Orica-GreenEdge’s Director sportif Matt White previews Tirreno-Adriatico (‘The Race of the Two Seas’ ) that starts today in Italy
![]() |
Preview – Tirreno-Adriatico Starts Today
‘The Race of the Two Seas’ follows a typical stage race format that includes both a team time trial and individual time trial, sprint stages, hilly stages and summit finishes. The route starts on Italy’s Tyrrhenian coast and ends on the Adriatic coast. With the start of Milan-Sanremo just days away after the conclusion of the eight day tour, Tirreno will reveal who is on form for the first major classic of the season.
Above: Simon Clarke
Stage one will be the most important stage for us says Matt. It is the team time trial, and this is where we hope to shine. There won’t be many team time trial opportunities before the World Championships – the Giro d’Italia and maybe Eneco Tour – so this will be a good early season test for us.
Stage two is a flat stage for the sprinters. It is lumpy in the first half where crosswinds could be a factor, but the pan flat finish will likely end in a bunch kick. We aren’t going to Tirreno with our sprinters, so there won’t be much for us here. If we take the jersey on day one, we’ll do a little bit of work to try to keep.
Stage three is another lumpy day designed for the sprinters. Although with a five percent tilt up to the finish, it could be a day for punchy finishers like Daryl or Clarkey, both of whom have a good uphill kick.
Stage four is the longest and hardest of the tour. Here is where the GC riders will come to the head of the race and show their cards. There will likely be a lot of damage done to the peloton by the end of the day.
Stage five will be the second stage in the Apennines. The opening 150 kilometres trend downwards before the guys hit the painful climbs that characterize this stage. The day includes the steepest road in Italy, the Muro di Guardiagrele, a 800 metre, 25% wall that will separate the men from the boys.
Stage six should be a straightforward one for the sprinters. Again, there’s not much for us here.
Stage seven is the individual time trial. It’s nine kilometres out and back. Here we can expect any combination of an in-form Svein, Heppy, Durbo and Cam to be inside the top ten.
Overall, a lot of the GC guys will be at Tirreno this year. In the past, they usually go to Paris-Nice but with the French tour’s unusual format this year, more have opted for Tirreno because of its time trials and summit finishes. We will see the real crème de la crème of GC riders battle it out over the weekend.
The time trials will be key for the overall. They’re short but if you give away 30†or 40†in the team time trial and another 15†or 20†in the individual time trial, that’s the GC right there. With only two crucial stages for the climbers, I think the time trials are going to make the difference of who finishes on the podium and who just misses out.
ORICA-GreenEDGE roster for Tirreno-Adriatico:
Cameron Meyer
Daryl Impey
Ivan Santaromita
Jens Mouris
Luke Durbridge
Michael Hepburn
Simon Clarke
Svein Tuft
ORICA-GreenEDGE have three key objectives:
— Hone form ahead of the spring classics
— Target a strong performance on the opening team time trial, the team’s ‘pet event’
— Support Ivan Santaromita, the Italian National Champion, on the general classification
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Features, Reports, Results
- TRACK EUROS REPORT (DAY 1)
- STARTLIST: Azets Spring Classic (February 23)
- Entries: Clayton Spring Classic Handicap 2025
- Crit Result: Sussex Cycle Racing League Circuits 1/14
