Preview. After FIlippo Ganna demolished the competition in the opening time-trial, stage 2 will be a day for the sprinters to seize as they find a tricky finale.
With 209 kilometers on the menu, stage two will see a finale in Follonica which should suit the sprinters. It's a long day on the saddle with 209 kilometers which starts with a small ascent. It's not a pan-flat day by any chance, the fast men will have their work cut out if they want to take part in the likely bunch sprint.
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Start Time: 10:45CET
Finish Time: 16:00CET
The riders will go up 100 meters in altitude on one occasion in the final circuit which will be ridden twice. It's not a serious climb but has 1.3 kilometers at 6%. Sitting just under 10 kilometers to go some teams may try and take advantage of this hilltop to put the pure fast men under pressure. If not, all is to play for with all the riders on board for the sprint.
One that has nothing technical to mention. In terms of safety that is good however, the finishing straight is virtually four kilometers long and on a map there is nothing noteworthy in it, no roudabouts, no corners, no sketchy features, the ideal terrain for strong leadouts to thrive.
The Weather
A moderate breeze from the south. A headwind throughout most of the day, but the final kilometers of the stage take place in some tailwind. A non-technical tailwind flat finale means incredibly high speeds.
The Favourites
Fabio Jakobsen - A strong leadout present with Ballerini, van Lerberghe and Pedersen but will it be enough? Under such conditions leadouts will struggle to perform in the final kilometer, and Jakobsen has not been at his best this year. Pressure is on for the Dutchman as Tim Merlier performs very strongly elsewhere.
Dylan Groenewegen - A pure flat and fast finish will be ideal for the Dutchman. Jayco AlUla have a set leadout and Luka Mezgec has been doing extraordinary work. This is likely to be Groenewegen's best opportunity of the week to take a triumph.
Jasper Philipsen - Philipsen has only began his season at the Opening Weekend, and has had a very different month of February in comparison to his rivals. The addition of Ramon Sinkeldam to the leadout will be interesting, Philipsen is likely to be riding in the wheels but he is very good at that. It's going to be his first sprint of the season only.
The field of sprinters is incredibly luxurious however. This year alone you've seen several of them take wins such as Biniam Girmay, Phil Bauhaus, Fernando Gaviria, Juan Sebastián Molano, Matteo Moschetti and Simone Consonni. However they form only a small part of the outsiders. Such a fast finish can see surprises however, despite the tailwind will favour those who start from the front.
You have some outsiders, special figures who may take part in the sprint but at the same time would not come as a surprise. Wout van Aert is the obvious figure, but also you don't know what to expect from the likes of Peter Sagan and Mark Cavendish.
Then there are very fast finishers in Jordi Meeus and Alberto Dainese who will surely also be contenders for victory. Giacomo Nizzolo and Nacer Bouhanni position themselves as further outsiders for a sprint that is likely to be incredibly disputed and stressful.
Also read
Profiles & Route Tirreno-Adriatico 2023
Prediction Tirreno-Adriatico 2023 stage 2:
*** Fabio Jakobsen, Dylan Groenewegen
** Jasper Philipsen, Jordi Meeus, Fernando Gaviria, Phil Bauhaus
* Alberto Dainese, Biniam Girmay, Juan Sebastián Molano, Wout van Aert, Matteo Moschetti, Peter Sagan, Nacer Bouhanni, Mark Cavendish
Pick: Fabio Jakobsen
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