As it happened: Classics star betters GC favourites on gravel finale on stage 2 of Tirreno-Adriatico 2026

1. Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 5:06’01”
2. Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) +3″
3. Magnus Sheffield (Ineos Grenadiers) +13″
4. Alan Hatherly (Jayco-AlUla) +17″
5. Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) +18″
6. Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious) +20″
7. Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) +31″
8. Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers) +34″
9. Javier Romo (Movistar) same time
10. Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) +36″

(Image credit: Getty Images)

1. Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech) 4:53’23”
2. Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)
3. Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) all same time
4. Tobias Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility) +15″
5. Andrea Vendrame (Jayco-AlUla) +17″
6. Alessandro Pinarello (NSN)
7. Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek)
8. Andreas Kron (Uno-X Mobility)
9. Clement Champoussin (XDS-Astana)
10. Paul Lapeira (Decathlon-CMA CGM) all same time.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-03-10T14:54:36.167Z

Mathieu van der Poel wins stage 2 of Tirreno-Adriatico 2026 ahead of Isaac Del Toro and Giulio Pellizzari as they skid and slide over the ice-like paved road in San Gimignano.

2026-03-10T14:53:01.522Z

500 metres to go.

The day will be between these three with Van der Poel just after the stage, Del Toro and Pellizzari are making huge gains in the GC fight as well. Del Toro hasn’t looked once for a turn but the chase behind is closing fast!

2026-03-10T14:51:42.820Z

Almost three minutes back to Arensman after his disastrous crash on the same corner that almost saw Van der Poel come down.

2026-03-10T14:51:14.512Z

Del Toro is doing the majority of the work with Van der Poel and Pellizzari following the Mexican champion.

Van der Poel, Del Toro and Pellizzari have 23 seconds on Sheffield’s group with a minute on the peloton that includes leader of the race, Ganna.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Thymen Arensman (Ineos Grenadiers)
Roberto Carlos Gonzalez (Solution Tech-Vini-Rali)

2026-03-10T14:48:41.063Z

Van der Poel almost lost it in a corner and had to swing his wheel around and unclip. That sees Del Toro open a gap but the cyclocross world champion closes the gap again.

2026-03-10T14:47:45.810Z

Del Toro and Pellizzari get back to Van der Poel.

2026-03-10T14:47:23.286Z

Back in the peloton, Ganna leads the chase ahead of Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) who won’t do any work with Pellizzari out front.

2026-03-10T14:46:39.909Z

Del Toro and Pellizzari are closing but Van der Poel looks so so calm and smooth.

Van der Poel has about four seconds on Del Toro and Pellizzari.

2026-03-10T14:45:32.706Z

Del Toro dropping Pellizzari and is bridging back across to Van der Poel. He is looking very impressive. Absolutely no-one other than these three in shot.

Matteo Jorgenson goes down as he tries to follow Van der Poel! The Dutchman was perfect through the gravel, Jorgenson got it all wrong. Del Toro was held up and is now trying to chase the Dutchman down.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech)

2026-03-10T14:43:30.917Z

Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) comes to the front on the gravel as several riders go backwards. Van der Poel hits the front with Jorgenson following.

2026-03-10T14:42:28.894Z

Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor) hits the front with Van der Poel in second wheel.

2026-03-10T14:42:01.818Z

Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe come to the point of the peloton alongside Uno-X Mobility and Visma-Lease a Bike as they turn onto the gravel.

2026-03-10T14:40:29.559Z

Into the final 8km of the stage and here is what the riders have to deal with as Ganna leads the race ahead of Arensman. Just over 1km to the gravel climb. There is a very tight turn onto this climb to Sam Gimignano.

(Image credit: RCS Sport)

Martin Marcellusi (Bardiani CSF-7 Saber)

He landed in a ditch but seems to be in a bad way. He was back on his feet but is sat back down again now.

The riders are flying down the descent at huge pace.

2026-03-10T14:33:46.775Z

The peloton suddenly hit a very wet part of the road. The rain doesn’t seem to be raining too hard but the spray from all the standing water is causing a lot of riders to get absolutely soaked.

2026-03-10T14:30:01.660Z

There is a real intense battle in the final 20km to hold the lead of the bunch and to have a good position before the final climb and the gravel.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

The peloton is absolutely flying along with teams working flat out to keep their leaders close to the front.

2026-03-10T14:21:40.319Z

Ineos Grenadiers are doing a fine job of keeping their three leader’s jersey wearers, Ganna, Arensman and Sheffield, right up at the front of the race. Haig did a wonderful effort, he is now back at the team car.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-03-10T14:19:06.380Z

The riders are now on the uncategorised 2.2km long climb of the Casole d’Elsa.

2026-03-10T14:18:01.864Z

Ineos Grenadiers are very keen to dominate the peloton. They’re doing a terrific job but will it all be worth it at the end of the day in San Gimignano.

Multiple teams on the front of the bunch keeping the pace high on the twisting and turning rolling terrain.

