PREVIEW | Tirreno-Adriatico 2025 stage 7 - Will Jonathan Milan win final sprint stage?
Cycling
From the 10th to 16th of March the World Tour peloton races Tirreno-Adriatico. This is in itself one of the most important stage-races of the year; but simultaneously it serves as preparation for the spring classics and also as a test for the Giro d'Italia. It will be a week of high-octane racing across Italy! We preview stage 7.
The race ends as is usual, in San Benedetto del Tronto with a stage for the sprinters. However the distance is short and there are two tricky climbs halfway through the day, so there is danger of a strong breakaway threatening to take it - as long as they can scape in the flat start to the stage.
This is a day where in the past breakaways have succeeded, from kilometer 42 to 57 there will be two climbs where if a team wants to push hard or attack, it will be hard to control... Very explosive terrain. Afterwards the riders descent back into town and find very fast and pan-flat urban roads where it is not easy to close in gaps. The speed needs to be constantly quite high.
A bunch sprint still, is the most likely scenario. There is going to be a race towards a small chicane with 750 meters to go. A pan-flat sprint follows, one for the purists.
The Weather
Strong western wind early in the day opens up the possibility once again of there being echelons... Tension will be high amongst both sprinter and GC teams who have to be very cautious not to throw everything away on this last day. Later on however, this turns into a southern wind which means largely a headwind in the final part of the stage. In the final sprint, as well a headwind.
The Favourites
Jonathan Milan - Lidl-Trek will fully back him up on this stage. Yes, he did crash some days ago and is lacking his main leadout man Simone Consonni who crashed with him on that day. They are tough hits, but there will be plenty sprint interests and if it does come back to it, then the Italian will be the man to beat.
With a headwind sprint however, it opens things up more than usual. Position into the finale is key, and coming from the wheel (specially of a huge rider like Milan) can make a very big difference. Olav Kooij has already proven his excellent form after winning the crosswind stage, but in a pure bunch sprint he also packs a very strong punch.
Dylan Groenewegen, Paul Magnier and Soren Waerenskjold can also surprise in a pure bunch sprint, they are definitely capable of winning such a stage and a sprint in such a field.
Furthermore we will likely have more faces present in a bunch sprint which would feature a rather absent Sam Bennett (or in his repeated absence, perhaps Andrea Vendrame who has won earlier int he week), Bryan Coquard, Paul Penhöet, Jake Stewart, Casper van Uden, Giovanni Lonardi and Maikel Ziljaard. I also wouldn't count out Filippo Ganna who is in tremendous form.
But the Italian may actually want to attack the hilly section of the stage. Six days before Milano-Sanremo, some of the favourites may want to test their legs here for fun, and carve an alliance. The climbs are hard enough to build gaps... Specially when you have riders like Mathieu van der Poel and Tom Pidcock, aggressive riders like Ben Healy or Magnus Cort Nielsen... And other top puncheurs such as Marc Hirschi, Roger Adrià and Simone Velasco.
Prediction Tirreno-Adriatico 2025 stage 7:
*** Jonathan Milan, Olav Kooij
** Dylan Groenewegen, Soren Waerenskjold, Paul Magnier
* Bryan Coquard, Paul Penhöet, Filipoo Ganna, Jake Stewart, Maikel Ziljaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Tom Pidcock, Roger Adrià
Pick: Jonathan Milan
How: I think it's quite possible that we'll have a few interesting attacks, but a bunch sprint remains the most likely scenario to decide the stage and Milan is indeed the strongest.
Original: Rúben Silva
7 stages, 1,130.9 km of pure passion.
— Tirreno Adriatico (@TirrenAdriatico) December 12, 2024
From Lido di Camaiore to San Benedetto del Tronto 🚴♂️
Don't miss the #TirrenoAdriatico @CA_Ita 2025!🗺
7 tappe, 1.130,9 km di pura passione.
Dal Lido di Camaiore a San Benedetto del Tronto 🚴♂️
La #TirrenoAdriatico @CA_Ita 2025 vi aspetta!🗺 pic.twitter.com/8DfTNJiVNZ
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- Is this a joke?Jkolner12316-03-2025
- He has declined leadership though in the past? Lack of confidence? Hedging your bets works sometimes, at other times it is better to commit and go in big.Cyclingsbestfan16-03-2025
- Pidcock is starting sound like a more mature rider. It may be the media reports when he was at ineos skewing things, but he starting to sound like a defferent person.Cyclingsbestfan16-03-2025
- Yep If he could just get some consistency going with his form, he would be a rider to be reckoned with in any gc race. As it is he blows hot and cold.Cyclingsbestfan16-03-2025
- I was watching the race live, and it seems like this crash could have been avoided. A pre-race course inspection and appropriate signage.yuckly16-03-2025
- Jonas won T-A last tear and wanted to do P-N this year. Jorgensen also wanted to do it, he declined every si gle opportunity to be a solo leader, eevry stage race Jonas doesn't do, Girovappaxbipmv16-03-2025
- I agree, he either needs a surprise attack in the final, win a sprint or just somehow overpower everyonevappaxbipmv16-03-2025
- Did old man Bruyneel make this point before Jonas crashed out?Renz16-03-2025
- Good win for Ayuso. He has appeared a bit inconsistent on mountain stages in the past; absolutely brilliant on some but then cracking on others.Cooldude16-03-2025
- A little caution is understandable. Just ask Roglic.Cooldude16-03-2025