2022 Tirreno – Adriatico: Stage 2 Results

Tim Merlier opened his victory account for the year, winning Stage 2 of the 2022 Tirreno-Adriatico. The Belgian was already a winner in the Race of the Two Seas in 2020 (Stage 6) but this looked more similar to his first stage success at the Giro d’Italia in Novara last year as he upset the superstars of the sprint once again. Young guns Olav Kooij from the Netherlands and Australia’s Kaden Groves rounded out the podium. En route to Sovicille, Tadej Pogacar claimed a one-second time bonus behind breakaway riders Francesco Gavazzi and Mattia Bais at Chiusdino, km 189, the latter taking the first green jersey of King of the Mountains. A brave solo attack by Spain’s Marc Soler forced some sprinters’ teams like Groupama-FDJ to chase but that went to the advantage of Merlier.

“Robert Stannard was normally my lead-out man. The team put me in a very good position at the end,” said Merlier at the press conference. “At the meeting before the race, we said the 4km to go point was very important. From there we stayed out of the wind. At the end it was a bit difficult to see everything but I’m glad I made it. 500 meters before the line, Peter Sagan was on my right side. We wanted to be on the same wheel. I let him pass because it was still a long way to go. I’m happy I could come out from behind him.”

The Maglia Azzurra Filippo Ganna said: “It’s been a pretty cold day and It’s been some intense racing. I was expecting Pogacar to go for the time bonus. Nowadays, every second counts. In the finale, unfortunately, we kind of lost each other with Elia [Viviani], unlike we managed to do at the UAE Tour. Tomorrow will be another day and we’ll look to do our best.”

2022 Tirreno – Adriatico: Stage 2 Brief Results

1. Tim Merlier (Alpecin-Fenix) – 219 km in 5h25’23”, average speed 40.383 km/h
2. Olav Kooij (Jumbo-Visma) st
3. Kaden Groves (Team BikeExchange – Jayco) st

General Classification After Stage 2:

1. Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers)
2. Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team) at 11″
3. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) at 17″

Jerseys/Classifications:

• Maglia Azzurra (blue), General Classification Leader, sponsored by ENIT – Agenzia Nazionale del Turismo – Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers)
• Maglia Ciclamino (cyclamen), General Individual Classification by Points Leader, sponsored by Made in Italy – Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers), worn by Tim Merlier (Alpecin-Fenix)
• Maglia Verde (green), King of the Mountains Classification Leader, sponsored by Trenitalia – Davide Bais (Eolo-Kometa Cycling Team)
• Maglia Bianca (white), Young Rider General Classification Leader, born after 1 January 1997, sponsored by Wurth Modyf – Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team)

Tomorrow’s Stage: Stage 3, Murlo – Terni, 170km

A slightly undulating stage punctuated by short straights and flat stretches of rest. The first part of the stage features some noteworthy climbs such as the ‘La Foce’ and the road between Fabro and Ficulle. After Orvieto the stage finale begins, which remains challenging both in terms of elevation and terrain. After Amelia the riders face a long descent to enter the Narni and Terni plain. Wide and straight roads follow, with a sometimes well-worn road surface, but without excessive difficulty, leading to the finish line in the city centre of Terni on Corso del Popolo.

Last KMs: The last 3km take place on wide, straight roads, sometimes with a central reservation present, in- terspersed with large roundabouts. Within the final kilometer, the riders will take a wide bend to the left on the flat. There is then a change from an asphalt surface to stone paving at the entrance to the 350m long finishing straight on a 7.5m wide road.