Through beautiful Tuscany the riders race to the east. They pass Florence to the south and a slightly rolling landscape takes them further eastward. At an elevation of 502 metres the village of Poggio alla Croce is the highest point of the day. It is reached after a 4.6 kilometres climb at 6%. Earlier mountain points were to be gathered in San Martino after a 3.7 kilometres ascent at 6%.
The stage closes with five local laps of 11 kilometres in and around Arezzo. Each lap closes with a 900 metres climb opening with a 11.1% section, while the final few hundred metres go up by a 5.4% grade. The finish is atop this climb. Last year offered a Sagan-Kwiatkowski clash with Sagan as the victor.
Stage 3 is almost a blueprint of the 3rd stage of last year’s Tirreno-Adriatico.
Arezzo dates back the Etruscan times and the Romans took over in 311 BC. The called the town Arretium. On the last Sunday of June and the first of September, the town is turned into a medieval festival site. Residents celebrate Giostra dei Saraceni – Saracan Joust – and dress up in clothes from that era.
Tinkoff-Saxo’s Daniele Benatti was born in Arezzo.
Here you’ll find the race results and race report.
Tirreno Adriatico 2015 stage 3: Images and more
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