PREVIEW | Tirreno-Adriatico 2024 stage 2 - Tim Merlier and Jasper Philipsen headline best sprinter battle of the year so far!
Cycling
Juan Ayuso took a storming victory on the opening time-trial of Tirreno-Adriatico, and stage 2 will now present the sprinters with a great opportunity. The best sprinters in the world will be contesting for victory here including Jasper Philipsen and Tim Merlier.
Stage 2 of the Italian race begins in Camaiore and right from the gun we've got a hilltop. A nice start to the day, one however that should be relatively calm - as it usually is the case early in the stage-races. On the menu is a flat and relatively simple day.
Stage 2: Camaiore - Follonica, 199.5 kilometers
Almost 200 kilometers on the menu with two hilltops under the way. The peloton will head towards Follonica. They will race through the finish line twice, meaning the sprinters will see the finale once before going in for the decisive effort.
A very fast sprint no doubt it will be. The final kilometers are relatively windy and inside the final kilometer there will be a roundabout that needs to be ridden through with 800 meters to go. There will be an all-out sprint to the final corner that takes place with 350 meters to go.
This will be a key point, going out of the corner with speed is crucial, but equally, if you're coming from behind you've got a 350-meter long sprint ahead. Good positioning is key so as to have the legs in the final meters then, but this can also open up the possibility of some interesting sprint tactics.
The Weather
Map Tirreno-Adriatico 2024 stage 2
Slight western breeze. It will not affect the day it's not strong enough. A very light headwind could be present in the finishing straight, but taking into consideration that the finishing straight is very small riders can't really benefit from coming from the back.
The Favourites
Tim Merlier - Merlier was extraordinary at the UAE Tour where he won three sprints and they were all chaotic. Hence we know that not having a perfect a leadout is not necessarily a problem for him. On paper, there's no preventing him from being in contention, and in a flat sprint he can certainly beat just about anyone. The first bunch sprint of the race is usually a good one for the Belgian.
Jasper Philipsen - Usually the status of the sprinter who cannot be dislodged from the front, in the current peloton, would be for Jasper Philipsen. But it is not, anymore, for now at least. The Alpecin-Deceuninck rider only started his season at the Opening Weekend where he did not immpress. This will be his first bunch sprint of the year, not ideal conditions to rival with such a field, but we cannot forget how he's ridden for the past two years!
You've got riders with tremendously strong leadouts. Jonathan Milan leading Lidl-Trek, Biniam Girmay for Intermarché-Wanty, Caleb Ewan for Team Jayco AlUla and either Alexander Kristoff or Soren Waerenskjold for Uno-X mobility all have very fast men in front of them who can certainly take them to pole position ahead of the sprint, and this can be the difference between a big win or defeat.
Mark Cavendish will also have the support of Michael Morkov and will be a rider trying to break through and get a big win for a season that is key in his career. The likes of Casper van Uden and Phil Bauhaus are also capable of winning in a field like this, even if it is a difficult task.
Ethan Vernon will sprint for Israel - Premier Tech, Stanislaw Aniolkowski for Cofidis, Marius Mayrhofer for Tudor, Giovanni Lonardi for Polti Kometa, Niccolo Bonifazio for Corratec, Vincenzo Albanese for Arkéa, Andrea Vendrame for Decathlon, Filippo Fiorelli for Bardiani and who knows... maybe Filippo Ganna will want to sprint, if so he could jump into the race lead but also see where he stands within the best sprinters in the world.
Prediction Tirreno-Adriatico 2024 stage 2:
*** Tim Merlier, Jasper Philipsen
** Jonathan Milan, Biniam Girmay,
* Caleb Ewan, Alexander Kristoff, Mark Cavendish, Casper van Uden, Phil Bauhaus, Ethan Vernon, Stanislaw Aniolkowski, Marius Mayrhofer
** Jonathan Milan, Biniam Girmay,
* Caleb Ewan, Alexander Kristoff, Mark Cavendish, Casper van Uden, Phil Bauhaus, Ethan Vernon, Stanislaw Aniolkowski, Marius Mayrhofer
Pick: Tim Merlier
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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Rafionain-Glas08-11-2026 - There really was nothing in it. Schreiber was so much faster, and Brand was fighting to stay in the wheel in the sprint. Schreiber did move a bit, but to say she closed the door doesn't make sense because Brand couldn't enter it anyway, abd she wasn't impeded.Rafionain-Glas08-11-2026
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- i did not see it. was the relegation justified or an overly hard decision? and don‘t cross riders deviate from straight lines all the time? bumping into each others when they cut corners, etc … why being more strict with the rules on the finish sprint?Ketterechts08-11-2026
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One race. Two seas. One champion. 🔱 Who will be the king of 2024 Tirreno-Adriatico @CA_ita? #TirrenoAdriatico
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