BiciRace.com :: 2005 Tirreno-Adriatico

2005 Tirreno-Adriatico

Tirreno-Adriatico, Italy

9 - 15 March

Stage 1, Civitavecchia - Civitavecchia, 160 km

9 March

Petacchi gets even with Cipo, Eisel is proving strong.

Just 2 days after Super Mario won the Giro di Lucca, Alessandro Petacchi decided it was his turn to prove his own super-star status. Today's victory marked Petacchi's eighth win of the 2005 season, and he is also looking to claim victory at the Milano San Remo.

Petacchi's squad, Fassa Bortolo, forced the pace on the closing two circuits, putting Cipollini into pain. A hill of 315 meters was what broke Mario Cipollini off from the rest of the sprinters, leaving his chances for a second Milano San Remo win in doubt. All the other sprinters made the final hill (McEwen, O'Grady, Freire) but Mario Cipollini had to chase back onto the main peloton. When he finally reached the peloton, his energy was gone for the sprint.

Afterwards Petacchi went on to thank everyone he knew, saying that his victory was a "huge gift" to Marco Velo who had a birthday the day before, a dedication to his wife, Anna Chiara, and finally Team Manager Giancarlo Ferretti. The message is clear to all of the sprinters (minus Boonen who was in Paris-Nice); Petacchi has the legs again this year.

The young Bernhard Eisel of Française Des Jeux seems to be emerging as a sprinter to watch. After some early season successes in Portugal, he showed well in his first ProTour race.

Stage 2, Civitavecchia - Tivoli, 181 K

10 March

Oscar wins

Tirreno-Adriatico seems to be the better of the two ProTour races at the moment. There are complete stages and better temperatures. Today's stage two took the riders on the roads around Rome. These roads proved a little tough for American Chris Horner (Saunier Duval) who did battle with some traffic furniture but came out fine. The stage was undulating and one which Danilo Di Luca expressed great desire to win. But the sprinter's teams were working in hopes of keeping it together for a bunch sprint. It was Fassa Bortolo most visible at the front keeping the pace as attacks went from such riders as Emanuele Sella (Panaria). Stijn Devolder (Discovery) went with a small move including Ángel Vicioso (Liberty) that appeared good but it was Oscar Freire that was able to bridge past the attackers and take the win. Oscar proving a man of the small hills and the sprint. Di Luca (Liquigas) did not take the win that he had hoped for on the course that looked suited for him. Oscar goes into tomorrow with the leader's jersey.

1 Oscar Freire (Spa) Rabobank
2 Ángel Vicioso (Spa) Liberty Seguros
3 Laurent Brochard (Fra) Bouygues
4 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Discovery
5 Leonardo Bertagnolli (Ita) Cofidis
6 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Cofidis

Stage 3, Tivoli - Torricella, 215 K (228 K)

11 March

Oscar defeats a strong Brochard

Starting off today it was Oscar Freire in the yellow/red jersey of the leader, Alessandro Petacchi in the sprinters purple jersey and Karsten Kroon (Rabobank) in Green. The stage had been altered due to weather and a categorized climb was taken out but still the sprinters had their work cut out for them on the rolling finish.

The champion of Italy Cristian Moreni (Quick-Step) was seen today off roading after over shooting a corner but he kept it upright to rejoin the peloton. There were only small attacks coming before the final circuit of 15K. Notable in those attacks were Leif Hoste (Discovery) joined by Pietro Caucchioli (Crédit Agricole) and Vasseur (Cofidis). Paolo Bettini did his part and also gave a small attack but it came to nothing as well.

Then with 8K to go Fassa Bortolo once again were at the front setting the pace. Zabel, Freire, Petacchi were there but with no sign of Mario Cipollini. The finish in to Torricella proved too hilly for an all out bunch sprint and with one kilometer to go it was Emanuele Sella (Panaria) and a strong looking Laurent Brochard (Bouygues Telecom) that had the pack strung out. But then with 200 meters, as Sella was fading, Oscar Freire (Rabobank) came around the left and took the stage. Freire once again showed his sprint on a very hilly finish and retained his overall lead. Petacchi was gapped off in the end by 10 seconds.

Average 38.8 K/h
1 Oscar Freire (Spa) Rabobank
2 Laurent Brochard (Fra) Bouygues
3 Danilo Hondo (Ger) Gerolsteiner

Stage 4, Teramo - Servigliano, 160 K

12 March

It is Oscar all over again! Hondo finishes strong.

The peloton rolled out of Teramo in smaller numbers today. Among the riders who have dropped out of the race are: Chris Horner (Saunier Duval), Joseba Beloki, and Michele Scarponi (both Liberty), leaving George Hincapie (Discovery) to be the only American who remains in the race.

Today's stage looked to be well-suited for Freire; an undulating course finishing with the final 6 K on the downhill. Other riders who were expected to finish well include: Erik Zabel, Danilo Hondo, George Hincapie, Stijn Devolder, Danilo Di Luca or Stuart O'Grady.

Paolo Bettini (Quick-Step) was burning up the road again, along with Pietro Caucchioli (CA). Their efforts only reached a maximum of about 30 seconds on the peloton, and their move did not last long. Russian champion Alexandr Kolobnev and Michael Boogard were giving it their all for Freire. With 25K to go, the Rabobank team worked together to control the peloton, while defending and setting up the win for Freire.

