Stage 3 of the Tirreno-Adriatico has started: follow live

From Monticiano to Gualdo Tadino, Stage 3 features a series of ups and downs before a faster and flatter second half that leads to an uphill finish

Stage 3 of the Tirreno-Adriatico Eolo. The race, organized by RCS Sport, runs from 10 to 16 March. Today’s stage runs from Monticiano to Gualdo Tadino, (219 km). It begins with a series of ups and downs before a faster and flatter second half that takes the riders to an uphill finish with a gradient of around 4%.

The peloton, 175 riders strong, passed km 0 at 11:03.

LIVE UPDATES

Live race updates are available at https://www.tirrenoadriatico.it/en

WEATHER

Monticiano (Start): cloudy, 11°C. Wind: moderate – 19kmh, S.

Gualdo Tadino (16.15 – Finish ): rainy, 10°C. Wind: strong – 32kmh, SW.

VELON

The list of riders equipped with the Velon data-tracking system in today’s race is available via this link.

JERSEYS

Maglia Azzurra (blue), General Classification Leader, sponsored by Sara Assicurazioni – Wout van Aert (Team Jumbo-Visma)

Maglia Ciclamino (cyclamen), General Individual Classification by Points Leader, sponsored by Segafredo Zanetti – Wout van Aert (Team Jumbo-Visma)

Caleb Ewan (Lotto-Soudal), fourth in the points classification, wears the Maglia Ciclamino for stage 3, as Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) is already wearing the overall leader’s jersey, Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick Step) is the reigning world champion, and Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix) the Dutch national champion

Maglia Verde (green), King of the Mountains Classification Leader, sponsored by Enel – Vincenzo Albanese (Eolo-Kometa Cycling Team)

Maglia Bianca (white), Young Rider General Classification Leader, sponsored by Sportful – Pavel Sivakov (Ineos Grenadiers)

Stage 3, Monticiano - Gualdo Tadino (219km)

An undulating stage in its first half but substantially flat in its second. After an initial short circuit in Chiusdino, the route passes beneath Siena, visiting Murlo and Asciano before reaching Cortona and then enters the region of Umbria via the only GPM of the day at Poggio della Croce. After the descent to Gubbio, the route will follow mainly straight and flat roads until the finish.

Last km

The last few kilometers are initially undulating and then mainly uphill to finish. With one kilometer to go, there is a rather pronounced left turn, followed by wide curves and then a straight line to the finish. The finishing straight is slightly uphill with gradients around 4%. The finish line is on an asphalt straight, 8m wide.

Monticiano

The little village of Monticiano, washed by the Merse and Farma rivers, is tucked at the junction of three pro- vincial nature reserves (the ‘Riserva Naturale dell’Alto Merse’, the ‘Riserva Naturale del Basso Merse’ and the ‘Riserva Naturale Farma’) and one national nature reserve, the ‘Riserva Naturale Biogenetica e di Popolamento animale e vegetale Tocchi’. The Petriolo hot springs, nearby, are a rare example of ‘fortified baths’, with ancient ruined walls. There are two museum parks in the environs: one is a collection of artworks by the Swiss sculp- tor Kurt Laurenz Metzler, the other one, founded by the collector Mario Ciulli, is an exhibition of sculptures by international artists. Major landmarks also include the beautiful church of Sant’Agostino, in the lovely village of Camerata. The building, a former Gothic hermitage, holds well-preserved frescoes by Guidoccio Cozzarelli and by the disciples of Sassetta and Taddeo di Bartolo, as well as a fragment of glass wall art by Pietro Lorenzetti.

Gualdo Tadino

Gualdo Tadino is the place where the richest nature of the Umbro-Marchean Apennines merges with history and customs. The town centre is a treasure chest of landmarks and attractions, such as the majestic cathedral of San Benedetto, boasting a beautiful Gothic-Romanesque façade with a finely sculpted rose window and a neo-Romanesque bell tower, and a variety of museums (such as the Museum of ceramics, the Archaeological museum and the Regional emigration museum). The majestic Rocca Flea, built around the 10th century, one of the finest examples of mediaeval military architecture, is the seat of the Civic Museum.

Rising to over 1,000 metres and blooming with flowers, the beautiful Valsorda is a must-see for nature enthusiasts. The karst lakes of the valley are home to fire salamanders and crested newts, and the place offers a wide range of outdoor and sporting activities, including one of the world’s longest hiking routes, called Sentiero Italia.

TV COVERAGE

The international TV broadcasting schedule of the Tirreno-Adriatico Eolo is available here.