Tirreno-Adriatico stage 7 - live coverage

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of today's final stage of Tirreno-Adriatico, which should be one for the sprinters in San Benedetto del Tronto.

We've usually seen a closing time trial in San Benedetto del Tronto but this year organisers RCS Sport switched things up and put the TT at the start of the race.

The riders are currently signing in ahead of today's stage. They're set to roll out of San Benedetto del Tronto in 10 minutes' time.

The neutral zone today is 5.9 kilometres long so the proper start of stage 7 will come in around 20 minutes' time.

Our report on yesterday's stage, which saw Tadej Pogačar solo to victory from 16 kilometres out on Monte Carpegna.

Pogacar takes control of Tirreno-Adriatico on Monte Carpegna

Stage 3 winner Caleb Ewan might have already left the race along with Peter Sagan, Nacer Bouhanni and Elia Viviani, but there are plenty of sprint contenders left to contest the stage today.

Look out for Tim Merlier, Mark Cavendish, Olav Kooij, Arnaud Démare, Pascal Ackermann, Phil Bauhaus, Kaden Groves, Alberto Dainese, Matteo Moschetti later on today...

The riders are rolling out to start the stage now.

Tao Geoghegan Hart is out of the race today, suffering with a respiratory infection. He finished 11 minutes down yesterday, dropping from seventh to 27th on GC.

The jersey wearers at the start – Arensman, Vingegaard, Pogačar, and Simmons.

Of course, Arensman and Vingegaard are just warming the white and ciclamino jerseys for Pogačar, who leads both classifications.

Along with Geoghegan Hart, Jhonatan Restrepo (Drone Hopper-Androni Giocattoli) and Enric Mas (Movistar) are also out of the race today. 146 starters.

Today the riders start in San Benedetto del Tronto before heading out into the hills to the west of the coastal town. After 80 kilometres of racing they'll be back in the town for five laps of a pan-flat circuit to finish the race.

157km to go

The riders have started stage 7 now but there's been a crash in the peloton early on.

Several riders involved and all but one get going again.

Magnus Cort (EF-EasyPost) is out of the race.

Davide Martinelli (Astana) and Sepp Kuss (Jumbo-Visma) were among the other riders caught up in the crash.

153km to go

Meanwhile, Manuele Boaro (Astana Qazaqstan), Alessandro Tonelli (Bardiani-CSF-Faizanè) and Jorge Arcas (Movistar) are on the attack currently.

Mattia Bais (Drone Hopper-Androni Giocattoli) leaves the race after being caught in that crash.

1:50 for the three breakaway riders at the moment.

The riders are out of San Benedetto del Tronto now and heading uphill.

Find out how to watch the final stage of Tirreno-Adriatico 2022 with our handy TV and streaming guide

140km to go

Three minutes between break and peloton currently.

A hilly section of the stage here but the only classified climb of the day comes at 70 kilometres in, so it's some way away yet. Just the five points on offer there, so Quinn Simmons' green jersey is safe.

Tonelli, Boaro and Arcas out in the breakaway today.

133km to go

3:25 for the breakaway trio.

It's a pretty stable situation out on the road at the moment.

We'll have some news from Remco Evenepoel coming up. He didn't speak to reporters after finishing four minutes down on yesterday's stage.

Clear blue skies by the Adriatic as the peloton rolled out of San Benedetto del Tronto today.

120km to go

3:15 for the breakaway trio at the moment as they race over the hills to west of San Benedetto del Tronto.

This morning we have an update on the Gazprom-RusVelo team, who raced at the past four editions Tirreno-Adriatico.

Team manager Renat Khamidulin has told Cyclingnews that he is searching for new sponsors and has "some interesting contacts already and with a real interest in this project". He's searching for a €3.5-4 million deal to save around 100 jobs and keep the team running for the rest of the season.

Gazprom-RusVelo making progress in search for new sponsors

40kph average for the first hour of racing.

Alpecin-Fenix and Groupama-FDJ currently in control of the peloton on behalf of their sprinters Tim Merlier and Arnaud Démare.

110km to go

The riders are currently tackling a descent before a few small rises and then the day's only climb in around 20km from now.

Today's breakaway in silhouette.

102km to go

Nearing the 100km to go mark and the break has 2:30 on the peloton.

Now the break are heading towards the only climb of the day at Ripatransone (4.9km at 4 per cent).