In the final 10K, there were more hills and more attacks. Panaria and Liquigas were making their moves but Freire was having none of it and was responding to every attack. Freire was in a brief four-man move with Sella, Ángel Vicioso (Liberty), and Nick Nuyens (Quick-Step). Just as their group was caught, Di Luca made a solo attack, however his move also didn't last, and and he was brought back into the main group with 4K to go.

The race finished with a small gruppo compatto which included such sprinters as Hondo and Alessandro Petacchi. But in the end, it was Freire who was able to give thanks to his teammates for all of their hard work. Freire's win makes three in a row for the red-hot Spaniard. Petacchi finished well considering he had a mechanical in the closing 10K. Mario Cipollini was mister nowhere man on a course that did not really suit him. The overall standing is very close with about 40 riders within one minute of Oscar Freire. Those in contention for the overall will be battling it out fiercely until the end.

Average 33 K/hr.
1 Oscar Freire (Spa) Rabobank
2 Danilo Hondo (Ger) Gerolsteiner
3 Fabrizio Guidi (Ita) Phonak

Stage 5, Saltara - Saltara, 170 K

13 March

Servais Knaven is not the Italian Champion

A very fine win today in Saltara for Servais Knaven (Quick-Step). It was here in 2003 that the Italian championships were held. Then it was a hot Italian affair and today it was a cool Dutch win. Servais Knaven was the rider who put the hammer on Ludo and George in a muddy Paris-Roubaix in 2001 and it was Knaven again today in an attacking style.

Today the break was going to stay away but it was a matter of which rider out a group of five were going to get the win. In the break there was Servais Knaven (Quick-Step), Andrea Peron (CSC), Pavel Padrnos (Discovery), Christophe Le Mevel (Crédit Agricole, and Marco Pinotti (Saunier Duval-Prodir). It was Pinotti who put in the first move with a little over one lap to go on the 14K circuit. It was a super strong move that lasted for about 6K when Knaven bridged across and passed as Pinotti was getting reeled in. Knaven had the legs to make it stick while the remaining four chasers failed to cooperate. It was Le Mevel who was doing most of the ticket-taking at the rear. Pinotti was fighting hard to try to bring the group back together, but it was not to be. With one kilometer to go Knaven was enjoying the moment and raced back into Saltara for a fine win.

4 hours 23 minutes
1 Servais Knaven (Ned) Quick-Step
2 Andrea Peron (Ita) Team CSC
3 Pavel Padrnos (Cze) Discovery Channel
4 Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Crédit Agricole
5 Marco Pinotti (Ita) Saunier Duval-Prodir
peloton at 1.33

Stage 6, Civitanova Marche - Civitanova Marche, 164 K

14 March

Alessandro nails down Freire and Cipo

Giuseppe Palumbo (Acqua & Sapone) put in the early solo move today and rode for the team that is based in this region of Le Marche. But it was not to be a break-away day because the final kilometers were too flat for the sprinters to resist. It was on the last hill of the day with 30 K to go that Giuseppe got pulled back into the fold by the heavy work of Oscar Freire's Rabobank. Now we had gruppo compatto for the decent down to the Mar Adriatico and a flat run-in to the sprint along the beautiful beach front.

All of the sprinter's teams were fighting for position but Rabobank remained in control until three K to go. In the closing kilometers Alessandro Petacchi's Fassa Bortolo team took control at front and all the other sprinters were left fighting for the spot on Petacchi's wheel. With no Liquigas team in sight it was Cipollini that had the spot on behind Petacchi and Freire behind Cipollini. Then in the final 500 meters Oscar went early on the other side of the road and Cipollini tried and failed to come around a blistering Petacchi. Cipollini coasted in and Petacchi celebrated his second win of the Tirreno Adriatico, with thoughts firmly on Saturday's Classissima, Milano-Sanremo.

Ave: 40.2 K / hr
1 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Fassa Bortolo
2 Oscar Freire (Spa) Rabobank
3 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto
4 Paride Grillo (Ita) Panaria-Navigare
5 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Lampre-Caffita

Stage 7, San Benedetto Del Tronto, 164 K

15 March

Come Va Alessandro? Veloce!, Oscar Overall, Cipo Rising

Today's final was going to be a grand sprint on the beach front but who was going to rise to the top? Fassa Bortolo made sure to provide the answer by setting up Alessandro Petacchi perfectly. All that the other sprinters could do was fight for the wheel of Petacchi, Mario Cipollini included. Although Cipollini's team Liquigas did try a lead out with 4K remaining it was unorganized and not fitting for Re Leone. Cipollini did look better today coming within a wheel of Petacchi and perhaps Cipollini will blaze a path of glory on the Via Roma in Sanremo on Saturday.

The other notable was Danilo Hondo. He's been consistent through this week and it showed today with a fine sprint. The German is going to be one to watch this Saturday if he can manage the capi. Oscar Freire taking the overall has proved his versatility and is the HOT HOT favorite on Saturday (according to BiciRace.com). The Spaniard can climb the small hills and sprint it out with the best of the remaining.

1 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Fassa Bortolo
2 Mario Cipollini (Ita) Liquigas-Bianchi
3 Danilo Hondo (Ger) Gerolsteiner
4 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Cofidis
5 Fabrizio Guidi (Ita) Phonak
6 Mark Renshaw (Aus) Française Des Jeux

Final overall
Oscar Freire (Spa) Rabobank
Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Fassa Bortolo
Fabrizio Guidi (Ita) Phonak