Tirreno-Adriatico Photos Mar 7 - 13

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Looks like things have settled down on the west coast of Italy... enough to spare a coast guard delivery of the riders to the press conference	Mark Cavendish tweeting his arrival (photo... not kidding)	New father Cadel Evans debarking and looking relaxed
Photo-op: Vincenzo Nibali, Philippe Gilbert, Mark Cavendish and Cadel Evans	Press Conference: Looking bored already. How's his Italian anyway? Anyone know?	Danielle Bennati at the mic
Vincenzo Nibali waiting his turn	Philippe Gilbert and Cadel Evans will be a formidable duo	Cadel Evans won Tirreno-Adriatico last year on the way to winning his first Tour de France title. "To repeat last year's result here would be an ultimate gauge of my fitness"
Cadel Evans' returning the winner's pitchfork	The devil's pitchfork is up for grabs again...	One final photo-op with Danielle Bennati, Philippe Gilbert, Mark Cavendish, Cadel Evans and Vincenzo Nibali

Stage 1:  San Vincenzo → Donoratico, 16.9 km (TTT)  Full Results and Report

A scenic shot of Vacansoleil-DCM among the vineyards on the run from San Vincenzo → Donoratico	Team GreenEDGE cruising through Tuscan vineyards near the speed limit	Team GreenEDGE won the 16.9 km opening TTT in 18:41. That's Canadian ITT champion, Svein Tuft, in the white and red kit.
Team GreenEDGE looking very tight on the way to their first win in Europe	The finish with GreenEDGE crossing in 18:41 as the clock says	RadioShack-Nissan was 2nd + 17s
and there goes RadioShack-Nissan	Garmin-Barracuda was just fractions of a second behind RadioShack-Nissan for 3rd	Team Sky, with Mark Cavendish in the middle, looking a littled ragged. They were expected to do better than 4th + 23s.
Astana was 5th + 30s	Saxo Bank was 6th + 38s	The RAI moto closely following the top Italian team on the day, Acqua & Sapone, led by their captain, Stefano Garzelli. They finished 7th + 39s, just 1s back of Sank Bank.
With TTers like Marco Pinotti and Cadel Evans, more was expected from BMC today. But, Belgian National ITT Champion Philippe Gilbert (right) was dropped.	For now BMC is intact, but they lost two riders including Philippe Gilbert and wound up a disappointing 17th out of 22 teams + 58s. Not a good start for Cadel Evans' title defense bid.	Stage 1 winners, GreenEDGE with Stuart O'Grady popping the cork
Matt Goss in blue as the first race leader	“We said right from the start that Tirreno-Adriatico was one of the team’s first big goals and one of my first big goals. It’s a perfect start. It’s incredible to win our first team time trial together,” Matt Goss said during the winner’s press conference. “My form is pretty similar to last year. At Milan-Sanremo I was at the end of a peak of form. This year I hope to be in slightly better form. However winning now is important for my moral and the moral of the team.”

Stage 2:  San Vincenzo → Indicatore, 230 km  Full Results and Report

DJ Quinziato out of control at the controls	Matt Goss keeping cool in the company of the umbrella girls prior to a 6.5 hour stage under the Tuscan sun	The start of a very scenic stage
	The peloton weaving past Roman ruins	Italian Manuel Belletti now riding for ProTour team Ag2r La Mondiale was expected to finish well today
Cadel Evans (BMC) receiving medical attention	Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) getting his squeaky cleat attended to
Philippe Gilbert, the road AND tt champion of Belgium has been jinxed in the national champion's jersey so far this year. Today he was involved in the crash with 1.5 km to go.	GreenEDGE at the front of the chase for their man in blue (Matt Goss, left)	Mark Cavendish taking on water
	More Tuscan scenery	Sprint finish as expected
Mark Cavendish (Sky) easily came around last year's winner of this stage, Tyler Farrar (Garmin), for the win.	1. Mark Cavendish (Sky) in 6:32:32, 2. Óscar Freire (Katusha), 3. Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Barracuda), 4. Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale), 5. Sacha Modolo (Colnago), 6. Kenny Van Hummel (Vacansoleil).	Stage 2 winner and World Champion, Mark Cavendish (Sky), multitasking on the podium with the podium women and Alfredo Martini. “I always want to win and I think every sprinter here at Tirreno does too. It gives you a psychological advantage for Milano-Sanremo.”
Matt Goss and his GreenEDGE team were no where near the front at the finish, but he's still the race leader. “It was disappointing not to do the sprint because Svein Tuft rode on the front pretty much for 210km and other guys rode in the top ten places all day. It’s a pity that people took some crazy risks that are not necessary.”

