The route for the 61st edition of Tirreno-Adriatico has been revealed, and it marks a return to a classic style of racing. The Race of the Two Seas, scheduled for March 9 to 15, will not feature a high-altitude summit finish this year. Instead, the organizers have designed a course filled with steep "walls" and gravel sectors.
The presentation took place on Friday in Ancona, Italy. While the traditional long climbs are missing, the race will actually be physically tougher than last year. The total vertical gain is 15,550 meters, which is over 1,000 meters more than the 2025 edition.
A breakdown of the week
The race follows its traditional path from the Tyrrhenian coast to the Adriatic, crossing five regions.
- Stage 1 (Time trial): As is tradition, the race begins in Lido di Camaiore with a flat, 11.5-kilometer individual time trial. This will decide the first wearer of the Maglia Azzurra.
- Stage 2 (Gravel): The race heads to Tuscany. The finish in San Gimignano includes a 5.3-kilometer sector of "sterrato" and a steep final ramp of 15%.
- Stage 3: A long transition stage of 225 kilometers from Cortona to Magliano de’ Marsi.
- Stage 4: The race enters the mountains with the Valico delle Capannelle, but the decisive action will happen near the end. The finale features the "wall" of Tortoreto, which hits gradients of 20%, although that will end aorund 8km before the finish line.
- Stage 5: A relentless day with no flat roads. The riders face a finishing circuit in Mombaroccio with the steep climb to the Santuario del Beato Sante.
- Stage 6: This is likely the queen day. Riders will climb the famous Sassotetto mid-stage, but the race will be decided on a brutal circuit in Camerino. It features the Muro della Madonna delle Carceri, with gradients up to 18%.
- Stage 7: The race concludes with the traditional flat sprint stage in San Benedetto del Tronto.
Juan Ayuso won Tirreno Adriatico in 2025, ahead of Ganna and Tiberi
A selective race
Stefano Allocchio, the Race Director of RCS Sport, emphasized that removing the high mountain finish does not mean the race will be easy by any means. “The route of the 61st Tirreno-Adriatico is born from the desire to return to the tradition of this race, which over the years has always been extremely selective even without resorting to the summit finish,” Allocchio explained. “We have built a hard course, with stages exceeding 3,500-4,000 meters of altitude difference and that will require great all-round ability."
"In this sense, the Marche represents once again a central element of the ‘Race of the Two Seas’, offering an ideal context for the decisive stages of the race. We expect a world-class participation, in line with the history of a race that is already a hunting ground for riders who are protagonists on the most prestigious stages of the entire season, both in the Classics and in the Grand Tours.”
With the defending champion Juan Ayuso opting to skip the race, the battle to succeed him is expected to be fiercely contested. Primoz Roglic and Isaac del Toro are the two biggest stars set to participate, while Matteo Jorgenson will be Visma's leader. Jonathan Milan, Wout van Aert and Arnaud de Lie will be the main sprinters in the race.
Félix SernaCycling Journalist
Félix Serna is a writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2025. He covers professional cycling across both the men’s and women’s calendars, with a focus on UCI rankings, race developments, and rider performance. His work includes interview-based reports, liveblogs, and tournament coverage designed to provide clear, accurate context throughout the season.
In his reporting, Félix regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical reference. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. He holds a bachelor’s degree in International Studies.
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