Tirreno-Adriatico guide

Chris Froome and defending champion Vincenzo Nibali may both be absent, but a compelling week of racing in nevertheless in prospect at the seven-day Italian stage race Tirreno-Adriatico (March 12-18).

The "Race of the Two Seas", which travels from Italy's west coast to east, is major stepping stone towards the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France later in the season and has consequently attracted a world-class field of sprinters, climbers and time-triallists.

Froome has withdrawn through injury, while 2012 and 2013 winner Nibali is taking part Paris-Nice instead, but big names such as Mark Cavendish, Alberto Contador, Nairo Quintana and Tony Martin will all be on the start line.

This year's route contains one individual time trial, one time trial, two mountain stages and three days that should end in sprints.

Sky Sports will show 60-minute highlights programmes every day of the race. Schedules below...

Stages

Stage 1: Wednesday, March 12 - Donoratico to San Vincenzo - 18.5km team time trial | Report | Gallery

Result

1 Omega Pharma - Quick-Step, 20:13
2 Orica-GreenEdge, +11secs
3 Movistar, +18
4 Tinkoff-Saxo, +24
5 Cannondale, +26
6 Team Sky, +27
7 Lotto Belisol, +28
8 Trek Factory Racing, +36
9 Belkin, +37
10 FDJ, + 43

General classification

1 Mark Cavendish (GB) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step, 20:13
2 Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step, same time
3 Rigoberto Uran (Col) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step, st
4 Mark Renshaw (Aus) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step, st
5 Wout Poels (Ned) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step, st
6 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step, +2sec
7 Tony Martin (Ger) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step, +3
8 Daryl Impey (RSA) Orica-GreenEdge, +11
9 Simon Clarke (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge, st
10 Luke Durbridge (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge, st

Stage 2: Thursday, March 13 - San Vincenzo to Cascina - 173km | Report | Gallery

Result

1 Matteo Pelucchi (Ita) IAM Cycling, 3:56:12
2 Arnaud Demare (Fra) FDJ, same time
3 Andre Greipel (Ger) Lotto Belisol, st
4 Sam Bennett (Ire) NetApp-Endura, st
5 Peter Sagan (Svk) Cannondale, st
6 Davide Appollonio (Ita) Ag2r-La Mondiale, st
7 Filippo Fortin (Ita) Bardiani-CSF, st
8 Sacha Modolo (Ita) Lampre-Merida, st
9 Tony Hurel (Fra) Europcar, st
10 Kristian Sbaragli (Ita) MTN-Qhubeka, st

General classification

1 Mark Cavendish (GB) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step, 4:16:25
2 Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step, same time
3 Rigoberto Uran (Col) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step, st
4 Mark Renshaw (Aus) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step, st
5 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step, +2sec
6 Tony Martin (Ger) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step, +3
7 Simon Clarke (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge, +11
8 Daryl Impey (RSA) Orica-GreenEdge, st
9 Svein Tuft (Can) Orica-GreenEdge, st
10 Ivan Santaromita (Ita) Orica-GreenEdge, st

 

Stage 3: Friday, March 14 - Cascina to Arezzo - 206km | Report | Gallery

Result

1 Peter Sagan (Svk) Cannondale, 5:10:17
2 Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step, same time
3 Simon Clarke (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge, st
4 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC, st
5 Daryl Impey (RSA) Orica-GreenEdge, st
6 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Tinkoff-Saxo, st
7 Andre Greipel (Ger) Lotto Belisol, st
8 Simon Geschke (Ger) Giant-Shimano, st
9 Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) Ag2r-La Mondiale, +4secs
10 Lloyd Mondory (Fra) Ag2r-La Mondiale, st

General classification

1 Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step, 9:26:36
2 Rigoberto Uran (Col) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step, +10secs
3 Simon Clarke (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge, +13
4 Tony Martin (Ger) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step, +15
5 Daryl Impey (RSA) Orica-GreenEdge, +17
6 Peter Sagan (Svk) Cannondale, +22
7 Andre Greipel (Ger) Lotto Belisol, +30
8 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Tinkoff-Saxo, same time
9 Luke Durbridge (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge, +31
10 Cameron Meyer (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge, st