Stage 3:  Indicatore → Terni, 178 km  Full Results and Report

Joaquin RODRIGUEZ (Katusha) signing in this morning. We'll hear from him in later stages when the roads turn up like tomorrow in Cheti	Fabian Cancellara (RadioShack-Nissan) going through his pre-race routine	Mark Cavendish, yesterday's winner and the points leader
The rollout	The neutralized start with hilltown Montevarchi in the background	Scenery from the interior of Tuscany
KOM leader Stefano Pirazzi (Colnago - CSF Inox) off in search of more KOM points		Philippe Gilbert playing the domestique role for a stage that was likely to end in a sprint again
The sprint finish in full flight with several metres to go	Finish Panoramic; Team Sky wins again	... but it's Edvald Boassan Hagen and not Mark Cavendish this time. 2nd André Greipel (Lotto Belisol), 3rd Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale), 4th Tyler Farrar (Garmin - Barracuda), 5th Manuel Belletti (AG2R La Mondiale), 6th Matthew Goss (GreenEdge)
Same shot, different angle	“The plan from start was to work for Cav in the sprint but with about six kilometres to go he said he wasn’t feeling super great, so they said I’d do the sprint and the team worked for me. It’s nice to win and finish things off,” Boasson Hagen explained.	Edvald Boassan Hagen happy to fill in during an off-Cav day
“Cav’s the team’s sprinter and when he’s good I’m happy to work for him and then take my chances if he’s not feeling great. He’s a good guy and is always honest, as he proved today. He said he wasn’t good straight away. We trust each other and we know we can work well together.” Boasson Hagen explained	Matt Goss hasn't didn't get it done in the only two sprint finishes of this year's race but the strength of GreenEdge's opening time-trial keeps him in Blue. Goss said he was disappointed to miss out on victory for a second day but is happy with his form as Milan-Sanremo approaches. “I’d have liked to get more of a run yesterday. It was difficult today but I feel good for Milan-Sanremo, there aren’t as many guys at the finish of that race,” Goss said. “Today I was a little too far back in the sprint and it was difficult to move up in the last few corners. The important thing is that my legs felt good. I’m in the shape I need to be to be competitive at Milan-Sanremo.”	Matt Goss enjoying his time in blue while lasts because tomorrow it will end on the steep uphill finish in Chieti

Stage 4:  Amelia → Chieti, 252 km  Full Results and Report

Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) up early warming up before a long, long day. One of the favorites for this stage, he later finished 15th + 19s.	Amelia start: Michele Scarponi signing-in before he attempts the natural hat-trick in Chieti at the end of a 252 km stage	The rollout; the peloton spent 7 1/2 hours in the saddle today
	Although it was nothing but blue skies today, the final climb was aborted due to a recent snowfall	As expected, none of the breaks succeeded today
1 km to go: Peter Sagan followed by Danilo di Luca	Danilo di Luca followed by Chris Horner and Roman Kreuziger	Chris Horner followed by Roman Kreuziger and Vincenzo Nibali. Horner now leads the GC.
Roman Kreuziger obscuring Vincenzo Nibali with Michele Scarponi in the distance	Two-time winner in Chieti the last two years, Michele Scarponi, finished 9th this year + 12s	Cadel Evans caught Scarpani to finish 8th + 12s while Rinaldo Nocentini (AG2R La Mondiale) passed both Evans and Scarponi for 7th + 10s
A much closer finish this year in Chieti and two-time winner Michele Scarponi wasn't in the top 6	Peter Sagan wins ahead of Roman Kreuziger and Vincenzo Nibali	Uphill, downhill, sprint finishes... Peter Sagan can do it all
Your stage 4 winner, Peter Sagan	Chris Horner (RadioShack-Nissan), in his first race since crashing out of last year's Tour de France, is now the race leader by 7s over Roman Kreuziger	Chris Horner (RadioShack-Nissan) will look to extend his lead even further on Sunday's mountaintop finish before the final day ITT on Tuesday

Stage 5:  Martinsicuro → Prati di Tivo, 196 km  Full Results and Report

Cameron Meyers (GreenEDGE), third overall at the start of the day, signing-in. But, he finished 16th today + 1:22 and slipped down to 10th overall	Chris Horner (RadioShack-Nissan) about to start his first day in Blue	The peloton heading inland from the Adriatic coast
The climbing would get progressively harder		The final climb of the day, Piano Roseto, with 40 km to go
	RadioShack-Nissan at the front	The break on Piano Roseto; Kristof Goddaert (Ag2r La Mondiale), Egoi Martinez (Euskaltel), Jens Debusschere (Lotto - Belisol)
RadioShack-Nissan at the front their race leader for Chris Horner	Final climb, Prati di Tivo (14.5 km at 7.1%). Paolo Tiralongo (Astana) about to be caught by the remnants of the peloton with the GC contenders	Chris Horner (RadioShack-Nissan) at the front of the GC contenders with several kms to go
Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) attacked with several kms to go	Roman Kreuziger (Astana) leading the chase followed by Chris Horner and Michele Scarponi	Johnny Hoogerland (Vacansoleil - DCM) and Domenico Pozzovivo (Colnago CSF) are now part of this group
Vincenzo Nibali digging deep to put time into his rivals who are further ahead on GC	Vincenzo Nibali's attack pays off with a stage victory	Same moment in time, different angle
	Roman Kreuziger (Astana) digging for second + 16s	Chris Horner followed Roman Kreuziger (Astana) across for third while Johnny Hoogerland Vacansoleil - DCM and Michele Scarponi (Lampre) finished 4th and 5th + 18s
Marcio Pinotti leading home last year's overall winner, Cadel Evans, 10 1/2 minutes later for 45th. “My legs are not as good as they were last year as this time,” he said afterwards. “I'm sure they're getting better and there will be better days. But the race is much harder then last year, so that is amplifying the difference between the ones who are in shape and the rest of us.”	Stage 5 winner: “I’m happy to win today. But we’ll have to wait for the time trial to see who wins overall. 12 seconds is a lot to pull back but we’ll see what happens,” Nibali said.	Race leader, 40 year-old, Chris Horner enjoying his time in the sun. “I didn’t expect to be racing at 40. I thought I’d be riding my bike at weekends and working a different job. As the years have passed, the level has gotten better and better but I’m enjoying myself immensely at the moment.” ... “My Secret? I train, I sleep and I eat. It sounds simple but that’s it. I can train all day and be happy. The most difficult thing is to say no to family, friends and sometimes to sponsors, because they take you time. I understand the time I need to find my top, top form and in that period you need to say no.”

