Two out of two! We were looking for confirmation and we got it: Mathieu Van der Poel is in Sanremo form. The Dutch rider from Alpecin–Premier Tech also wins Stage 4 of Tirreno Adriatico 2026, taking the sprint from a group of 14 riders that went clear on the Tortoreto via Badetta ramp, 12 kilometers from the finish.
The cyclocross world champion’s sprint was emphatic, helped by a strong headwind that left most of his rivals struggling. Not him, and not Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull–Bora–hansgrohe) either, who delivered the smartest sprint despite being among riders much faster than him. He stayed sheltered and emerged late to take second place. With the 6 seconds of bonus time, the rider from Marche moves ahead of Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates–XRG) in the general classification and takes the Maglia Azzurra. Third place in the sprint for a very strong Tobias Halland Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility).
In today’s stage the breakaway was tempting for many. A lot of riders tried, but in the end twelve managed to go clear: Tibor Del Grosso (Alpecin–Premier Tech), Jakub Otruba (Caja Rural–Seguros RGA), Rémy Rochas (Groupama–FDJ), Liam Slock (Lotto), Iván García Cortina (Movistar), Laurenz Rex (Soudal–QuickStep), Dries De Bondt (Jayco AlUla), Mattia Gaffuri (Picnic PostNL), Diego Pablo Sevilla (Polti VisitMalta), Timo Kielich (Visma | Lease a Bike), Larry Warbasse (Tudor) and Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X Mobility).
Maglia Verde holder Diego Pablo Sevilla took the KOM points on the climbs of Ovindoli and Valico delle Capannelle (15 points), while the Castellalto KOM went to Rémy Rochas. That’s where the action started among the breakaway riders, with the Czech Jakub Otruba the most aggressive, managing to go clear just before the intermediate sprint in Mosciano Sant’Angelo.
However, UAE Team Emirates–XRG controlled the race throughout the day and were clinical in bringing things back together at the foot of the decisive Tortoreto ramp (1.6 km at 8.4%). There, Visma | Lease a Bike took command, with Matteo Jorgenson forcing the pace and shattering the peloton, while Isaac Del Toro tested his rivals on the way to the KOM, with Mathieu Van der Poel sitting fresh on the wheel.
At the front remained Mathieu Van der Poel, Ben Healy, Filippo Ganna, Giulio Ciccone, Alessandro Pinarello, Primož Roglič, Giulio Pellizzari, Andrea Vendrame, Wout Van Aert, Matteo Jorgenson, Isaac Del Toro, Jan Christen, Tobias Johannessen and Clément Champoussin. For several kilometers they watched each other, studying their rivals and trying to force a move with short attacks and accelerations. No one managed to make the difference, so they entered the final kilometer still together: Jan Christen tried to anticipate but was shut down by Wout Van Aert, then Filippo Ganna launched an attempt only to be closed by Andrea Vendrame, and that’s when Mathieu Van der Poel unleashed his unstoppable sprint.
It was his second victory of the week, and also a big celebration for Giulio Pellizzari, who takes the Maglia Azzurra ahead of the two stages on his home Marche climbs.
Tomorrow brings one of the most anticipated stages of this Tirreno Adriatico: Marotta–Mondolfo to Mombaroccio, featuring the double ascent of the Santuario del Beato Sante, a climb expected to cause major gaps in the general classification.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
1 – Mathieu Van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech) – 213 km in 4h51’40” average speed 43.817 km/h
2 – Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull – Bora – Hansgrohe) s.t.
3 – Tobias Halland Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility) s.t.
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
1 – Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull – Bora – Hansgrohe)
2 – Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates XRG) at 2″
3 – Primoz Roglic (Red Bull – Bora – Hansgrohe) at 21″
THE JERSEYS
The leader jerseys of the 61st Tirreno Adriatico Crédit Agricole are designed by SPORTFUL
- Maglia Azzurra, leader of the General Classification, sponsored by Socage – Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull – Bora – Hansgrohe)
- Maglia Ciclamino, leader of the Points Classification, in cooperation with ITA – Italian Trade Agency – Mathieu Van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech)
- Maglia Verde, leader of the Gran Premio della Montagna Classification, sponsored by Trenitalia – Diego Pablo Sevilla (Team Polti VisitMalta)
- Maglia Bianca, Best Young Rider Classification, born after 1 January 2001, sponsored by Crédit Agricole – Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull – Bora – Hansgrohe)