The break are on the climb now, and three kilometres from the top.

89km to go

Manuele Boaro led the break across the top but there was no fight for the five points over the top.

The peloton follows at 2:50 down.

QuickStep-AlphaVinyl and Jumbo-Visma at the head of the peloton, working for sprinters Mark Cavendish/Davide Ballerini and Olav Kooij for later.

82km to go

The riders are heading downhill from the climb and back towards San Benedetto del Tronto. Around 10 kilometres until they hit the finish line for the first time.

Remco Evenepoel has said that he missed "30 or 40 watts" during yesterday's stage on Monte Carpegna, noting that he could have finished among the chase group if he was on a good day.

"At this level you have to be at 100 per cent, otherwise you will pay the price."

74km to go

The break are in the final kilometre of the stage, and there are some narrow sections and twisty bends there. Not perfect for lead out trains...

The trio cross the finish line for the first time today. 2:20 back to the peloton.

DSM, Jumbo-Visma, Alpecin-Fenix, Groupama-FDJ all represented at the head of the peloton at the moment.

64km to go

The finishing circuit here is 14.5km long. Four more times through the finish line for the riders.

We're live with our coverage of the finale at Paris-Nice now, too.

58km to go

Through the finish once again for the breakaway. The peloton follows at two minutes.

Groupama-FDJ take to the front of the peloton and speed things up a bit. The gap comes down to 1:40.

Groupama-FDJ leading the peloton today.

50km to go

1:25 for the break now as the peloton chips away at the gap.

Under a minute for the breakaway now.

DSM, Alpecin-Fenix, Jumbo-Visma, QuickStep-AlphaVinyl are also represented at the front of the peloton with Groupama-FDJ.

Jumbo-Visma's Jonas Vingegaard lies in second overall today. Following yesterday's queen stage he said he was shocked by both Tadej Pogačar's stunning attack and the state of the roads on the descent off Monte Carpegna.

Read what he had to say on Saturday here

42km to go

Tonelli leads the way through the line this time to take the intermediate sprint ahead of Boaro. That's the last thing to fight for at the 2022 Tirreno-Adriatico, aside from the stage win....

55 seconds back to the peloton. 

Vingegaard stops to change his rear wheel. Not the quickest switch but never mind. He'll get back on soon enough.

34km to go

Just under 40 seconds again for the break now after the gap briefly went out there. The trio are still together up front.

Through the finishing line once again for the breakaway now. Once more and then we'll be heading for the stage (and race) finish.

29km to go

30 seconds between the break and peloton.

The average speed so far today has been 43kph.

21km to go

20 seconds for the break now. The same teams control the peloton. Little else to report.

18km to go

It's almost over for the break now. They just passed the 3km mark and they're 18 seconds up on the peloton. Will they make it onto the final lap of the race out front?

Tonelli is brought back first.

Small crash in the peloton. Robert Stannard (Alpecin-Fenix) goes down along with two Intermarché riders. They're back up and running though.

14.5km to go

The riders head onto the final lap of the stage. 22 seconds between the break and peloton.

13km to go

Boaro and Arcas are giving it a good go here but it'll be a huge ask to stave off the peloton now.

Alpecin, Jumbo, DSM, Groupama, QuickStep all up at the front.

11km to go

15 seconds now.

Israel-Premier Tech move up in the peloton.

10km to go

10 seconds now. Almost done for the leading duo.

9km to go

Boaro and Arcas are still hanging out there...

8km to go

And now it's over for the pair. They're caught.

Groupama-FDJ with a full squad at the front of the peloton with a Bahrain Victorious rider at the front, too.

7km to go

Groupama-FDJ still pushing on.

Quinn Simmons comes to the front for Trek-Segafredo's sprinter Matteo Moschetti.

Bahrain, FDJ, Trek, Lotto, Israel, DSM now with numerous riders across the road in several trains.

6km to go

This could be a messy finish again with so many teams battling for the front.

UAE Team Emirates also up there protecting race leader Tadej Pogačar.

5km to go

Simmons still at the forefront in his green jersey. Lotto, BikeExchange, Pogačar, Arkéa up there too.

4km to go

Now the peloton is splitting across each side of the road. Speeding along at 60kph here.

3km to go

Now TotalEnergies move up to the front. Israel close behind.

A right-hander here. Everybody through safely.

