Route details of the 2016 Tirreno-Adriatico revealed

In the international touring scene, the route of the 2016 Tirreno-Adriatico—the 51st edition of the race—has been unveiled in Camaiore, Italy, detailing the geography and the stages that will make up the competition

As in previous races, the 2016 Tirreno-Adriatico will kick off with a team time trial, rolling south from Lido di Camaiore along the Tuscan Tyrrhenian to Grosseto, where two stage finishes—in Pomerance and Montalto di Castro—await riders. After that 22.7 km opener, the route proceeds across the Apennines towards a grueling mountain finish in Monte San Vicino, with riders passing through Foligno along the way. That particular part of the race, reports say, is likely to have an effect on the Tirreno-Adriatico’s overall standings, given its unforgiving 13km climb to an elevation of 1208 metres and the impact it will no doubt have on competing athletes.

Finally, those athletes roll to the finish in San Benedetto del Tronto, located on the majestic Adriatic coastline, after another individual time trial of 10.1 kilometres.

In all, Tirreno-Adriatico of 2016 consists of seven stages, starting on March 9 and ending on March 17. Despite those especially hard climbs at various points, others will offer opportunities to riders with different skillsets. Along with that punishing , 13-kilometre Queen Stage finish—one that takes riders up a 6.6 percent grade, but not before four other uphill hauls—there’s the 210 kilometres of stage six, one that will put the race’s sprinters to the test.

The details go on, of course.

Organizers and athletes alike, no doubt, are hoping that the elements don’t provide a repeat of 2015’s stormy start to the tour. Still, with more eyes than ever on the Italian stage race, as officials have said, perhaps a little interesting weather won’t hurt the spectacle of it all.

“Tirreno-Adriatico has grown a lot in recent years,” said Maruo Vegni, RCS Sport’s head of cycling, during the presentation of 2016’s tour details, “and has become a great stage race in its own right. In order to develop all our races, we’ve decided to invest in Tirreno-Adriatico both on the sport side and in the marketing and communication side. The proof is now consolidated participation of the best riders in the world, together with great media following and the TV coverage in the five continents.”

“The new logo,” Vegni added, describing the Tirreno-Adriatico’s new branding. “is another signal that we want to further grow our events.”

STAGES:

• March 9: stage one: Lido di Camaiore (team time trial) 22.7km
• March 10: stage two: Camaiore-Pomarance 207km
• March 11: stage three: Castelnuovo Val di Cecina–Montalto di Castro 176km
• March 12: stage four: Montalto di Castro-Foligno 216km
• March 13: stage five: Foligno-Monte San Vicino 178km
• March 14: stage fix: Castelraimondo-Cepagatti 210km
• March 15: stage seven: San Benedetto del Tronto (individual time trial) 101.km