Tirreno-Adriatico Photos Mar 9 - 15

« Tirreno-Adriatico 2011 Live Dashboard

Sunny today in Italy too. Waiting for the riders to arrive in Marina di Carrara...	and here they are	Lots of big names ready to unload at this year's Tirreno-Adriatico
Ivan Basso says peace	L-to-R: Ivan Basso, Alessandro Petacchi, Fabian Cancellara, Vincenzo Nibali, Stefano Garzelli, Mark Cavendish and Thor Hushovd	Mark Cavendish is here despite few opportunities for pure sprinters
Ivan Basso and Thor Hushovd	The press conference	Last year's winner, Stefano Garzelli, cuts the cake
BMC's Cadel Evans looking relaxed after abandoning his first race of the year last week	While many riders treat this race as training for the upcoming classics, Stefano Garzelli takes this event very seriously	Mark Cavendish is in better shape for this year's event. Last year, at this time, he was recovering from dental problems.

Stage 1:  Marina di Carrara TTT, 16.8 km  Full Results and Report

Riders warming up on the shores of Marina di Carrara for the 16.8 km TTT	Rabobank was first to line-up in the blocks	Rabobank looking good
Lots of straight sections on this course that Rabobank excelled at	As the first team off, Rabobank set a time (18:08 ) that would not be beat	2nd Garmin-Cervelo (+ 0:09)
3rd HTC-Highroad (+ 0:10)	7th Leopard-Trek (+ 0:29)	6th BMC (+ 0:26)
8th RadioShack (+ 0:30)	9th Sky (+ 0:33)	Farnese Vini looks like a highlighter. Unfortunately, there performance didn't standout. 17th (+ 0:55)
Rabobank celebrating their win	As the first rider across the line for Rabobank, Lars Boom will wear the first Blue Leader's Jersey

Stage 2:  Carrara → Indicatore (Arezzo), 202 km  Full Results and Report

Italy National Champion, Giovanni Visconti (Farnese Vini) signing in at the start in Carrara. Look for him to have a great year.	A World Champ always trumps a national champ. Thor Hushovd enjoying a leisurely start. He'd end up playing a key role at the finish for the Garmin-Cervelo leadout.	Leaving the coast for the other sea
Liquigas GC men Ivan Basso and Vincenzo Nibali on the second modest climb of the day, Poggio alla Croce with 55 km to go in this 202 km stage	Race leader Lars Boom (Rabobank) descending Poggio alla Croce	Lampre's Damiano Cunego loves to descend
Nice to have the World Champ give you a leadout. Garmin-Cervelo's Tyler Farrar on the wheel of Thor Hushovd in the final corner	After a great leadout, Garmin-Cervelo's Tyler Farrar easily held off Lampre's Alessandro Petacchi	A better shot
Garmin-Cervelo's Tyler Farrar celebrates his third win of the year	Tyler was the big man today	Your stage 2 winner, Tyler Farrar
And your new race leader

Stage 3:  Terranuova Bracciolini → Perugia, 189 km  Full Results and Report

A fish-eye look at the RadioShack bus	A nice pre-race picture of BMC's Cadel Evans	Cadel Evans making some pre-race preparations under the watchful eye of team owner Andy Rihs
At this point in the season, BMC can only read about other teams wins	The start in Terranuova Bracciolini. Paris-Nice doesn't have (or need) umbrella girls.	Peloton panoramic with the Tuscan hills in the background
It makes such a difference to have live video coverage	Francesco Failli, Giovanni Visconti and George Hincapie on the modest climb near Perugia with 25 km to go	Juan José Haedo (Saxo Bank) slingshot around Tyler Farrar in the final meters after roundabouts string out the field
The World Champ, Thor Hushovd looks on to see that he mistimed his leadout today as Tyler Farrar wasn't able to hang on in the headwind finish	Haedo rejoicing	As the Argentinean continues to rejoice, the other sprinters can only look ahead to other events this Spring because that's it for the sprint stages at this year's Tirreno-Adriatico
Your stage 3 winner, Juan José Haedo (Saxo Bank)		With second place today, Garmin-Cervelo's Tyler Farrar extends his overall race lead. Enjoy it while it lasts.
These two would make a nice couple

