Tirreno-Adriatico 2025 stage 6 preview, profiles, favourites & predictions - Will Isaac del Toro seal GC win?

Tirreno-Adriatico 2026 is taking place from the 9th to the 15th of March and is, as is the case every year, one of the most important races of the spring. It not only provides sprinters, time trialists and climbers with golden opportunities in one of Italy's top events; but also provides the classics specialists with ideal races to prepare for their big goals. We preview stage 6, which is expected to start and finish at 10:45 and 15:45CET.

The race was created back in 1966 and as the name suggests, it takes rider riders from the Tyrrhenian sea all the way to the Adriatic; crossing central Italy from west to east with a variety of stages that suits all types of riders. Dino Zandegù won the first edition, but it didn't take long for big international names to join the race; even if Paris-Nice was always in the same slot, calendar-wise. The six consecutive GC wins of Roger de Vlaeminck from 1972 to 1977 boosted the race to the highest of levels possible, and lots of legends have cemented their name in the week-long stage-race.

Francesco Moser, Giuseppe Saronni, Joop Zoetemelk and Tony Rominger are riders who won throughout the 20th century; whilst this century a few editions did not have mountain stages which increased the variety of overall winners. Classics specialists such as Paolo Bettini and Óscar Freire won it at their prime; Fabian Cancellara won it back in 2008 and even Greg Van Avermaet took the title in 2016 most recently...

However the quality of the winners over the past 15 years is outerwordly, with many of the world's very best climbers winning the overall classification at the prime of their career. Cadel Evans, Vincenzo Nibali, Alberto Contador, Nairo Quintana, Primoz Roglic, Simon Yates, Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard... It's hard to image a better list. In 2025 Juan Ayuso inserted his name amongst the greats, winning the overall classification after winning the queen stage, dethrnoing a Filippo Ganna who showed the very best climbing legs of his career.

It is hard to describe stage 6, as it features the type of profile that is not easy for race organizers to plan out, outside the Abbruzo mountains in Italy. A day where the climbers have their terrain, and so do the puncheurs. But this is the queen stage, starting out with an explosive hilltop once again (good for breakaway formation) right out of San Severino in the Marche region.

The climbers will have here a golden opportunity to destroy the race early on, with the climb to Sassoletto averaging 7% for 13 kilometers. The race can explode, after several days where the climbers didn't have the upper hand in terms of route.

If not however, there are over 4000 meters of climbing on the day, so there is no shortage of opportunities. The riders will take on four laps of a circuit that includes a final steep climb to Camerino, which is 3.2 kilometers long at 9%.

With 85, 59 and 30 kilometers to go the riders will already go up the climb and learn what they will deal with towards the finish; but this isn't child's play, as in each ascent the GC battle can explode. However not only can this happen there but also in the following kilometers, where there are several peaks where the teams can use their numbers to create tactical moves. It is very dangerous terrain which should lead to very difficult racing.

Isaac del Toro - The Mexican was head and shoulders above the rest on this stage, hitting the wind too much however comfortably distancing Giulio Pellizzari this time around. In the longer efforts he won't have an added difficulty, and UAE looked very strong and in control today, so I don't expect to see anything too crazy happen. Despite the fitting profiles, nothing crazy has happened in this race and it hasn't looked like there have been riders wanting to take many risks, so it will likely be a day controlled until the final climb where he has his final challenge to defend the race lead.

BORA - They got the right message, as today Primoz Roglic was used as a pawn to attack, and that's what needed to be done despite Giulio Pellizzari's race lead. Tomorrow the same must happen if they want to win the race, as Pellizzari doesn't climb or sprint better than Del Toro, but has time to make up on him. BORA have enough of a team to place riders in front and then attempt to raid the race either on the climb to Sassoletto or in the circuit itself which has plenty ascents. Not an easy plan, but Roglic will not have use in the fight for the win otherwise, and he can still be used. Pellizzari's job is to be at his best and hope Del Toro has a bad day.

The stage win can be up for grabs for a breakaway for sure, but when it comes to the top riders I would say Matteo Jorgenson does stand a chance. He looked superb today and on the gravel stage he would've also been within a chance of winning if he hadn't crashed. The GC win is rather unlikely but he can bluff a bit with the blue jersey fight and then take the opportunity to have that little edge over the others if it comes down to a sprint or final kilometer dash to the line.

Tobias Johannessen looks to be on peak form so he is to be considered and today Giulio Ciccone also showed good signs. The stage seems to be too hard for others to be surprising but you shouldn't ignore the likes of Michael Storer or Santiago Buitrago... When it comes to raids or even a breakaway there's also plenty classics specialists and non-GC climbers who can be in front and have the legs to win big such as Ben Healy, Richard Carapaz, Clément Champoussin, Antonio Tiberi, Thymen Arensman and more... Never neglecting a Mathieu van der Poel who might have here his final big effort before Milano-Sanremo and may want to put in the work.

*** Isaac del Toro, Matteo Jorgenson
** Giulio Pellizzari, Tobias Johannessen, Giulio Ciccone
* Primoz Roglic, Santiago Buitrago, Michael Storer, Richard Carapaz, Ben Healy, Alessandro Pinarello, Javier Romo, Thymen Arensman

Pick: Isaac del Toro

How: Solo win in the finale.