Tirreno-Adriatico 2014 Route stage 3: Cascina

Tirreno-Adriatico 2014 Route stage 3: Cascina - Arezzo

Stage 3 of the 2014 Tirreno-Adriatico takes in 210 kilometres from Cascina to Arezzo. The race stuck mainly to the Tyrrhenian coast in the first 2 stages, but today we finally start moving east aswe do need to hit the Adriatic by the end of the week. A challenging last kilometre could spoil the sprinters party today. (Slideshow route/profile)

Another flat stage today through the heart of Tuscany, visiting the beautiful towns of San Casciano in Val di Pesa, Poggio alla Groce, Castelfranco di Sopra and Loro Ciuffenna.

The arrival town Arezzo has a population of 100.000 and a proud history. On the first Sunday of June or the last Sunday of September, the town celebrates Giostra dei Saraceni – the Saracan Joust – where the dress code requires something from the middle ages.

Similar to yesterday’s stage, major bumps are early on with the Poggio alla Groce, at 502 meters, the highest point of today. It’s another circuit finish, starting in the Arezzo suburb of Indicatore – one round of 24.7 kilometres and four rounds of 10.9 kilometres.

The finale is not just a give away for the sprinters. The last kilometre opens with a section at 11% and has an average gradient of 5%. Maybe a puncheur can steal it? Monsieur Gilbert, how are the legs today?

The stage starts at 10:55 (CET) and the finish is around 16:10.