Tirreno-Adriatico 2024: GC Favourites

fotobureau Cor VosThe GC battle probably comes down to the Queen Stage on the penultimate day, while GC riders must also be alert in the ITT on day one, while stage 5 is a tough test also. Who are the major contenders to win the Tirreno-Adriatico?

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

The Tirreno-Adriatico opens with a flat time trial and chances are that Jonas Vingegaard will want to put down a marker straight away. His main goal this season is, obviously, to win the Tour de France for the third consecutive year. He kicked off his season with a powerful performance on O Gran Camiño, which he won minutes ahead of Lenny Martinez and Egan Bernal. Also, he pocketed all stages.

After the ITT on day one the Tirreno continues with a chance for fast men before stage 3 looks enticing for either attackers or sprinters with a strongmen skillset. It's probably back to the fast men in stage 4, while stage 5 could be GC material. The route goes either up or down during the entire day before a 12 kilometres climb at 6.2% precedes a downhill a rolling run-in to a punchy last kilometre.

Obviously, the Queen Stage is the most important test in terms of the GC. Stage 6 finishes at the Monte Petrano, a 10.1 kilometres climb with an average gradient of 8.1%.

The rider who leads the GC at the Monte Petrano is going to win the Tirreno-Adriatico, as the last stage is flat.

Favourites 2024 Tirreno-Adriatico

*** Jonas Vingegaard, Juan Ayuso
** Tao Geoghegan Hart, Daniel Felipe Martínez, Romain Bardet
* Tom Pidcock, Jai Hindley, Enric Mas, Thymen Arensman, Ben O'Connor