2026-03-10T14:07:41.232Z

Jack Haig is the man who is doing the work for Ineos Grenadiers at the front of the peloton alongside Bahrain Victorious, UAE Team Emirates-XRG and Jayco-AlUla.

2026-03-10T14:02:13.935Z

The break is dragged back by the Ineos Grenadiers led peloton with 38km to go.

The breakaway has a handful of seconds left on the peloton.

2026-03-10T13:51:37.174Z

The break have managed to pull the gap out to 23 seconds again.

Ineos Grenadiers and Decathlon-CMA CGM both win the battle for control, for now. Just 11 seconds to the leaders.

2026-03-10T13:43:47.615Z

Ineos Grenadiers, Soudal-QuickStep, Alpecin-Premier Tech and UAE Team Emirates-XRG are battling for control in the peloton.

2026-03-10T13:43:12.446Z

Sevilla back in the group of four again but they only have 13 seconds on the peloton, now.

2026-03-10T13:41:30.702Z

Sevilla pushing on ahead of his breakaway companions as the peloton draw ever closer to the catch.

2026-03-10T13:38:26.605Z

Arnaud De Lie (Lotto-Intermarche) dropped in the peloton, among others.

1. Diego Pablo Sevilla (Polti-Visit Malta) 5pts
2. Joan Bou (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) 3pts
3. Manuele Tarozzi (Bardiani CSF-7 Saber) 2pts
4. Alessandro Iacchi (Solution Tech-Vini-Rali) 1pt

Diego Pablo Sevilla (Polti-Visit Malta)

He goes clear early in the KOM fight as Joan Bou chases him.

2026-03-10T13:33:11.726Z

It is starting to rain properly now.

2026-03-10T13:32:29.168Z

A few spots of rain starting to fall.

The breakaway have just 48 seconds with 2km to the KOM in Castelnuovo Val di Cecina. If the break don’t make it, it will not be good for them as it was the main focus for all four of them today.

2026-03-10T13:31:04.979Z

With gravel on the menu today, Mathieu van der Poel says he wants to return to Strade Bianche in the future…

Gap at one minute 48 seconds as various teams are pushing to try and take control and maintain a good position.

1. Alessandro Iacchi (Solution Tech-Vini-Rali) 5pts 3″
2. Manuele Tarozzi (Bardiani CSF-7 Saber) 3pts 2″
3. Diego Pablo Sevilla (Polti-Visit Malta) 2pts 1″
4. Joan Bou (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) 1pt

2026-03-10T13:07:11.826Z

1km to go the intermediate sprint.

2026-03-10T13:02:30.246Z

The roads are getting tight, twisty and undulating as they head into the hills now with the back of the peloton having to come to a track stand on multiple occasions already.

2026-03-10T13:00:15.544Z

5km to the intermediate sprint in Pomarance.

2026-03-10T12:54:58.915Z

Just a gap of one minute and 45 seconds between the break and the peloton.

The climbing finally begins in the stage as they head ever closer to the intermediate sprint in Pomarance where there are 5, 3, 2 and 1 point(s) as well as 3, 2 and 1 bonus second(s) available.

2026-03-10T12:38:50.815Z

Second overall, Thymen Arensman (Ineos Grenadiers), spoke to TV before the start this morning… “Maybe for me to wear a sprinters jersey is quite something, maybe the only time in my career, so I will enjoy it. I have won TTs in the past but it was a nice result and we had some nice improvements over the winter.

“It is always nice to have the cards to play for us, we’re going to do this with Magnus (Sheffield) and I for the GC with Pippo (Ganna) maybe as a joker.”

But the Dutch star voiced his concern over today, “I think it is a little bit unnecessary, I like gravel and Strade Bianche but we will arrive fresh and then hit the gravel and it could be super dangerous. I hope we can stay safe.”

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-03-10T12:31:28.893Z

Bahrain Victorious now also join the teams on the front for Tiberi and Santiago Buitrago. Maybe Pello Bilbao after his solid TT performance.

2026-03-10T12:30:23.812Z

There is a Moderate Thunderstorm Warning given for the San Gimignano for later this afternoon. The riders will be hoping it stays dry until after the finish as the gravel climb in a storm would be rather hellish.

2026-03-10T12:29:03.148Z

The time gap dips under two minutes to the break as the riders head over the half way point.

The four man breakaway has a gap of just two minutes and 12 seconds.

2026-03-10T12:21:50.805Z

Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe have moved up to very close to the front now in the peloton but Visma-Lease a Bike, Alpecin-Premier Tech and Ineos Grenadiers are being left to work.

2026-03-10T12:18:32.625Z

100km of racing complete.

2026-03-10T12:18:18.145Z

Local rider, Alberto Bettiol (XDS-Astana), spoke to TV before the start today: “It isn’t a very technical run to the gravel climb, the climb suits Van der Poel, Van Aert but also the guys like (Isaac) Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) and (Antonio) Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious).

“You do need to be in front to avoid crashes and dangerous situations. It is just a tough gradient and hard all the way to the line. I think we shall see GC guys up there, but I think Van der Poel will be there.

