Cycling – Paris-Nice 2021 – 3rd stage: Order and starting times of the time trial

CYCLING – The 56th edition of Tirreno-Adriatico will take place from March 10 to 16, 2021 with seven stages on the program through Tuscany, Umbria, Lazio, Abruzzo and Marche, for a total distance of 1,104.1 kilometers. A nice line-up of runners will be offered on the Italian race with Mathieu van der Poel, Julian Alaphilippe, Jakob Fuglsang, Mikel Landa, Peter Sagan, Thibaut Pinot and Wout van Aert.

A start to the race for swift runners

First, the first stage will be flat around the seaside resort of Lido di Camaiore over 156 kilometers for a massive finish. The start of the stage will be marked by three loops to the east with the small bump of Pitoro (2,700 m at 7.4%), while the rest of the day will be carried out on a large, flat loop via Vallecchia , Forte dei Marmi and Marina di Pietrasanta. The finish will be made on a long and wide straight line on the shores of the Tyrrhenian Sea where Pascal Ackermann won in 2020.

Then the runners will start from Camaiore in the direction of Chiusdino for a long day in the saddle over 226 km. The second half of the stage will be quite hilly with the Poggio alla Croce (3.5 km to 6.9%) and above all a finish judged at the top of a 7.5 km climb at 3.6%. The last 1500 meters will be the most demanding around 5% in the medieval center. The third stage of 189 km between Monticiano and Gualdo Tadino, will start with a hilly part before joining less complicated roads despite the Poggio della Croce (4.4 km to 7.5%). Like the day before, the final uphill should not make a big difference with less than 4% average over the last 5 kilometers.

A spectacularly hilly weekend

During the 4th stage on Saturday, a summit finish at Prati di Tivo will be waiting for the runners. The stage will be short with 148 km, but dense. After 62 kilometers of racing on a flat route, the climbs will accumulate with the Sella di Como (14.1 km à 3.7%), the Passo Capannelle (13.8 km at 4.5%) and finally the ascent to the ski resort of Prati di Tivo with its 22 hairpin bends and an average slope of 7% over 14.7 kilometers. The Tirreno caravan arrived in the climb to Prati di Tivo in 2012 and 2013 from Vincenzo Nibali and Chris Froome.

Sunday March 14, place at the stage of the walls towards Castelfidardo over 205 km. After a hundred kilometers on the coast on flat roads, the runners will embark on a 23 kilometer circuit to be covered four times with two very distinct walls. However, this circuit will be very hilly in addition to these walls. The finish will be judged at the top of a difficulty of 3 km at 3.6% rather irregular. In 2011, John Gadret won this final on the Tour of Italy. The sixth stage will take place between Castelraimondo and Lido of Fermo over 169 km for a favorable finish for sprinters despite numerous climbs throughout the day. There will be an 11.5 kilometer circuit to be done four times, with a 2 km bump at 4% in its initial part.

The ultimate stopwatch to know the successor of Simon Yates

Finally, the final time trial will be 11.1 km long with very long straights by the sea on a very flat profile, via a slightly different route in recent editions. The departure will take place at Palms Stadium and after six right-angled turns, the riders will return to the old course, which they will finish this time in the opposite direction, towards the original start area of ​​the Marina after a passage to the old stadium of the Fratelli Ballarin Stadium.