Tirreno–Adriatico
 2015 Tirreno–Adriatico | |
 | |
| Race details | |
|---|---|
| Date | Early to mid-March |
| Region | Italy |
| English name | Tyrrhenian-Adriatic |
| Local name(s) | Tirreno–Adriatico (Italian) |
| Nickname(s) | Race of Two Seas |
| Discipline | Road |
| Competition | UCI World Tour |
| Type | Stage-race |
| Organiser | RCS Sport |
| History | |
| First edition | 1966 |
| Editions | 50 (as of 2015) |
| First winner |
 Dino Zandegù (ITA) |
| Most wins |
.svg.png){kind=small} Roger De Vlaeminck (BEL) (6 wins) |
| Most recent |
 Nairo Quintana (COL) |
Tirreno–Adriatico, the "Race of the Two Seas", is an elite cycle race following a route between the Tyrrhenian and Adriatic coasts of Italy. Traditionally held in the early part of the season, it is considered to be an important preparation for the Milan – San Remo classic road race. From 2005 to 2007, it was part of the UCI ProTour calendar, and was reclassified in 2008 as a UCI Europe Tour event, when organiser RCS withdrew all their events from the UCI's premier calendar. It became part of the UCI World Ranking calendar the following year.
First held in 1966, the race was held over three stages, which became five from the second edition in 1967 through to 1984. Since 1984 the race has consisted of six, seven or eight stages; since 2002 it is held over seven stages. From the second edition in 1967, the race has always finished in San Benedetto del Tronto.[1]
Roger De Vlaeminck holds the record for most wins, having won six consecutive editions (1972–77)[1] and it is one of the few cycling races that Eddy Merckx did not win.[2][3]
Trophy and leader's jersey
Though a recent creation (it was introduced in 2010), the race's current trophy is one of the most identifiable in professional cycling.
Owing to the event's coast to coast format, the champion is presented with a large golden trident, the weapon associated with the Roman god of the sea, Neptune.
In the days preceding the race, the trophy is ceremonially raised from the Tyrrhenian Sea by divers of the Italian Coast Guard.
In keeping with the marine theme, the general classification jersey is blue.
List of overall winners
| Year | Winner | Stages | Length (km) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | Dino Zandegù (ITA) | 3 | 604 |
| 1967 | Franco Bitossi (ITA) | 5 | 1,068 |
| 1968 | Claudio Michelotto (ITA) | 5 | 1,037 |
| 1969 | Carlo Chiappano (ITA) | 5 | 946 |
| 1970 | Antoon Houbrechts (BEL) | 5 | 913 |
| 1971 | Italo Zilioli (ITA) | 5 | 985 |
| 1972 | Roger De Vlaeminck (BEL) | 5 | 884 |
| 1973 | Roger De Vlaeminck (BEL) | 5 | 582 |
| 1974 | Roger De Vlaeminck (BEL) | 5 | 781 |
| 1975 | Roger De Vlaeminck (BEL) | 5 | 816 |
| 1976 | Roger De Vlaeminck (BEL) | 5 | 882 |
| 1977 | Roger De Vlaeminck (BEL) | 5 | 809 |
| 1978 | Giuseppe Saronni (ITA) | 5 | 864 |
| 1979 |  Knut Knudsen (NOR) | 5 | 916 |
| 1980 | Francesco Moser (ITA) | 5 | 814 |
| 1981 | Francesco Moser (ITA) | 5 | 835 |
| 1982 | Giuseppe Saronni (ITA) | 5 | 820 |
| 1983 | Roberto Visentini (ITA) | 5 | 857 |
| 1984 |  Tommy Prim (SWE) | 6 | 1,043 |
| 1985 |  Joop Zoetemelk (NED) | 6 | 1,011 |
| 1986 | Luciano Rabottini (ITA) | 6 | 981 |
| 1987 |  Rolf Sørensen (DEN) | 6 | 936 |
| 1988 |  Erich Mächler (SUI) | 6 | 930 |
| 1989 | Tony Rominger (SUI) | 7 | 1,071 |
| 1990 | Tony Rominger (SUI) | 8 | 1,041 |
| 1991 |  Herminio Díaz-Zabala (ESP) | 8 | 1,317 |
| 1992 | Rolf Sørensen (DEN) | 8 | 1,166 |
| 1993 | Maurizio Fondriest (ITA) | 8 | 1,431 |
| 1994 | Giorgio Furlan (ITA) | 8 | 1,316 |
| 1995 | Stefano Colagé (ITA) | 8 | 1,422 |
| 1996 | Francesco Casagrande (ITA) | 8 | 1,370 |
| 1997 | Roberto Petito (ITA) | 8 | 1,162 |
| 1998 | Rolf Järmann (SUI) | 8 | 1,437 |
| 1999 | Michele Bartoli (ITA) | 8 | 1,412 |
| 2000 | Abraham Olano (ESP) | 8 | 1,249 |
| 2001 | Davide Rebellin (ITA) | 8 | 1,155 |
| 2002 | Erik Dekker (NED) | 7 | 1,049 |
| 2003 | Filippo Pozzato (ITA) | 7 | 1,235 |
| 2004 | Paolo Bettini (ITA) | 7 | 1,228 |
| 2005 | Óscar Freire (ESP) | 7 | 1,214 |
| 2006 | Thomas Dekker (NED) | 7 | 1,108 |
| 2007 |  Andreas Klöden (GER) | 7 | 1,097 |
| 2008 | Fabian Cancellara (SUI) | 7 | 1,122 |
| 2009 | Michele Scarponi (ITA) | 7 | 1,095 |
| 2010 | Stefano Garzelli (ITA) | 7 | 1,229 |
| 2011 |  Cadel Evans (AUS) | 7 | 1,075 |
| 2012 | Vincenzo Nibali (ITA) | 7 | 1,063 |
| 2013 | Vincenzo Nibali (ITA) | 7 | 1,060.1 |
| 2014 | Alberto Contador (ESP) | 7 | 1,034.6 |
| 2015 | Nairo Quintana (COL) | 7 | 1,006.4 |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Baroni, Francesco (2008). La Bicicletta. Mito, tecnica e passione. Edizioni White Star. p.238-239. ISBN 978-88-540-0635-5
- ↑ "Tirreno–Adriatico Official Website – Palmares". Retrieved on 12 February 2013
- ↑ (Italian) "Il Palmares di Eddy Merckx", MuseoCiclismo.it. Retrieved 12 February 2013
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tirreno-Adriatico. |
- Official website
- Palmares at Cycling Archives
- Stages 2014