Friday saw the 61st Tirreno-Adriatico head into its latter half with another climby affair and another day to underscore what a fine contest this Race of the Two Seas has turned out to be. It’s been breathless action all week. Fugitive Michael Valgren hung on tenaciously to win, and Isaac del Toro yanked back the blue leader’s jersey from Giulio Pellizzari after one day without it.
Preliminaries
After a doozy of a stage win from Mathieu van der Poel on Thursday, Giulio Pellizzari nicked the blue leader’s jersey from del Toro via bonus seconds. Pellizzari’s Red Bull teammate Primož Roglič was in third place at +0:21.
The Course
The day ran 184 km from Marotta-Mondolfo to Mombaroccio. On the descent of the Monte della Mattera, the race entered the first of two 22-km circuit, each with 4.2 km, 6.2 percent Beato Sante. The peak of the second Beato Sante was only a few kilometres from the finish line.
Joan Bou missed out on Thursday’s breakaway, which caused him to tumble down the KOM standings. But on Friday he got in the day’s fugitive octet with Julian Alaphillipe and bounced back up to second under Diego Sevilla after being second over HC-rated Monte delle Cesane. With 62 km to go, the eight riders led by 4:30.
By the time the break entered the first circuit, its gap was 3:00. It was touch and go. On Beato Sante I Michael Valgren and Alaphilippe bounded away from their breakmates. When they heard the bell it seemed likely that the day’s winner was not in the peloton.
Valgren dropped Alaphilippe on Beato Sante II. The peloton was coming fast. Del Toro took over the front, making accelerations to bother his companions and catch Alaphilippe. Richard Carapaz momentarily dashed away from the del Toro group. The Mexican took off with Matteo Jorgenson. Pellizzari looked to Roglič for help.
It would be very tight as Valgren fought hard to stay clear. The Dane hung on by 11 seconds, del Toro the runner-up.
Saturday’s penultimate stage also has circuits and a 3-km, 8.1-percent summit finish.
2026 Tirreno-Adriatico, Stage 5
1) Michael Valgren (Denmark/EF Education-Easypost) 4:43:33
2) Isaac del Toro (Mexico/UAE Emirates) +0:11
3) Matteo Jorgenson (USA/Visma-Lease a Bike) s.t.
2026 Tirreno-Adriatico GC
1) Isaac del Toro (Mexico/UAE Emirates) 20:10:40
2) Giulio Pellizzari (Italy/Red Bull)…
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