Tirreno-Adriatico: 3 consecutive wins for Primoz Roglic as he consolidates race lead

Any doubts that Primoz Roglic would no longer be the great leader of Jumbo-Visma have dissipated. The Jumbo-Visma rider won his third consecutive Tirreno-Adriatico stage and virtually sealed the overall win.

It was to be a brutal day on the bike, and many riders looked to antecipate the likely early attacks from the peloton: Quinn Simmons (Trek - Segafredo), Nikias Arndt (Bahrain - Victorious), Mike Teunissen and Georg Zimmermann (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty), Gianni Vermeersch (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Krists Neilands (Israel - Premier Tech), Alessandro De Marchi (Team BikeExchange - Jayco), Casper Pedersen (Soudal - Quick-Step), Clément Russo (Arkéa Samsic), Valentin Ferron (TotalEnergies) and Davide Bais (EOLO - Kometa).

As soon as the riders entered the final circuit moves began, as Santiago Buitrago attacked from the peloton and put Jumbo-Visma on pursuit. He bridged across to Arndt who was in front and the survivors of the breakaway, but alongside him came a fast moving peloton which was under pressure in every run-up and ascent that was on the route.

On the penultimate time up the main ascent of the circuit the last survivors of the breakaway were caught, as Wout van Aert put in a big dig that crushed the peloton to bits. However right after many came back, with van Aert attacking himself as Jumbo-Visma gave a green card to the Belgian. This became risky afterwards the Wilco Kelderman crashed out of contention and a dangerous move including Aleksandr Vlasov went up the road with 22 kilometers to go.

He was joined by Guillaume Martin, and Movistar duo Carlos Verona and Alex Aranburu. UAE Team Emirates put on a chase together with INEOS Grenadiers. Mikel Landa attacked on the steep ramps as the GC group came back to the front. Almeida, Roglic, Mas and Carthy joined him in front as others joined in the following descent. Seizing the GC battle, Michael Woods launched an attack with 2 kilometers to go which was not followed.

Woods was caught then inside the final uphill grind to the line. Tao Geoghegan Hart and Enric Mas launched attacks inside the final kilometer, but they could only finish behind Roglic as he once again sprinted to the finish leading the race.