Stage 4:  Narni → Chieti, 240 km  Full Results and Report

A moment of silence for the Japan earthquake victims led by the only Japanese rider in the race, RadioShack's Fumiyuki Beppu	Like last year, Michele Scarponi (Lampre) was first man through the narrow 19% section in the final 2 km	5 seconds behind were Damiano Cunego (Lampre) and Danilo di Luca (Katusha). Di Luca finished 5th (+ 0:06)
Cunego digging deep	Cadel Evans gaining on the front riders	Philippe Gilbert and Thomas Lövkvist slipped down to 10th and 9th
Robert Gesink was 6th today (+ 0:12)	Scarponi wins in Chieti	... ahead of teammate Damiano Cunego, BMC's Cadel Evans and further back Ivan Basso (+ 0:02)
	Your stage 4 winner, Michele Scarponi (Lampre)
Thanks to the strong stage 1 team time trial and his 6th place performance today, Rabobank's Robert Gesink is the new race leader by 10s over Cadel Evans

Stage 5:  Chieti → Castelraimondo, 240 km  Full Results and Report

Last year's overall winner, Stefano Garzelli, looks older in appearance and performance	Michele Scarponi, Danilo di Luca and others on the climb of Sasso Tetto	The Blue Jersey, Robert Gesink, on the right and the new race leader after this stage, Cadel Evans, on the left
Liguigas' Ivan Basso and Vincenzo Nibali finished 11th and 10th today, respectively	George Hincapie driving the pace at the base	A select group weaving its way through snowbanks as we work higher on the 1455m climb
Sasso Tetto panoramic	Rider's preparing for the descent after cresting the top Sasso Tetto, the Cima Coppi of this year's race at 1455m	Philippe Gilbert negotiating the treacherous descent
A beautiful descent but watch out for the sand and snowbank runoff	Near the bottom, three of the best descenders in the business leading the way: Michele Scarponi, Vincenzo Nibali and Damiano Cunego	Closely folowed by Philippe Gilbert, Danilo di Luca and Cadel Evan
300m to go in Castelraimondo after the second 240 km stage in as many days	Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) wins after he gained an extraordinary about of ground in the final 100m to beat Wout Poels (Vacansoleil-DCM) and Damiano Cunego (Lampre - ISD)	It was fitting that Gilbert would win such a classic stage. The road spray on his face is from the Sasso Tetto descent
Philippe Gilbert was glad he cleaned himself up for the podium	Paolo Bettini congratulates our new race leader BMC's Cadel Evans

Stage 6:  Ussita → Macerata, 178 km  Full Results and Report

The peloton weaving through the picturesque Macerata province on its way to the uphill finish in its captial	There were three circuits of Macerata including four times up Madonna del Monte (1.5 km long with a 9.4% gradient and a maximum of 16%)	Final lap: BMC's Alessandro Ballan and George Hincapie drilling at the front attempting to take the zip out of the legs of the puncheurs
Lampre's Damiano Cunego was the first GC man to make his move the last time up Madonna del Monte	Teammate Michele Scarponi then went to the front of the chase with a Movistar rider about to be caught	Scarponi taking inventory. It's always hard to tell if Evans is looking uncomfortable.
Race leader Cadel Evans wins Stage 6 after surging ahead in the final 200m	He probably learned something from his 3rd place finish in Macerata last year. Big Photos from last yr's stage 6 finish in Macerata — sirotti	Giovanni Visconti shows the pain of coming second. Cadel Evans's victory salutes are awkward at best, but it is hard to think of something creative when no one can hold their head up
Cadel Evans will take a 9s lead into the final day ITT	It took awhile, but BMC is finally on the board with its first win of the season	Your stage 6 winner soaking it in
The Maglia Azzurra has strengthen his lead today. Cadel Evans will take a lead of 9s and 12s over Michele Scarponi and Ivan Basso, respectively, into the final day 9.3 km time-trial	Those kisses look authentic

Stage 7:  San Benedetto del Tronto, 9.3 km ITT  Full Results and Report

No surprise: 1st Fabian Cancellara (Leopard-Trek) 9.3 km in 10:33 (52.89 kmh)	Biggest surprise? 9th Robert Gesink (Rabobank) + 0:27. He moved from 4th to 2nd on the final day.	Michele Scarponi needed 9s to catch Cadel Evans, but finished 6s behind. He also slipped from 2nd to 3rd overall.
Cadel Evans finished 12th + 0:31, good enough to wrap up the overall win	Cadel Evans bringing it home	Fabian Cancellara (Leopard-Trek) adds another ITT win to his palmares
Cadel Evans dons the maglia azzurra for the third and final time	Cadel Evans likes the ancient/replica winner's hardware	Your 2011 Tirreno-Adriatico podium: 2nd Robert Gesink (Rabobank) + 0:11, 1st Cadel Evans (BMC) 27:37:37 and 3rd Michele Scarponi (Lampre-ISD) + 0:15
Sherbet anyone?	On behalf of Cadel Evans, thanks for tuning in	No doubt the poster for next year's race and upcoming BMC marketing