Tirreno-Adriatico 2022: GC Favourites

[Underneath article was written before the start of the Tirreno and has not been updated]

Tadej Pogacar, obviously. The title defender won his first stage race of the year, UAE Tour, with remarkable ease before he continued his winning streak on the Strade Bianche. It’s as if he is always on the form of his life. Last year, the 23-year old won the Tour de France for the second consecutive year, while also pocketing two Monuments, Liège-Bastogne-Liège and Il Lombardia.

The Tirreno-Adriatico opens with a flat time trial and chances are that Pogacar turns out to be the best GC contender, although Vingegaard is also a strong time trialist. Two other stages might be interesting for the GC, stages 4 and (particularly) stage 5, both serving a finale with plenty of steep ramps. But the focus is on the Queen Stage on the penultimate day.

Contrary to what we’re used in recent editions, the Tirreno’s Queen Stage does not finish on a climb. The race comes down to a mountainous circuit of 40 kilometer with two ascents of the Monte Carpegna. The 6 kilometres climb at 9.9% precedes a descent before the last 1.5 kilometres go up at 3.2%. Which is perfect for Pogacar to outsprint possible rivals and snatch most bonus seconds.

Pogacar and Van Avermaet (2016) are the only participants who tasted the sweetness of overall success at the Tirreno-Adriatico.

The start list features a special attraction. Pogacar, Vingegaard, Carapaz. Or, the podium of last year’s Tour de France.

Favourites 2022 Tirreno-Adriatico

**** Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard
*** Richard Carapaz, Miguel Ángel López, Remco Evenepoel
** Mikel Landa, Pello Bilbao, Giulio Ciccone, Rigoberto Uran
* Wilco Kelderman, Romain Bardet, Emanuel Buchmann, Thibaut Pinot