Preview. The GC fight has opened up in today's hilltop finale with Primoz Roglic taking the win, but stage 5 to Sarnano Sassotetto is very likely the queen stage of Tirreno-Adriatico where the biggest gaps will be created.
The fifth stage of the race is the queen stage. It is short in comparison to the previous ones, and it features climbing throughout the whole day, albeit without any meaningful difficulty all of them, except the final one. Almost 4000 meters of climbing, it is a difficult one, where the riders just have to settle in and take on the small climbs all throughout around 150 kilometers. It will be a grind into the final ascent.
Start Time: 11:25CET
Finish Time: 16:00CET
The climb to Sarnano-Sassotetto is 13.1 kilometers long at 7.3%. It's not the first time it's used in the race, and after such a difficult day it would not be a surprise to see very large gaps created. It's not a very consistent ascent, with gradients over 9% throughout several kilometers.
Attacks will come in the middle of it. It's a climb where the GC can very well be played out, and the pure climbers have the opportunity to create damage. There is a time-trial and two hilly stages in the Italian event, this is the one day where everything is to be controlled and a constant long effort will decide the winner.
The Weather
There will be calm weather, over some hilltops there will likely be gusts of wind from the west but all throughout the days the many mountains and hills will provide coverage for the riders.
The Favourites
UAE - UAE are looking sharp. Adam Yates is the team leader, he's shown his climbing legs at the UAE Tour. The weather conditions aren't the same here but Yates showed great legs today. It's likely that he will be a big contender, and João Almeida will not be distant. Brandon McNulty will likely take a domestique role on the day.
Jumbo-Visma - Primoz Roglic has taken the win today. This does not mean he'll have his best level today in the higher mountains, but he is very likely to be racing at the top level. Jumbo-Visma will likely give freedom to Wilco Kelderman, whilst Tiesj Benoot is likely to also be free from domestique duties. With Wout van Aert and Attila Valter showing great signs today however the Dutch team are very well rounded up.
BORA - Lennard Kämna is now in the lead of the race. BORA will have responsibilities but in the final ascent he's unlikely to be protected. The German team have two big weapons in Jai Hindley and Aleksandr Vlasov, both of which are in very good positions on the overall classification. It is going to be a crucial day for BORA in this early season.
Also read
Profiles & Route Tirreno-Adriatico 2023
Bahrain - Santiago Buitrago looked far from his best today, he's unlikely to play a big role tomorrow. Damiano Caruso may - he has looked good so far - but it's Mikel Landa who is the main man to look at. He's shown good form last year and earlier this year, and he's got here the day where he needs to make a difference.
Enric Mas - Enric Mas looked sharp today. It wasn't a very suited finish but he looked as sharp as last year, and on this summit finish he has the opportunity to take the step and get himself in position to win his first majour stage-race.
The list will be further widened by the likes of Tao Geoghegan Hart, Thibaut Pinot, Giulio Ciccone, Alexey Lutsenko or Hugh Carthy who have shown good signs in this early season of being able to contest for a position near the top. Several riders can get in the fight however. The likes of Wout van Aert and Tom Pidcock on their best day could safely be in the top positions but I find that unlikely with what they've shown so far during this race - both physically and mentally. Julian Alaphilippe is in a similar but better position.
Guillaume Martin, Harm Vanhoucke, Ben O'Connor, Michael Woods and Sebastien Reichenbach should also be among the many outsiders for such a stage. A lot will be decided on a day like this, and there will be clear separation between those who are capable of fighting for the GC and those who aren't.
Prediction Tirreno-Adriatico 2023 stage 5:
*** Adam Yates, Enric Mas
** Primoz Roglic, Mikel Landa, Jai Hindley, Aleksandr Vlasov, João Almeida
* Wilco Kelderman, Tao Geoghegan Hart, Damiano Caruso, Giulio Ciccone, Hugh Carthy, Thibaut Pinot
Pick: Enric Mas
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