The last time the Tirreno-Adriatico stopped in Prati di Tivo, on that 9th March 2013 with snow on the edges of the road and on the slopes up there, the fans experienced for the first time in action the impetuosity of Chris Froome on the climbThe British rider from Team Sky, who had struggled to act as Wiggins' domestique at the previous year's Tour, was on his way to winning the first yellow jersey of his career. That day he detached Santambrogio and Nibali, yet two days later he would surrender to Vincenzo's ingenuity and strength in the rain-soaked Porto Sant'Elpidio stage. Still among the UK citizens, the 2020 edition was won by Simon Yates (opening photo).
Lido di Camaiore, let's go
The Race of the Two Seas saw the light today, at a time of year marked by crossed fingers and long waits. The next step in RCS's planning will be to reveal the wildcard entries for the Giro and then finally lift the veil on the 2021 edition of the Corsa Rosa.
The 2021 Tirreno-Adriatico will start March 10th from Lido di Camaiore, with a fast stage like in 2020, and will conclude with the most classic of time trials, which however will change route this year. Nothing too sensational, it will remain a fast test, but will move away from the classic back and forth on the seafront.
After passing the hamlets of Chiusdino, a municipality in the province of Siena, and that of Gualdo Tadino, both with nervous routes that do not exclude sprint finishes, the group will take the road to the Abruzzo mountains.
Third day uphill
The uphill finish will be on Saturday 13 March, at the head of a not very long fraction that starts from Terni and follows the most classic of approaches to the Abruzzo mountains. First, the climb to Forca di Arrone, then the Rieti plain, Sella di Corno from Antrodoco, and the long descent to L'Aquila. From here you attack the Capannelle Pass and from here, going down towards Teramo, you will go to take the final climb, 14,5 kilometers long, with 22 hairpin bends: average gradient of 7 percent, maximum of 12.
The stage of the walls
Sunday 14st March, Here is the stage of the Marche walls, from Castellalto to Castelfidardo. After the first passage through the Battle Forest, you enter the 23 kilometer circuit to be repeated 4 times, in a succession of walls (gradients up to 18 percent) and descents with only one short flat stretch. The final kilometer winds through the town of Castelfidardo, always uphill.
Change the time trial
The finish at Lido di Fermo will be the sprinters' last chance before the closing time trial in San Benedetto del Tronto. Individual test of 11,1 kilometers, Starting from the Stadio delle Palme, the route passes under the railway line to join the classic route, but in the opposite direction. The route descends toward Porto d'Ascoli, then reaches Piazza Salvo d'Acquisto and, after a turning point, heads north up the seafront. After the port of San Benedetto, the route climbs again toward Grottammare, skirting the old Ballarini stadium, and then heads south to reach the finish line.
Sports and entertainment
Visibly Stefano Allocchio is satisfied, race director of RCS Sport, who commented on the route.
«We have built a path along the same lines as last year's – he said – with stages suitable for every type of rider. We believe this formula is a winning one because it allows us to show the world, in addition to a top-level sporting spectacle, also unique territories with changing scenery and they range from seaside resorts to inland ones and even mountain ones. A special thanks goes to all the institutions involved who, even in such a complicated period, have worked hard to ensure that the Tirreno-Adriatico can take place regularly and in complete safety."
