Tirreno-Adriatico stage 2 – Live coverage

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Uphill finish in Chiusdino sets up another Alaphilippe - Van Aert - van der Poel sprint finish

Buongiorno and welcome to the Cyclingnews live coverage of stage 2 of Tirreno-Adriatico.

As the Cyclingnews blimp takes height the riders have just rolled out of Camaiore.

The attacks have started early as riders try to form the break of the day. 

After a fast opening 20km, the six have a lead of 2:30 on the peloton. 

After winning stage 1, Wout Van Aert wears the blue leasder's jersey. 

It's slightly cloudy in Tuscany today but there is a sense of spring with temperatures of 13C. 

Where's Wout. He's wearing blue today.

After 25km of racing, the peloton has eased, allowing the break to go 4:10 clear. 

The break has pushed out their lead to over 5:00. 

140km to go

 

125km to go

You may recall that Volterra was in the Twilight series due its Renaissance buildings and stunning piazza.   

This is the view of the Tuscan countryside.

Tirreno-Adriatico passed through the Tuscan countryside

(Image credit: Getty Images)

The Tirreno-Adriatico peloton lines out during stage 2

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Greg van Avermaet (AG2R) seems happy to rolling along in the peloton.

As the road rises for the first time, Jumbo-Visma have four riders on the front leading the chase for Van Aert.

The Deceuninck-QuickStep team are also visible up front. 

100km to go

The landscapes are stunning near Volterra. 

Wout Van Aert slowly rides back to the peloton after a natural break. 

Here's Wout.

Egan Bernal also moves back up to the peloton.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the feed zones are on longer signaled in the road book but a number of teams re feeding now, on the top of a climb.  

With 90km left to race in the hills and 112km covered, its important to feed during today's stage. 

This is the break of the day at Tirreno-Adriatico

As the terrain begins to dip and roll evet more, Simon Pelaud (Androni Giocattoli) leads in the break. 

78km to go

Tim Wellens (Lotto Soudal) moves up after a break. Could he win today? The hilly finale and rising finish suits him but he perhaps lacks the power and speed of Alaphilippe, Van Aert and van der Poel.

70km to go

The peloton has reduced the gap to the break. It is now 3:10.

60km to go

50km to go

The peloton is sprinting to the foot of the Casciano climb. It is 4.5km long and could cause a shake out. 

A narrowing of the road and a touch of brakes sparks a gentle stack-up involving several riders.

Ineos are protecting Bernal, while Deceuninck carefully move Alaphilippe to the front.

UAE are also protecting Pogacar.

40km to go

Archibald is doing big turns to try to help his Eolo teammate Albanese stay away and take the KOM points.

Here comes the Poggio alla Croce climb. It's 7km long and is perfect to launch an attack and kick off the race for the stage and even the GC.  

Poor Alberto Albanese suffers a mechanical problem and so drops from the break to out the back.

Lotto Soudal are on the front, setting a hard pace to try to shake out the peloton.

The road is rolling as it climbs, offering riders a chance to accelerate off the front.

Asgreen and Bernal surge away!

Tim Wellens also jumps across. Quinn Simmons is there for Trek. 

The Bernal trio lead by 15 seconds. 

Behind Cortina and others have been dropped.

Higuita is there too as 10 or so riders from on the front. 

However the peloton is closing the gap but Van Aert has just one teammate with him now.

Yates accelerates again with Sivakov and Almeida. Landa surges across to them, with his arms on the drops.  

Yates leads through the KOM but they do not seem convinced about staying away.

The gap is up to 13 seconds as riders grab bidons from the roadside.

The race is lined-out on the descent. All 4 of the attackers are working to extend their lead. 

20km to go

Van Aert has Foss and Roosen to help him but they will surely start to hurt soon. 

Ineos are sat behind Jumbo and Van Aert. If the Sivakov attacks is caught we should expect another more from Bernal. 

Van der Poel carefully moves up near the front. He is surely a favourite for the uphill finish if the races finishes together. 

10km to go

It will be a pursuit match all the way to the line. 

There are only 40 or so riders in the peloton. 

The road climbs gradually ay 3.3% for 6km. Then kicks up at 5.5% for the final km on a twisting road.

Sivakov is driving the break on the false flat. 

All the best GC riders and van der Poel are there. 

UAE now lead, with 3 riders ahead of Pogacar.

Alaphilippe is close to the front but van der Poel is further back.  

5km to go

Van Aert is not panicking. He's letting the GC team control the race but will surely try to emerge and sprint to the line.

Formolo is leading for UAE. 

2km to go

Simon Yates is dropped from the attack but Sivakov attacks

Yates has been dropped from the chase group. 

Almeida is aggressive and has a gap on Sivakov and Landa.

But the chasers can see them. 

Almeida solo!

Thomas surges after Almeida. 

But others are on his wheel.

Alaphilippe wins it! 

He caught a fading Almeida in sight of the line.

Alaphilippe tried to hold off and let Almedia win but surged when he knew he had to go for it. 

This the top ten:

General classification after stage 2:

Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-QuickStep) wins stage 2 of Tirreno-Adriatico.

Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-QuickStep) celebrates his win on stage 2 of Tirreno-Adriatico and celebrates beating two big rivals.

Van der Poel was angry that he left it a little too late in the sprint. Alaphilippe seemed to enjoy the moment.

This shot from stage 2 of Tirreno-Adriatico shows Mathieu van der Poel using his hatched Aeroad Canyon bike.

Alaphilippe was happy to land his first win of 2021.

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