ANALYSIS: Five things we learnt from Tirreno-Adriatico including Ayuso, Van der Poel, and Ganna
Cycling
Tirreno-Adriatico has long been known as one of the most
prestigious week long stage races on the calendar, often serving as key
preparation for the Giro d’Italia and other major races later in the season.
The 2025 edition proved no different, as it brought us thrilling battles,
breakout performances, and worrying signs for some riders.
With Juan Ayuso securing the overall victory, Filippo Ganna
proving his all-round capabilities, and Mathieu van der Poel fine-tuning his
form for the classics, there was plenty to take away from this year’s race.
Here are the five biggest lessons from the 2025 Tirreno-Adriatico.
1. Juan Ayuso is the real deal
Winning Tirreno-Adriatico was a major statement from Juan
Ayuso, who claimed his biggest career stage race victory and solidified his
place as one of cycling’s top Grand Tour contenders. The 22-year-old Spaniard
delivered a performance that left no doubts about his talent, winning Stage 6
on the climb to Frontignano and securing the leader’s jersey in impressive
fashion.
His win ahead of Filippo Ganna, Antonio Tiberi, and Derek
Gee showed that he is more than just a promising talent, he is now a proven
leader capable of winning high-level stage races.
Ayuso was fully aware of the significance of this win. "It's
my biggest victory," he said after sealing the title. "The Giro
d'Italia is another step." With his eyes now set on the Maglia Rosa in May,
Ayuso is emerging as one of the main contenders for the Giro, but can he
actually win it?
Is Juan Ayuso now the favourite for the Giro d'Italia?
To do so, he will have to go up against elite rivals like
Primoz Roglic and Richard Carapaz, both of whom have far more experience in
winning three-week races. However, his steady progression, strong tactical
awareness, and fearless racing style suggest he could be a real threat in his
first serious Giro GC bid.
And it may just be time for a new contender to become King.
The biggest question will be whether his consistency over
three weeks can match Roglic’s experience and Carapaz’s too, but his
performance in Tirreno-Adriatico suggests that he is more than ready to take on
that challenge.
2. Filippo Ganna is more than just a time trial specialist
Filippo Ganna’s runner-up finish in the general
classification was arguably the most impressive performance of the race,
showing that he is no longer just a time trial expert, he is becoming a true
all-rounder.
Ganna’s ability to stay with the best climbers on difficult
days and still produce strong results in other stages was a clear indication of
his continued development. His second-place finish on GC behind Ayuso and his
ability to limit his losses in the mountains show that he could soon be a
factor in major week-long stage races, and also the classics.
The INEOS Grenadiers rider has long been a dominant force
against the clock, but this result raises the question: could he become a
genuine contender in classics and on specific stages in grand tours?
While he still lacks the pure climbing ability of the
sport’s top GC riders, his improvements in long efforts and his resilience in
challenging terrain suggest that he could continue evolving into a more
complete rider.
For now, his focus will likely remain on winning time trials
and playing a key role in his team’s GC campaigns, but his performance at
Tirreno-Adriatico proves that he is capable of much more, and perhaps a big
classics win could be just around the corner.
3. Mathieu van der Poel is nearing his best
While Mathieu van der Poel may not have won a stage at Tirreno-Adriatico,
his performance showed that he is rapidly approaching his best form just in
time for the classics season.
The world champion was aggressive throughout the race, launching
multiple attacks and showing his usual explosive style. Despite missing out on
a stage win, he left Tirreno-Adriatico full of confidence, knowing that his legs
are coming into form ahead of Milano-Sanremo and the cobbled classics.
"I needed this with an eye on the classics," van
der Poel said after the race. "I feel like I'm getting closer to my best
form, and that’s exactly what I wanted from this race."
Can Mathieu van der Poel conquer the monuments once again?
His biggest objectives (Milano-Sanremo, the Tour of
Flanders, and Paris-Roubaix) are still to come, and his performance in
Tirreno-Adriatico suggests that he will be a favourite in all of them.
4. Jonathan Milan could be the Tour de France 2025’s fastest sprinter
While the general classification battles took centre stage, Jonathan
Milan’s sprinting dominance in Tirreno-Adriatico cannot be overlooked.
The Lidl-Trek rider claimed stage wins on stage 2 and stage
7, underlining his status as one of the sport’s fastest finishers. His
performance was particularly impressive in the final stage, where he powered to
victory once again.
Milan’s ability to win sprints against elite competition
raises an intriguing possibility, could he win the green jersey at the Tour de
France on debut in July?
The likes of Biniam Girmay, Jasper Philipsen, and Tim
Merlier will have something to say about that, but Milan looks in imperious
form.
5. Cian Uijtdebroeks is a concern
While many riders left Tirreno-Adriatico with confidence, it
was a worrying race for Cian Uijtdebroeks, who struggled throughout and
suffered a major setback on the final climb of the last stage.
The 22-year-old Belgian, who was expected to be one of Visma
| Lease a Bike’s future GC leaders, once again suffered from recurring back
issues that have plagued him since last season.
After the stage, he was visibly emotional, explaining his
ongoing struggles. "My heart rate was 150, but I wasn’t making any
progress, and I had that dull feeling in my legs again. It’s a replay of what
happened to me last year. That sucks."
This issue first appeared during the Vuelta a Espana in 2024,
and while he and Visma spent the winter working on rehabilitation, his performance
at Tirreno-Adriatico suggests that the problem is far from solved.
His team acknowledged the seriousness of the situation, with
team manager Maarten Wynants admitting that Uijtdebroeks was struggling
mentally as well. "His morale is below zero now, that's normal," he
said. "We need to first wash away the disappointment before we look at the
next steps."
While Visma | Lease a Bike remains optimistic about his
long-term potential, this latest setback is a serious concern, and his future
as a top GC contender remains uncertain.
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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