Row 23 - Cell 2 |
25 | Pim Ligthart (Ned) Lotto Soudal | Row 24 - Cell 2 |
26 | Jan Bakelants (Bel) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 25 - Cell 2 |
27 | Daniel Moreno (Spa) Movistar Team | Row 26 - Cell 2 |
28 | Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo | Row 27 - Cell 2 |
29 | Jaime Roson (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | Row 28 - Cell 2 |
30 | Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 29 - Cell 2 |
31 | Fernando Gaviria (Col) Etixx - Quick-Step | Row 30 - Cell 2 |
32 | Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 31 - Cell 2 |
33 | Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana Pro Team | Row 32 - Cell 2 |
34 | Gianluca Brambilla (Ita) Etixx - Quick-Step | Row 33 - Cell 2 |
35 | Heinrich Haussler (Aus) IAM Cycling | Row 34 - Cell 2 |
36 | Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ | Row 35 - Cell 2 |
37 | Sébastien Reichenbach (Swi) FDJ | Row 36 - Cell 2 |
38 | Davide Vigano (Ita) Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec | Row 37 - Cell 2 |
39 | Jasha Sütterlin (Ger) Movistar Team | Row 38 - Cell 2 |
40 | Maxime Monfort (Bel) Lotto Soudal | Row 39 - Cell 2 |
41 | Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Tinkoff Team | Row 40 - Cell 2 |
42 | Dominik Nerz (Ger) Bora-Argon 18 | Row 41 - Cell 2 |
43 | Mark Cavendish (GBr) Dimension Data | Row 42 - Cell 2 |
44 | Davide Rebellin (Ita) CCC Sprandi Polkowice | Row 43 - Cell 2 |
45 | Mathias Frank (Swi) IAM Cycling | Row 44 - Cell 2 |
46 | Leszek Plucinski (Pol) CCC Sprandi Polkowice | Row 45 - Cell 2 |
47 | Simone Ponzi (Ita) CCC Sprandi Polkowice | Row 46 - Cell 2 |
48 | Roger Kluge (Ger) IAM Cycling | Row 47 - Cell 2 |
49 | Patrick Konrad (Aut) Bora-Argon 18 | Row 48 - Cell 2 |
50 | Salvatore Puccio (Ita) Team Sky | Row 49 - Cell 2 |
51 | Kristijan Koren (Slo) Cannondale Pro Cycling | Row 50 - Cell 2 |
52 | Reto Hollenstein (Swi) IAM Cycling | Row 51 - Cell 2 |
53 | Marco Haller (Aut) Team Katusha | Row 52 - Cell 2 |
54 | Enrico Barbin (Ita) Bardiani CSF | Row 53 - Cell 2 |
55 | Sebastian Langeveld (Ned) Cannondale Pro Cycling | Row 54 - Cell 2 |
56 | Davide Formolo (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling | Row 55 - Cell 2 |
57 | Bakhtiyar Kozhatayev (Kaz) Astana Pro Team | Row 56 - Cell 2 |
58 | Matteo Montaguti (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 57 - Cell 2 |
59 | Valerio Conti (Ita) Lampre - Merida | Row 58 - Cell 2 |
60 | Adrian Honkisz (Pol) CCC Sprandi Polkowice | Row 59 - Cell 2 |
61 | Stef Clement (Ned) IAM Cycling | Row 60 - Cell 2 |
62 | Rodolfo Andres Torres (Col) Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec | Row 61 - Cell 2 |
63 | Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec | Row 62 - Cell 2 |
64 | Julien Vermote (Bel) Etixx - Quick-Step | Row 63 - Cell 2 |
65 | Natnael Berhane (Eri) Dimension Data | Row 64 - Cell 2 |
66 | Jens Debusschere (Bel) Lotto Soudal | Row 65 - Cell 2 |
67 | Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Movistar Team | Row 66 - Cell 2 |
68 | Matteo Trentin (Ita) Etixx - Quick-Step | 0:00:29 |
69 | Tiago Machado (Por) Team Katusha | Row 68 - Cell 2 |
70 | Luis Mas Bonet (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | 0:00:37 |
71 | Jens Keukeleire (Bel) Orica-GreenEdge | 0:00:40 |
72 | Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Trek-Segafredo | Row 71 - Cell 2 |
