Cycling: Jonas Vingegaard rides like he's from another planet. The Dane also won the sixth stage from Tirreno – Adriatico and thus further extended his lead in the overall ranking. His challengers Jai Hindley and Juan Ayuso attacked the two-time tour winner - but failed in their courageous attempt.
Vingegaard has no trouble today either
The 59th edition of Tirreno-Adriatico has been decided. jonas vingegaard (Visma – Lease a Bike) will win the long-distance trip. After yesterday's, the Dane also won today's stage over 180 kilometers from Sassoferrato to Cagli. He used the climb up Monte Petrano - 10,2 kilometers long and an average of 7,9 percent steep - to once again ensure clear conditions. Juan Ayuso (UAE) and Jay Hindley (Bora – hansgrohe) attacked the two-time tour winner, but couldn't get rid of him. With his counterattack, Vingegaard finally distanced himself from his biggest opponents and drove towards his next victory. Tomorrow there will probably be a bunch sprint on the final stage.
Carapaz & Leknessund strong – Alaphilippe weak
Originally nine riders formed the breakaway group for the day. With Ben Healy (EF Education – EasyPost), Richard Carapaz (EF Education – EasyPost), Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal – Quick Step), Nan's Peters (Decathlon – AG2R La Mondiale), Nickias Arndt (Bahrain-Victorious), Axel Zingle (Cofidis), Michal Kwiatkowski (Ineos Grenadiers), Ivan García Cortina (Movistar) and Andreas Leknessund (Uno-X Mobility) there were quite a few strong climbers in the escape group. However, one big name – Alaphilippe – does not seem to be in any form at all at the moment. The Frenchman was no longer able to follow well before the finish. Due to Healy's high pace, the group fell apart into individual parts a short time later. The group of 9 became a duo with Carapaz and Leknessund 25 kilometers from the finish. But the main field didn't let up either. The Visma – Lease a Bike team kept the pace high and when they entered Monte Petrano, Bora – hansgrohe also picked up the pace again.
Hindley & Ayuso challenge Vingegaard
Already at the foot of Monte Petrano Andreas Leknessund (Uno-X Mobility) his companion Richard Carapaz (EF Education – EasyPost) unfollow. But even for the now very strong Ecuadorian - who won the Giro d'Italia in 2019 - it wasn't enough. Bora – hansgrohe climbed the final climb so quickly that within a few kilometers the peloton shrank to just ten strong favorites. Above all Lennard Kamna (Bora – hansgrohe) did an excellent job before Jay Hindley (Bora – hansgrohe) launched his attack 6,7 kilometers from the finish. Only jonas vingegaard (Visma – Lease a Bike) and Juan Ayuso (UAE) were able to follow suit. Less than a kilometer later, the overall leader went on the offensive himself. Vingegaard came on – and was gone. The Dane couldn't be beaten today either, expanding his lead in the overall standings and almost having the overall victory in his pocket. Today's performance was again impressive Isaac del Toro (UAE). The Mexican was already distanced at the foot of the final climb, but was almost able to catch up with the Ayuso/Hindley duo by the finish line.
The Tirreno-Adriatico field is getting smaller and smaller
Already yesterday we had to Mark Cavendish (Astana) and Michael Morkov (Astana) say goodbye to Tirreno-Adriatico. The Briton and the Dane missed the time limit and were no longer allowed to compete at the start. They have also withdrawn Romain Bardet (dsm-unternehmenich PostNL) from France and Matteo Fabbro (Polti-Kometa) from Italy. In a violent fall at the start of today's stage, some riders were injured so badly that they were unable to continue. Among other things, it has the Danes Magnus Court (Uno-X Mobility), the American Neilson Powless (EF Education – EasyPost) and the British Max Poole (dsm-unternehmenich PostNL) caught.
@JaiHindley attacked, @juann_ayuso followed, but Jonas Vingegaard is now on his own on the Monte Petrano, just like yesterday!
#TirrenoAdriatico pic.twitter.com/rkJ3MojpfL
— Tirreno Adriatico (@TirrenAdriatico) March 9, 2024