‘The Stage of the Walls’ runs from Castellalto to Castelfidardo (205km) with a final 23km circuit that’s set to be repeated 4 times, featuring a series of short but steep climbs (the ‘muri’) and corresponding descents.
Stage 5 of the Tirreno-Adriatico Eolo. The race, organized by RCS Sport, runs from 10 to 16 March. Today’s stage runs from Castellalto to Castelfidardo (205km).
After the first 100km of the stage on wide and straight roads, the riders will reach the town of Castelfidardo to enter a 23km circuit that’s set to be repeated 4 times. The circuit is characterised by a series of short but steep climbs (the ‘muri’) and corresponding descents, with one brief flat section around the half way point of the lap.
The peloton, 170 riders strong, passed km 0 at 11:03
LIVE UPDATES
Live race updates are available at https://www.tirrenoadriatico.it/en/.
WEATHER
Castellalto (Start): cloudy, 11°C. Wind: moderate – 17kmh, WSW.
Castelfidardo (16.15 – Finish ): rainy 10°C. Wind: moderate – 22kmh, WNW.
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 – Tadej Pogačar (UAE-Team Emirates)
Maglia Ciclamino (cyclamen), General Individual Classification by Points Leader, sponsored by Segafredo Zanetti – Wout van Aert (Team Jumbo-Visma)
Maglia Verde (green), King of the Mountains Classification Leader, sponsored by Enel – Tadej Pogačar (UAE-Team Emirates); to be worn by Mads Würtz Schmidt (Israel Start-Up Nation)
Maglia Bianca (white), Young Rider General Classification Leader, sponsored by Sportful – Tadej Pogačar (UAE-Team Emirates); to be worn by Sergio Andres Higuita Garcia (EF Education-Nippo)
The ‘Tappa dei Muri’ (‘The Stage of the Walls’)
A stage with a very demanding finish that begins along the Adriatic coast. The riders will depart from the town of Castellalto and head entirely downhill to reach the valley floor. From the stage start, the peloton will travel about 100km on wide and straight roads (mainly along the coast) to reach Castelfidardo where, after a first passage through the Selva della Battaglia the riders will enter the 23km circuit (to be repeated 4 times). The circuit is characterized by a succession of ‘muri’ (‘walls’ – short and steep climbs) and descents, with only one brief flat section in the middle of the lap. The first ‘wall’ (classified as an individual GPM each lap) reaches gradients of around 18% in its final stages.
Last km
The last kilometers feature several ups and downs with slopes that hit gradients in the double figures after San Rocchetto. The final kilometer takes place in the town of Castelfidardo, along a steep uphill finish on asphalt.
Castellalto
Castellalto lies between the Valle del Tordino and the Valle del Vomano. The town has two historic districts, namely Castellalto (481 m above sea level) and Castelbasso (326 m above sea level), a modern borough called Castelnuovo al Vomano, and a variety of mountain hamlets. The Castle of Castellalto was supposedly founded by a community of Benedictine monks in the 8th – 9th century, under the Lombards and the Franks. From the Middle Ages to the 17th century, the feud was strategically important in controlling the area. The beautiful parish of San Giovanni Evangelista was built in the late 16th century over an earlier church, and was given a Baroque refit in the 18th century. Major landmarks in the historical district also include the church of Madon- na degli Angeli, also referred to as “Santissima Annunziata”, just outside the town walls. Local cuisine offers a wealth of traditional specialties of the Teramo area, including spaghetti alla chitarra with pallottine (mini meatballs), mazzarelle (lamb offal rolls) and tacchino alla canzanese (turkey aspic).
Castelfidardo
Perched on a hill within the province of Ancona, Castelfidardo is one of the best-known landmarks of Italian unification, as it was the site of the battle fought between the Kingdom of Sardinia and the Papal States on September 18, 1860. Art and history entwine in the life of the town: Castelfidardo is a renowned accordion manufacturing centre, with Paolo Soprani being the pioneer of this craft in the late 19th century. The international accordion museum (Museo Internazionale della Fisarmonica) has a collection of over 350 instruments. Major landmarks include the Monumento nazionale delle Marche – a national monument celebrating the battle of Castelfidardo – and Piazzale Don Minzoni, also known as ‘Porta Marina’, which offers a stunning view of the surroundings. The crystal clear waters and the iconic beaches of the Riviera del Conero, such as Spiaggia delle due Sorelle and Spiaggia Sassi Neri – a favoured destination for snorkelling enthusiasts – are just a little distance away. Nature lovers can enjoy going for a walk within the Conero Regional Park.
TV COVERAGE
The international TV broadcasting schedule of the Tirreno-Adriatico Eolo is available here.
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