For the seventh consecutive year, Tirreno-Adriatico drew the curtain with a short stage against the clock in San Benedetto del Tronto.
On paper, the 10.1km-long flat individual time trial shouldn't have been a difficult one, but the rain which made its appearance in the final hour changed everything, impacting on the GC men, including Bob Jungels, best placed Quick-Step Floors rider in the overall standings.
After rolling down the start ramp, the 25-year-old put in a solid effort, setting the fourth fastest time at the 4.4km split, before going on the second part of the course, which had wet and slippery roads. The Luxembourger rode a more conservative ITT, but that didn't prevent from stopping the clock in 11:39, a more than decent time considering the conditions Bob had to face.
Top 20 in Tirreno-Adriatico – which was won by Michal Kwiatkowski (Team Sky) – for the third straight season, Jungels will head from Italy to Spain, where he will make his debut at Volta a Catalunya, the seven-day race starting on March 19 and which this year runs its 98th edition, one that packs two altitude finishes.
Photo credit: ©Tim De Waele/ Getty Images