Stage 4: Saturday, March 15 - Indicatore (Arezzo) to Cittareale (Selva Rotonda) - 237km | Report | Gallery

Result

1 Alberto Contador (Spa) Tinkoff-Saxo, 6:39:56
2 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar, +1
3 Daniel Moreno (Spa) Katusha, +5
4 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Tinkoff-Saxo, same time
5 Richie Porte (Aus) Team Sky, same time
6 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Astana, +8
7 Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step, +10
8 Robert Kiserlovski (Cro) Trek Factory Racing, +11
9 Chris Horner (USA) Lampre-Merida, st
10 Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) Katusha, +17

General classification

1 Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step, 16:06:42
2 Alberto Contador (Spa) Tinkoff-Saxo, +16secs
3 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar, +23
4 Richie Porte (Aus) Team Sky, +34
5 Rigoberto Uran (Col) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step, +38
6 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Tinkoff-Saxo, +39
7 Robert Kiserlovski (Cro) Trek Factory Racing, +49
8 Moreno Moser (Ita) Cannondale, +1:01
9 Mikel Nieve (Spa) Team Sky, +1:02
10 Julian Arredondo (Col) Trek Factory Racing, +1:03

Stage 5: Sunday, March 16 - Amatrice to Guardiagrele - 190km | Report | Gallery

Result

1 Alberto Contador (Spa) Tinkoff-Saxo, 4:54:42
2 Simon Geschke (Ger) Giant-Shimano, +6secs
3 Ben King (USA) Garmin-Sharp, +45
4 Adam Hansen (Aus) Lotto Belisol, +1:01
5 Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra) Ag2r-La Mondiale, +1:26
6 Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) Katusha, +1:39
7 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Tinkoff-Saxo, +1:42
8 Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Ag2r-La Mondiale, same time
9 Julian Arredondo (Col) Trek Factory Racing, st
10 Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) Ag2r-La Mondiale, st
Selected other
12 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar, +1:51

General classification

1 Alberto Contador (Spa) Tinkoff-Saxo, 21:01:30
2 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar, +2:08
3 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Tinkoff-Saxo, +2:15
4 Julian Arredondo (Col) Trek Factory Racing, 2:39
5 Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra) Ag2r-La Mondiale, +2:40
6 Mikel Nieve (Spa) Team Sky, +2:50
7 Daniel Moreno (Spa) Katusha, +2:51
8 Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Ag2r-La Mondiale, +2:56
9 Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) Katusha, +2:58
10 Robert Kiserlovski (Cro) Trek Factory Racing, +3:06

Stage 6: Monday, March 17 - Bucchianico to Porto Sant'Elpidio - 187km | Report

Result

1 Mark Cavendish (GB) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step, 4:16:15
2 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step, same time
3 Peter Sagan (Svk) Cannondale, st
4 Arnaud Demare (Fra) FDJ, st
5 Tony Hurel (Fra) Europcar, st
6 Robert Wagner (Ger) Belkin, st
7 Kristian Sbaragli (Ita) MTN-Qhubeka, st
8 Bartosz Huzarski (Pol) NetApp-Endura, st
9 Mark Renshaw (Aus) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step, st
10 Davide Appollonio (Ita) Ag2r-La Mondiale, st

General classification

1 Alberto Contador (Spa) Tinkoff-Saxo, 25:17:51 
2 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar, +2:08 
3 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Tinkoff-Saxo, +2:15 
4 Julian Arredondo (Col) Trek Factory Racing, 2:39 
5 Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra) Ag2r-La Mondiale, +2:40 
6 Mikel Nieve (Spa) Team Sky, +2:50 
7 Daniel Moreno (Spa) Katusha, +2:51 
8 Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Ag2r-La Mondiale, +2:56 
9 Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) Katusha, +2:58 
10 Robert Kiserlovski (Cro) Trek Factory Racing, +3:06

Stage 7: Tuesday, March 18 - San Benedetto del Tronto to San Benedetto del Tronto - 9.2km individual time trial | Report | Gallery