“I am here to sacrifice myself for my teammates like (Clement) Champoussin and (Thomas) Silva with the Classics and the Giro d’Italia to come for me but, if I have an opportunity then I will love to go for it.”

2026-03-10T12:03:34.783Z

The time gap takes a big tumble since Steven Kruijswijk (Visma-Lease a Bike) joined the pacing in the peloton. The break now has two minutes 12 seconds of a gap.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-03-10T12:02:42.756Z

Visma-Lease a Bike join Ineos Grenadiers and Alpecin-Premier Tech on the front of the peloton. Could this be for Wout Van Aert and a stage win chance? Or is it more focusing on their GC hope of Matteo Jorgenson?

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-03-10T11:57:57.432Z

Considering how little climbing there appears to be on the profile, the riders have an elevation gain of 2300 metres to contend with today. The highest point is the categorised climb of Castelnuovo Val di Cecina.

The gap is hovering around three minutes with it dipping below and going above all the time.

2026-03-10T11:40:36.797Z

65km to the intermediate sprint.

2026-03-10T11:39:34.861Z

Alpecin-Premier Tech return to the front of the peloton to work with Ineos Grenadiers. Mathieu van der Poel will be looking for a stage win today.

Average speed just over 42kph with Ineos Grenadiers pulling the bunch. The gap did drop below three minutes but the bunch has let it go back above that mark again.

2026-03-10T11:33:05.806Z

Both these week-long races are steeped in tradition, but do they mean anything when linked with the Grand Tours…

Things are changing in the peloton as the gap to the break drops to three minutes.

2026-03-10T11:17:40.861Z

The leaning tower of Pisa has it’s famous lean due to poor foundations being built on soft sandy soil. The building began in 1173 but, as construction got to the third floor, it began to lean just five years into the build. They tried to compensate by building floors slightly taller one one side to the other. Eventually, major stabilisation work was done as recent as the 1990s to save this famous quirky historic gem.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-03-10T11:08:16.716Z

The time gap to the four man break drops to three minutes 40 seconds as they lose about 50 seconds in 10km.

Into the final 100 miles of racing on stage 2 of Tirreno-Adriatico 2026.

2026-03-10T11:03:01.811Z

The riders have a very long period of flat roads now and the pace hasn’t really picked up, either. That said, the gap to the breakaway dips back under four minutes.

The gap to the break goes beyond four minutes.

2026-03-10T10:55:56.030Z

Magnus Sheffield and his Ineos Grenadiers teammates look to play the numbers game rather than sit and let the race come to them…

The breakaway now have almost four minutes on the peloton after 40 minutes of racing.

2026-03-10T10:41:18.119Z

“It’s a really ‘interesting’ stage. We’ll have to be ready for the finish and hit the gravel from the front.”

Manuele Tarozzi (Bardiani CSF-7 Saber)
Joan Bou (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA)
Diego Pablo Sevilla (Polti-Visit Malta)
Alessandro Iacchi (Solution Tech-Nippo-Rali)

2026-03-10T09:58:25.533Z

British time trial champion, Ethan Hayter (Soudal-QuickStep) woke up this morning with 25 UCI points and 500 CHF less than he had yesterday due to a fine that he received for showing his middle finger towards a passing motorbike in yestderday’s race…

Racing begins in Camaiore as the riders begin one of many 200+ kilometre days in Italy.

2026-03-10T09:55:07.195Z

One non-starter:

Lennert Van Eetvelt (Lotto-Intermarche)

The Belgian climber is suffering too much after his crash at Strade Bianche on Saturday.

The riders begin the relatively short neutralised section.

2026-03-10T09:47:33.934Z

Sign on has been completed by the riders as they ready for the start of the second stage and the first road stage of this year’s race.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-03-10T09:47:03.180Z

The finish location of San Gimignano is famed for it’s 14 amazing towers from the original 72 that stood before. The towers were owned by each family that lived in the town, each family trying to out-do the other with height and decorations. It is also known for it’s amazing frescos from the 14th and 15th centuries.

The towers give you amazing views across Tuscany with Siena and Florence in the distance as well as the beautiful rolling hills of the region. San Gimignana is also famed for it’s wine, Vernaccia, too.

2026-03-10T09:41:26.852Z

The jerseys:

Blue, GC – Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers)
Purple, Points – Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers)*
Green, KOM – No points given yet
White, Youth – Magnus Sheffield (Ineos Grenadiers)

*Worn by – Thymen Arensman (Ineos Grenadiers)

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-03-10T09:36:41.758Z

It is a slow and steady start in terms of difficulty today for the riders with a largely flat beginning before the final third of the stage sees the hills begin and the action points of the first intermediate sprint and KOM sprint of the race.

After that, it is full focus on the final climb to the finish in the multi-towered and beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site of San Gimignana. However, they have the small matter of a very fresh and loose gravel climb to do just before they get there. Drama incoming? Perhaps!

2026-03-06T13:04:05.206Z

Buongiorno and welcome to Cyclingnews’ live report of stage 2 at Tirreno-Adriatico 2026.