Tirreno-Adriatico

Friday came with the first important stage of the race, whose menu included two classified climbs – Castellalto (7.7 km, 4.5%) and San Giacomo (11.9 km, 6.2%) – before the finish in Valle Castellana, and Kasper Asgreen decided to spend it in a large breakaway group that didn’t take too long to form.

The problem of the group was that many important names were there, and that made it difficult for them to build a proper advantage over the peloton. This didn’t stop the Danish powerhouse from being one of the most active riders in that move, helping them take their margin to more than two minutes before the gap was cut again by the eager bunch.

It came as no surprise that they were pegged back on San Giacomo, where Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) attacked, soloing to victory. A three-time Tirreno-Adriatico stage winner, Julian Alaphilippe concluded the stage as the highest-ranked Soudal Quick-Step rider.

“It was a hard day. The peloton wanted to make it tough and that’s what we got. The stage was short, but it was good to be in the breakaway, because it served as a nice preparation for the Classics. We didn’t have a lot of chances to be fair, but the intensity felt in the legs will count in the next races of the spring”, Kasper said after the stage.

Photo credit: ©Tim De Waele / Getty Images