The first 37 kilometres are easy-going, as the riders roll along gently undulating roads. A light descent follows and, a few flat kilometres later, the action begins. A punchy 1.7-kilometre climb at 8.9% opens the climbers’ bonanza. The route continues to rise and fall until the second ascent serves up 2 kilometres at 7.5%. By then, the riders have roughly 50 kilometres in their legs.
That pattern persists for the rest of the day. There is barely any respite, as the course constantly goes up and down. After a downhill stretch and another flat section, the Monte Santa Croce averages 8.6% over 3.4 kilometres. The riders descend to Fossombrone and immediately face another steep ascent. The Monti delle Cesane opens with 2.1 kilometres at 11.3% and then the gradient eases considerably. The Monti delle Cesane totals 7.2 kilometres at an average of 7%, while the riders are halfway through the stage at the summit.
Straight out of the descent comes another sharp ramp — 800 metres at 11.3% — and 10 kilometres further on a modest rise throws in 1.9 kilometres at 4.7%. Less than 10 kilometres later, the riders pass the sanctuary of San Pietro e Paolo after climbing 2.4 kilometres at 6.5%.
Once back down, yet another wall appears. The road kicks up into double digits for 800 metres before easing to 8.8%, after which the Monte della Mattera becomes much more manageable. Over 6.5 kilometres, the average gradient is just 5%, so aside from the opening section, it is more or less a false flat.
While flying downhill, the riders already pass through the finish town of Mombaroccio before embarking on two laps of a 21.6-kilometre circuit. At first, the continue downhill and, once at the bottom, the road climbs for 1.6 kilometres at 5%. Some 10 kilometres in the flat later comes the ascent to the sanctuary of Beato Sante: 4.2 kilometres at 6.2%. The opening and closing sections of that climb are particularly steep, nudging 9%.
A little under 2 kilometres after cresting the summit, the riders sweep across the finish line once more and set out on the same lap. As the summit of the Beato Sante climb lies close to the finish this time, it is worth taking another look at the final stretch. The road rises for 1.2 kilometres at 9%, continues briefly on a false flat, and then plunges for 1.5 kilometres towards the finish.
Fancy riding the route yourself? Download GPX 5th stage 2026 Tirreno-Adriatico.
Stage 5 of Tirreno–Adriatico gets under way at 10:40, and the race is expected to finish at around 15:45 – both local times (CET).
Tirreno-Adriatico 2026 stage 5: routes & profiles
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