- Result: Hillingdon Slipstreamers Spring Series Event 1
- Crit Result: Full Gas Winter Circuit Series #15
- RESULT: 2nd Portsdown Classic
- Track Result – Manchester Regional Track League
- News: John Barclay Academy Launch
- Crit Result: Full Gas Winter Circuit Series #14
- QUIZ TIME! Q&A with Zack Lowe (Prologue Race Team)
- NEWS: 2025 ELITE DEVELOPMENT TEAMS
- Crit Result: Odd Down Winter Series Rd 1
- Crit Result: Chilly City Crits Rd 2
- CX Result: London/South East CX League 10
- Track Result: 2025 Manchester Regional Track League
- Another World Title for Zoe Backstedt
- TRAGIC NEWS: Aidan Loses His Life in Training Accident
- Tom Pidcock wins the AlUla Tour
- Q&A with Elliot Fraser (360cycling)
- GB Team Win World Title at CX Worlds
- Second stage win for Tom Pidcock in AlUla Tour
- 2025 West Midlands road race league
- NEWS: Ribble Cycles Bike Sponsor for Smurfit Westrock Team
- QUIZ TIME! Q&A with young talent Mark Ketteringham
- Startlist: RCR Portsdown Classic Road Race (February 9)
- Crit Result: Full Gas Winter Circuit Series #13
- Crit Result: Chilly City Crits Rd 1
- CX Result: Linlithgow Cross 2025
- QUIZ TIME!! REBECCA WOODVINE
- CX Result: London and South East CX League 9
- CX Results: Eastern Region CX League Rd 10
- CX Result: Wessex Cyclocross League Round 12
- QUIZ TIME! Q&A with Oscar Nisbett
- CX Result: NWCCA League Round 11
- Track Result: Manchester Regional Track League
- QUIZ TIME: Britain’s Joe Turnbull
- CYCLOCROSS: 2025-26 LLOYDS NATIONAL TROPHY SERIES CALENDAR
- Crit Result: Full Gas Winter Circuit Series #12
- QUIZ TIME! Dan Kemp (Prologue Junior Race Team)
Other News on VeloUK
- STARTLIST: Azets Spring Classic (February 23)
- Entries: Clayton Spring Classic Handicap 2025
- News: John Barclay Academy Launch
- NEWS: 2025 ELITE DEVELOPMENT TEAMS
- Another World Title for Zoe Backstedt
- TRAGIC NEWS: Aidan Loses His Life in Training Accident
- Tom Pidcock wins the AlUla Tour
- 2025 West Midlands road race league
- NEWS: Ribble Cycles Bike Sponsor for Smurfit Westrock Team
- Startlist: RCR Portsdown Classic Road Race (February 9)
- CYCLOCROSS: 2025-26 LLOYDS NATIONAL TROPHY SERIES CALENDAR
- 2025 British CycloCross Championships Day 2
- 2025 British CycloCross Championships Day 1
- TEAM NEWS: RAPTOR FACTORY RACING
- STARTLIST: 2025 British Cyclocross Championships
- Q&A: Louis Herring (Prologue Junior Race Team)
- BRITISH CYCLOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIPS RIDER LIST
- NEXT WEEK: BRITISH CYCLOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIPS – CYCLOPARK
- 2025 EVENTS: RTTC 10 mile TIME TRIAL CHAMPIONSHIP
- THIS WEEKEND: NATIONAL TROPHY SERIES 2024/25 ROUND 5
- BMCR Newsletter January 2025
- TEAM NEWS: BCC Race Team 2025 Squad Announcement
- TEAM NEWS: 2025 Handsling Alba Development Road Team
- Q&A with Paul Opie & Tom Mead
- Team News: New Junior team for West Lothian Clarion
- 2025 Events: Plymouth Corinthian
- News: Junior/Youth National Series 2025
- Startlist: Round 4 National Trophy Cyclocross (Dec 7/8)
- ELITE ROAD AND CIRCUIT RACES CALENDAR
- Sad News: No Saint Piran team for 2025
- News: The Pedal Club Lunch (November)
- Team Update: Brother UK / Onform 2025
- 2025 NATIONAL TRACK CALENDAR ANNOUNCED
- CHS CICLISMO – Complimentary daily massage and spa!
- Team News: Fensham Howes – MAS Design 2025
- National Trophy Cyclocross: Round 3 (Torbay)
- Tofauti Everyone Active announces new partners and new name for 2025
- Rider News: Matt Thompson signs for French Team BMC Bezier
- News: Youth Tour of Scotland 2025
- FEATURE: Billy Ladle’s Stellar Season Recognised at British Cycling Awards