Stage 6:  Offida circuit race, 181 km  Full Results and Report

The morning sign-in with stage 4 winner and red jersey wearer Peter Sagan acknowledging the crowd in Offida	Peter Sagan was happy to sacrifice his chances for a stage win today so that Liquigas teammate Vincenzo Nibali could earn some valuable bonus seconds. See the stage 4 post-stage article: Sagan wins at Nibali's expense	Race leader Chris Horner (RadioShack-Nissan) rolling to the start
The rollout through the narrow streets of Offida	Panoramic of the lumpy Offida circuit
Unlike other riders who pulled out before the start of today's stage, Mark Cavendish started the race but later abandoned half way through	The main break: Carlos Alberto Betancur Gomez (Acqua & Sapone), Luis Felipe Laverde (Colombia - Coldeportes), Arthur Vichot (FDJ-Big Mat), Andrei Amador (Movistar), Branislau Samoilau (Movistar), Serge Pauwels (Omega-Pharma QuickStep) and Mirko Selvaggi (Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team)	Teams Liquigas and Farnese Vini ensured the gap could be pulled back at the finish
With the break caught and now near the finish; Danilo di Luca following an attack by Wouter Poels (Vacansoliel)	Joaquim Rodríguez (Katusha) attacked with 1 km to go	Peter Sagan (Liquigas) was responsible for chasing down every attack over the final kms for teammate Vincenzo Nibali
All the GC contenders were in this group preparing for the finish	Joaquim Rodríguez (Katusha) holds on to win the lumpy circuit race in Offida	Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) crosses second gaining six bonus seconds while Chris Horner crossed fourth. Nibali is now 6s back of Horner going into the final day time trial
Your stage 6 winner, Joaquim Rodríguez (Katusha)	Peeks for El Purito	Chris Horner will wear the leader's jersey in the final day 9.3 km time trial with Roman Kreuziger (Astana) and Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Cannondale) just 5 and 6 seconds back, respectively

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

As expected, like he did last year, Fabian Cancellara (RadioShack-Nissan) wins the final day time-trial. 9.3 km in 10:36.	Fabian Cancellara (RadioShack-Nissan) crossing with a new best time which would stick. As you can see, the finish (and the rest of the course) was very flat.	Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) looking much smoother than his GC rivals on his way to a 9th place ride + 20s
Race leader Chris Horner (RadioShack-Nissan) wasn't able to finish it off. He placed 34th +40s which dropped him down to 2nd overall.	Roman Kreuziger (Astana) kept shifting back on his saddle. He finished 39th + 47s which dropped from 2nd to 3rd overall	While Vincenzo Nibali held his form to the finish...
Chris Horner had a slower cadence, seemed to tie up near the finish and was out of the saddle for the last 500m. Not ideal aerodynamics for a flat TT. A great result nonetheless after sitting out 8 months of racing following his Tour de France crash.	Fabian Cancellara adds another TT win to his palmarès	After placing 9th on the final day 9.3 km ITT and beating Chris Horner by 20s, Vincenzo Nibali dons the Blue jersey when it counts most... on the last day. As @jasonschweitzer noted, "Nibali earned it. Time bonuses of 10s, 6s and 4s past 3 stages, plus 16s and 20s faster finish times on Horner. 56s total!" Or, in other words, Nibali overcame the strong RadioShack-Nissan and poor Liquigas TTT results on the first day.
Your 2012 Tirreno-Adriatico winner, Vincenzo Nibali raises the winner's pitchfork in front of a joyous home crowd	Nibali is now looking to conquer France. He hopes to follow the path of last year's Tirreno-Adriatico winner, Cadel Evans.	Your 2012 podium, 2nd Chris Horner (RadioShack-Nissan) + 14s, 1st Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas), 3rd Roman Kreuziger (Astana) + 26s
So long from Tirreno-Adriatico 2012 and, on behalf of our winners, thanks for tuning in