Result

1 Adriano Malori (Ita) Movistar, 10:13
2 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Trek Factory Racing, +6sec
3 Bradley Wiggins (GB) Team Sky, +11
4 Tony Martin (Ger) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step, +15
5 Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Giant-Shimano, +19
6 Alex Dowsett (GB) Movistar, +20
7 Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step, +22
8 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) BMC, +23
9 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Trek Factory Racing, +24
10 Luke Durbridge (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge, +26

Final general classification

1 Alberto Contador (Spa) Tinkoff-Saxo, 25:28:45
2 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar, +2:05
3 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Tinkoff-Saxo, +2:14
4 Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra) Ag2r-La Mondiale, +2:39
5 Julian Arredondo (Col) Trek Factory Racing, 2:54
6 Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Ag2r-La Mondiale, +3:04
7 Robert Kiserlovski (Cro) Trek Factory Racing, +3:09
8 Daniel Moreno (Spa) Katusha, +3:16
9 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Astana, same time
10 Mikel Nieve (Spa) Team Sky, +3:19

The favourites

In the absence of Chris Froome and Vincenzo Nibali, the door is open for Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo) and Nairo Quintana (Movistar) to take a significant victory and both will be keen to make the most of the opportunity. Rigoberto Uran (Omega Pharma - Quick-Step) will also have designs on the podium, while his team-mate Michal Kwiatkowski is in superb form and has already won a stage race this season, so cannot be discounted. Richie Porte, who has been called up by Team Sky to replace Froome, could also challenge for victory.

Brit watch

Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma - Quick-Step), Alex Dowsett (Movistar), David Millar (Garmin-Sharp), Sir Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky)

Key stage

Stage four. Although stage five hits the peloton with a 30 per cent climb, it is the 237km queen stage from Indicatore (Arezzo) to Cittareale (Selva Rotonda), with its three big climbs and a summit finish, that will have the most decisive say on who wins overall.

The jerseys

- Blue: General classification.
- Red: Points classification
- Green: King of the mountains.
- White: Best young rider.

Time bonuses

- 10, 6 and 4 bonus seconds will be awarded to the first three finishers on each stage.
- 3, 2 and 1 second will be awarded to the first three riders over the line at intermediate sprints.

- 15, 12, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 point will be awarded to the first ten riders over the finish line.
- 5, 3, 2 and 1 point will be awarded to the first four riders over the line at intermediate sprints.

Teams and riders

WorldTour

Ag2r-La Mondiale: Davide Appollonio (Ita), Damien Gaudin (Fra), Patrick Gretsch (Ger), Lloyd Mondory (Fra), Matteo Montagitu (Ita), Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita), Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra), Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita).

Astana: Janez Brajkovic (Slo), Andriy Grivko (Ukr), Dmitriy Gruzdev (Kaz), Jacopo Guanieri (Ita), Maxim Iglinskiy (Kaz), Tanel Kangert (Est), Aleksey Lutsenko (Kaz), Michele Scarponi (Ita).

Belkin: Robert Gesink (Ned), Marc Goos (Ned), Tom Leezer (Ned), Bauke Mollema (Ned), Bram Tankink (Ned), Maarten Tjallingii (Ned), Sep Vanmarcke (Bel), Robert Wagner (Ger).

BMC: Cadel Evans (Aus), Philippe Gilbert (Bel), Ben Hermans (Bel), Steve Morabito (Swi), Dominik Nerz (Ger), Manuel Quinziato (Ita), Michael Schar (Swi), Danilo Wyss (Swi).

Cannondale: Ivan Basso (Ita), Maciej Bodnar (Pol), Oscar Gatto (Ita), Kristjan Koren (Slo), Paolo Longo (Ita), Alan Marangoni (Ita), Moreno Moser (Ita), Peter Sagan (Svk).

Europcar: Yukiya Arashiro (Jap), Tony Hurel (Fra), Vincent Jerome (Fra), Davide Malacarne (Ita), Alexandre Pichot (Fra), Pierre Rolland (Fra), Romain Sicard (Fra), Bjorn Thurau (Ger).

FDJ: William Bonnet (Fra), David Boucher (Bel), Mikael Delage (Fra), Arnaud Demare (Fra), Murilo Fischer (Bra), Alexandre Geniez (Fra), Thibaut Pinot (Fra), Yoann Offredo (Fra).

