Preview: Tirreno-Adriatico. Pogacar, Carapaz and Vingegaard rematch after Tour de France showdown

Tirreno-Adriatico starts in the 7th of March and takes place simultaneously with Paris-Nice. Nevertheless, both races get star-studded startlists every year with this edition being no exception. Frequently, Tirreno is the chosen classic to prepare Milano-Sanremo, due to it's opportunities for the sprinters and hilly stages.

The race consists of seven stages and it starts next monday in Lido di Camaiore with a 13.9 kilometer time-trial. It is a change in relation to the usual final time-trial in the event, as the gaps will now be made right from day one which should stir up the race a bit more. Stages two and three should be for the sprinters, with the third day a pure sprint to be expected in Terni whilst the second stage is hilly and a test for those eyeing Milano-Sanremo specifically as they'll find some climbing, where surely late attacks can succeed aswell.

The overall classification will then be decided in a trio of consecutive stages that feature some climbing. Stage fours sees a summit finish in Bellante will a circuit that concludes at a hilltop and stage five into Fermo sees a brutal last 30 kilometers that can see meaningful gaps on the short punchy hills around the town. Queen stage comes at stage six as the peloton travels to Carpegna for a long stage which features two ascents of the Monte Carpegna, a 6 kilometer ascent at 10% average gradient with a double dangerous descent into the finish. The final day is for the sprinters, as a bunch sprint is expected in San Benedetto del Tronto.

The general classification should be discussed by the likes of Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Richard Carapaz, Remco Evenepoel, Romain Bardet, Damiano Caruso, Mikel Landa, Jakob Fuglsang, Giulio Ciccone, Domenico Pozzovivo, Tao Geoghegan Hart, Richie Porte, Emanuel Buchmann, Wilco Kelderman, Mark Padun, Rigoberto Urán, Miguel Ángel Lopez, Sepp Kuss, Thibaut Pinot, Enric Mas and Lorenzo Fortunato.

The sprints will se battles between Mark Cavendish, Caleb Ewan, Tim Merlier, Phil Bauhaus, Giacomo Nizzolo, Michael Matthews, Alexander Kristoff, Elia Viviani, Magnus Cort Nielsen, Pascal Ackermann, Arnaud Démare, Nacer Bouhanni and Peter Sagan.

As for the time-trials, Filippo Ganna, Edoardo Affini and Benjamin Thomas are between the favourites to take the jersey on the opening day. Some classics riders too are here, likely with good form and heading for results, but to gather form into the spring aswell with examples of Julian Alaphilippe, Simon Clarke, Jhonatan Narváez, Matej Mohoric, Greg van Avermaet, Tim Wellens, Kasper Asgreen, Mikkel Honoré and Warren Barguil.

You will be able to keep up with the race here on CyclingUpToDate as we bring you race reports and interviews on a daily basis.