Pascal Ackermann wins stage 1 sprint at Tirreno-Adriatico

Ackermann came round his rivals from behind to beat Gaviria and Cort on the line

Pascal Ackermann (Bora-Hansgrohe) won the opening stage of Tirreno-Adriatico in a crash-marred stage around Lido di Camaiore.

Magnus Cort (EF Pro Cycling) started the sprint with 200 metres to go, Fernando Gaviria (UAE Team Emirates) came past him, but Ackermann came round all his rivals near the barriers much to the surprise of his rivals.

Fernando Gaviria was second and Cort was third as Ackermann took the stage win and the overall race lead and is in blue tonight.

Ackermann  said afterwards, “I can say I’m really happy to have finally won - the last weeks weren’t that lucky,” Ackermann said following the stage. “My shape was good but we never found the right timing. I have to say thanks to my teammates because they really trusted me. I was sick all week and was only one time on the bike the last six days. I’m really happy about my sprint - I have to see it again because it felt amazing. Especially with the position I came from. I just found the right gap on the right side, it wasn’t that big but it was enough.”

The first stage was divided into two parts, both in circuits. In the first 90km, the 26km circuit of Monte Pitoro (climbed from the Massarosa side) is tackled three times. After the third passage, the route continues with two almost complete laps of a large circuit of about 19km between Pietrasanta and Lido di Camaiore, which is totally flat.

Pellaud and Martens from the original breakaway of the day were reeled in by the peloton on the start of the last 19km lap.

A crash in the middle of the field caused several riders to go down inside the closing 3km but the main sprinters continued to battle for the stage win in a blistering pace toward the finish line. 

Favorites for the overall Chris Froome, Geraint Thomas and Vincenzo Nibali finished in the bunch.

Tuesday’s second stage is 201km from Camaiore to Follonica is mixed terrain stage, especially in the second part. Starting from Camaiore and progressing through Montemagno, the route reaches Pisa and then the Livornese, leaving the completely flat part and going up to Castellina Marittima (GPM) where it continues south to cross Riparbella and Canneto (TV). Once they have completed the long, mainly downhill stretch that follows, the riders will enter the 20km final circuit characterized by the very short but steep ‘Imostino’ climb.

VIDEO: 2020 Tirreno-Adriatico Stage 1 Highlights

2020 Tirreno-Adriatico Stage 1 Top 10

1 Pascal Ackermann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe 2:57:55
2 Fernando Gaviria Rendon (Col) UAE Team Emirates
3 Magnus Cort Nielsen (Den) EF Pro Cycling
4  Szymon Sajnok (Pol) CCC Team
5 Davide Cimolai (Ita) Israel Start-Up Nation
6 Andrea Vendrame (Ita) AG2R la Mondiale
7 Jonas Rickaert (Bel) Alpecin-Fenix
8 Romain Seigle (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
9 Piet Allegaert (Bel) Cofidis
10 Pascal Eenkhoorn (Ned) Team Jumbo-Visma