Garmin-Sharp: Jack Bauer (NZ), Thomas Dekker (Ned), Ben King (USA), Dan Martin (Ire), David Millar (GB), Nick Nuyens (Bel), Andrew Talansky (USA), Johan Vansummeren (Bel).

Giant-Shimano: Nikias Arndt (Ger), Roy Curvers (Ger), Tom Dumoulin (Ned), Simon Geschke (Ger), Marcel Kittel (Ger), Tobias Ludvigsson (Swe), Tom Stamsnijder (Ned), Tom Veelers (Ned).

Katusha: Maxim Belkov (Rus), Giampaolo Caruso (Ita), Vladimir Gusev (Rus), Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus), Dmitry Kozontchuk (Rus), Daniel Moreno (Spa), Luca Paolini (Ita), Angel Vicioso (Spa).

Lampre-Merida: Davide Cimolai (Ita), Damiano Cunego (Ita), Chris Horner (USA), Sacha Modolo (Ita), Manuele Mori (Ita), Filippo Pozzato (Ita), Ariel Richeze (Arg), Diego Ulissi (Ita).

Lotto-Belisol: Bart de Clerq (Bel), Jens Debusschere (Bel), Andre Greipel (Ger), Adam Hansen (Aus), Jurgen Roelandts (Bel), Marcel Sieberg (Ger), Jurgen van den Broeck (Bel), Frederik Willems (Bel).

Movistar: Andrey Amador (Cos), Igor Anton (Spa), Eros Capecchi (Ita), Jonathan Castroviejo (Spa), Alex Dowsett (GB), Benat Intxausti (Spa), Adriano Malori (Ita), Nairo Quintana (Col).

Omega Pharma - Quick-Step: Mark Cavendish (GB), Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol), Tony Martin (Ger), Alessandro Petacchi (Ita), Wout Poels (Ned), Mark Renshaw (Aus), Matteo Trentin (Ita), Rigoberto Uran (Col).

Orica-GreenEdge: Cameron Meyer (Aus), Daryl Impey (RSA), Ivan Santaromita (Ita), Jens Mouris (Ned), Luke Durbridge (Aus), Michael Hepburn (Aus), Simon Clarke (Aus), Svein Tuft (Can).

Team Sky: Dario Cataldo (Ita), Bernhard Eisel (Aut), Peter Kennaugh (GB), Mikel Nieve (Spa), Richie Porte (Aus), Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr), Ian Stannard (GB), Bradley Wiggins (GB).

Tinkoff-Saxo: Daniele Bennati (Ita), Manuele Boaro (Ita), Alberto Contador (Spa), Roman Kreuziger (Cze), Sergio Paulinho (Por), Michael Morkov (Den), Nicolas Roche (Ire), Matteo Tossato (Ita).

Trek: Julian Arredondo (Col), Fabian Cancellara (Swi), Stijn Devolder (Bel), Markel Irizar (Spa), Robert Kiserlovski (Cro), Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr), Hayden Roulston (NZ), Jesse Sergent (NZ).

Pro Continental

Bardiani-CSF: Enrico Battaglin (Ita), Nicola Boem, Marco Canola (Ita), Sonny Colbrelli (Ita), Marco Coledan (Ita), Filippo Fortin (Ita), Stefano Pirazzi (Ita), Nicola Ruffoni (Ita).

IAM Cycling: Matthias Brandle (Aut), Martin Elmiger (Swi), Heinrich Haussler (Aus), Dominic Klemme (Ger), Roger Kluge (Ger), Thomas Lofkvist (Swe), Matteo Pelucchi (Ita), Marcel Wyss (Swi).

MTN-Qhubeka: Gerald Ciolek (Ger), Ignatas Konovalovas (Lit), Sergio Pardilla (Spa), Kristian Sbaragli (Ita), Andreas Stauff (Ger), Jay Robert Thomson (RSA), Daniel Teklehaimanot (Eri), Jaco Venter (RSA).

NetApp-Endura: Cesare Benedetti (Ita), Sam Bennett (Ire), Iker Camano (Spa), David de la Cruz (Spa), Zak Dempster (Aus), Bartosz Huzarski (Pol), Tiago Machado (Por), Paul Voss (Ger).