2km to go

TotalEnergies still lead the way. Now a headwind run to the finish as they take another corner.

Israel and Cofidis move up now.

1km to go

Final kilometre and it's the tricky section coming up. QuickStep and FDJ move up.

Round the roundabout and onto a narrow road. Israel lead the way.

Now the chicane onto the finishing straight.

Everyone through ok and Israel continue to lead.

Israel and Intermarche launch the sprint.

It's Kristoff who goes at 150 metres to go.

The Norwegian just went from a bit too far. Démare tried to make it through by the barrier but couldn't.

It looks like Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain Victorious) might have just edged that one at the line!

It was Israel vs Intermarche. Kristoff went at just over 150 metres before getting swamped.

Bauhaus came from a long way back, maybe fifth or sixth wheel. Nizzolo in second.

Nizzolo hit the front after passing Kristoff, but he was passed by Bauhaus on the line. 

Just a wheel length in it. Nizzolo and Groves too close to call for second.

Here's the top 10...

1 Phil Bauhaus (Ger) Bahrain Victorious 3:39:58
2 Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) Israel-Premier Tech
3 Kaden Groves (Aus) BikeExchange-Jayco
4 Davide Cimolai (Ita) Cofidis
5 Alberto Dainese (Ita) Team DSM
6 Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux
7 Edvald Boasson-Hagen (Nor) TotalEnergies
8 Olav Kooij (Ned) Jumbo-Visma
9 Arnaud Demare (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
10 Matteo Moschetti (Ita) Trek-Segafredo

Here's the final GC of the 2022 Tirreno-Adriatico...

1 Tadej Pogacar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates 27:25:56
2 Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Jumbo-Visma 0:01:52
3 Richie Porte (Aus) Ineos Grenadiers 0:02:44
4 Jai Hindley (Aus) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:03:05
5 Thymen Arensman (Ned) Team DSM 0:03:16
6 Damiano Caruso (Ita) Bahrain Victorious 0:03:20
7 Pello Bilbao (Spa) Bahrain Victorious 0:03:51
8 Giulio Ciccone (Ita) Trek-Segafredo 0:04:03
9 Remco Evenepoel (Bel) Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team 0:04:20
10 Romain Bardet (Fra) Team DSM 0:04:29

Bauhaus celebrates his win at the line.

A very messy finish. Here's the photo finish...

Here's what Bauhaus had to say after the stage...

"I feel amazing. We always believed I can win. I had a difficult winter but I knew I'm in good shape and the team did really good today.

"We knew it's a headwind so the plan was to come late. Jan, Jasha, Heino did amazing to bring me in a good position for the last narrowing before the left-right corner. Then I followed Demare, and I saw a gap on the right side and just went for it.

"Our climbers did fantastic yesterday, they showed they are on a super high level with three guys in the top 10 also now for the GC is amazing for our team. Today was a great win for us. It's a super big race.

"I said this morning to the guys it would be really nice to have a win like this on my palmares after the Dauphine and Tour of Poland."

Tadej Pogačar is the overall winner, of course. Here's what he had to say...

"Today was quite good – more relaxed than days before. Not so cold as before. In the end it was a little bit nervous for the sprint but I'm happy for us it was quite good.

"I enjoyed this stage but I was focussed until the end because you never know what happens. It was like any other day, you need to be focussed because it's not finished until you cross the line.

"Yesterday's stage was one of a kind. Also the first stage I won was really beautiful.
I'm super happy. Any race that we can win we're happy. Tirreno, now the second time, I'm super happy."

Our stage report is up now.

Full report to come soon.

Another golden trident – the Sea Master Trophy – for Pogačar.

The ciclamino jersey is his as well.

He's also the best young rider, obviously.

Quinn Simmons takes the green mountains jersey.

Here's the head-on shot of that final sprint, meanwhile.

Bauhaus in the middle, Groves on the left, Nizzolo on the right.

Our first piece of news from the race today is on Quinn Simmons, winner of KOM jersey.

He'll now take aim at the cobbled Classics and will opt against racing Milan-San Remo next weekend.

Simmons turns eye to cobbled Classics after successful Tirreno-Adriatico

Meanwhile, our live coverage continues with the final stage of Paris-Nice today.

That brings an end to our live coverage of the 2022 Tirreno-Adriatico! We'll bring you more news and interviews from the race and Paris-Nice through the afternoon.