73 | Damiano Caruso (Ita) BMC Racing Team | 0:00:46 |
74 | Andrey Amador (CRc) Movistar Team | Row 73 - Cell 2 |
75 | Angel Madrazo Ruiz (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | Row 74 - Cell 2 |
76 | Alexandre Geniez (Fra) FDJ | 0:00:52 |
77 | Sébastien Turgot (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 76 - Cell 2 |
78 | Timo Roosen (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo | 0:00:55 |
79 | Mike Teunissen (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo | Row 78 - Cell 2 |
80 | Tom Van Asbroeck (Bel) Team LottoNl-Jumbo | Row 79 - Cell 2 |
81 | Rigoberto Uran (Col) Cannondale Pro Cycling | Row 80 - Cell 2 |
82 | Elia Viviani (Ita) Team Sky | Row 81 - Cell 2 |
83 | Vasil Kiryienka (Blr) Team Sky | 0:00:59 |
84 | Simon Clarke (Aus) Cannondale Pro Cycling | 0:01:03 |
85 | Jack Bauer (NZl) Cannondale Pro Cycling | Row 84 - Cell 2 |
86 | Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Astana Pro Team | 0:01:10 |
87 | Sergei Chernetski (Rus) Team Katusha | Row 86 - Cell 2 |
88 | Markel Irizar (Spa) Trek-Segafredo | Row 87 - Cell 2 |
89 | Víctor De La Parte (Spa) CCC Sprandi Polkowice | 0:01:15 |
90 | Roberto Ferrari (Ita) Lampre - Merida | Row 89 - Cell 2 |
91 | Tejay Van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team | 0:01:20 |
92 | Lorenzo Rota (Ita) Bardiani CSF | 0:01:26 |
93 | Manuele Boaro (Ita) Tinkoff Team | Row 92 - Cell 2 |
94 | Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha | Row 93 - Cell 2 |
95 | Esteban Chaves (Col) Orica-GreenEdge | Row 94 - Cell 2 |
96 | Rudiger Selig (Ger) Bora-Argon 18 | Row 95 - Cell 2 |
97 | Sergio Pardilla (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | Row 96 - Cell 2 |
98 | William Bonnet (Fra) FDJ | Row 97 - Cell 2 |
99 | Steve Morabito (Swi) FDJ | Row 98 - Cell 2 |
100 | Matthieu Ladagnous (Fra) FDJ | Row 99 - Cell 2 |
101 | Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek-Segafredo | Row 100 - Cell 2 |
102 | Zico Waeytens (Bel) Team Giant-Alpecin | Row 101 - Cell 2 |
103 | Nelson Oliveira (Por) Movistar Team | Row 102 - Cell 2 |
104 | Enrico Battaglin (Ita) Team LottoNl-Jumbo | Row 103 - Cell 2 |
105 | Oscar Gatto (Ita) Tinkoff Team | 0:01:46 |
106 | Daniele Bennati (Ita) Tinkoff Team | Row 105 - Cell 2 |
107 | Mark Renshaw (Aus) Dimension Data | 0:02:02 |
108 | Stijn Devolder (Bel) Trek-Segafredo | 0:02:08 |
109 | Cesare Benedetti (Ita) Bora-Argon 18 | Row 108 - Cell 2 |
110 | Tomasz Marczynski (Pol) Lotto Soudal | Row 109 - Cell 2 |
111 | Thomas Leezer (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo | Row 110 - Cell 2 |
112 | Tony Martin (Ger) Etixx - Quick-Step | 0:02:30 |
113 | Yves Lampaert (Bel) Etixx - Quick-Step | Row 112 - Cell 2 |
114 | Giorgio Cecchinel (Ita) Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec | 0:02:53 |
115 | Davide Villella (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling | Row 114 - Cell 2 |
116 | Emanuel Buchmann (Ger) Bora-Argon 18 | Row 115 - Cell 2 |
117 | Jan Barta (Cze) Bora-Argon 18 | Row 116 - Cell 2 |
118 | Manuele Mori (Ita) Lampre - Merida | Row 117 - Cell 2 |
119 | Przemyslaw Niemiec (Pol) Lampre - Merida | Row 118 - Cell 2 |
120 | Aleksejs Saramotins (Lat) IAM Cycling | Row 119 - Cell 2 |
121 | Eros Capecchi (Ita) Astana Pro Team | Row 120 - Cell 2 |
122 | Angel Vicioso (Spa) Team Katusha | 0:03:17 |
123 | Maarten Tjallingii (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo | 0:03:35 |