tirreno_adriatico_2015

The four champions of the cycling world for the 50° edition
Turning 50 this year. The story of the Tirreno-Adriatico began in 1966, when Dino Zandegù outdid Vito Taccone. The marvel has
grown, year after year. To celebrate its 50th birthday, the Race of the Two Seas will turn epic. Vincenzo Nibali, the king of the Tour,
will be fighting against Spain’s Alberto Contador, Britain’s Chris Froome and Colombia’s Nairo Quintana. There is nothing better in
the world – never has there been. The “four tenors” of cycling have never challenged each other in the same race before. At least
one of them was missing in the last three years…
First place for Nibali, second place for Froome and third place for Contador in 2013. In 2014, Contador prevailed. That is all one
needs to say, isn’t it? From the Tyrrhenian to the Adriatic Sea, this race is the smartest and most contemporary way of designing
stage routes in cycling. It celebrates the best of Italy, thanks to a territory that allows riders not only to challenge themselves and
each other, but also to have a great time (we are quite sure) in such a varied and diverse landscape. The importance of the race lies
in figures: live coverage in 154 countries, with as many as 5 million people reached in seven stages. Moreover, let us not forget that
the Tirreno-Adriatico was the Italian cycling event with the highest-quality participants in the last two seasons. A jewel we must
be proud of.
The structure stays the same, with two time trials (a 22-km TTT, and the final 10-km ITT in San Benedetto del Tronto), two sprinter
stages (Cascina and Porto Sant’Elpidio), one stage for puncheurs (Arezzo), a medium-mountain stage (Castelraimondo) and a real
mountain stage, just like at the Giro d’Italia. This time Mount Terminillo, Rome’s mountain, one of the sharpest climbs of central Italy,
will be decisive. The Giro made its way up here nine times, most recently in 2010. Climbing up the northern slope, we are in for a
15.4-km ascent with an average 6.1% gradient, peaking as high as 10%. After all, a conventional and ordinary location would not
have been a suitable battleground for the “Fab Four” of cycling.
Luca Gialanella
La Gazzetta dello Sport
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