As it happened: Longest stage ends in sprint after plethora of attacks

Hello and welcome to the CyclingNews live page for stage three of Tirreno-Adriatico 2025.

Today's stage is the longest of the race with 239km of racing on the menu between yesterday's finish town of Follonica and Colfiorito with a late climb topping out with just under 4km to go. 

In the news room this morning... Filippo Ganna is keen to get Ineos Grenadiers back to the top of the sport after they have a good start to the season...

>>> 'We've got to get back to being the great Ineos team we once were' - Filippo Ganna leads Ineos Grenadiers fight back from the front 

Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) remains humble and talks down claims that he is now the best sprinter on the planet...

>>> 'I don't consider myself the best sprinter in the world' - Jonathan Milan is modest but not scared of major rival Tim Merlier 

And we saw it get it's debut yesterday, but Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) has been given a fancy new bike... Will it help him to victory today?

>>> Mathieu van der Poel's bike: A custom painted, special edition Canyon Aeroad 

Sign-on has been completed by all the riders. Could thiis man, Alex Aranburu (Cofidis), be involved in the fight for the stage win later today?

Neutral start

The riders have started the neutralised zone of the stage. This section is 6.9km long as they leave Follonica. 

Several riders out of the race so far:

Alberto Bettiol (XDS-Astana) DNS S3
Robbe Ghys (Alpecin-Deceuninck) DNS S3
Xabier Mikel  Azparren (Q36.5) DNS S3
David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) DNF S2
MIchael Valgren (EF Education-EasyPost) DNF S2
Tom Paquot (Intermarche-Wanty) DNF S2
James Shaw (EF Education-EasyPost) DNS S1
Louis Barré (Intermarche-Wanty) DNS S1

239km to go

The official start has been given and racing begins for stage three of Tirreno-Adriatico 2025!

Attack!

Davide Bais (Polti-VisitMalta)
Lorenzo Conforti (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè)

Bais and Conforti are pulling out an early gap of 50" and it is increasing. 

It was starting to rain in Follonica just after the riders left. If the pace is high the riders mat be able to avoid it in the tailwind but who will do the chasing. 

This was the big topic at the start with Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) and Paul Magnier (Soudal-QuickStep) expected to have a go for the win today. 

Jerseys going into stage three:

Blue general classification leader - Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers)
Purple points classification leader - Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek)
Green mountains classification leader - Davide Bais (Polti-VisitMalta)
White youung rider classification leader - Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek)*

*Worn by - Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)

220km to go

Davide Bais and Lorenzo Conforti have a gap of 3'20" over the peloton now and it continue to grow as they head to the first climb of the day, the Passo del Lume Spento, which is just over 50km away. 

Coming into this stage, Davide Bais (Polti-VisitMalta) was +1'39" down on Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers) in the general classification. 

Lorenzo Conforti (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizane) started the day at +2'00" down in the GC. 

The break are currently starting a reasonably sized uncategorised climb. Their gap over the peloton has grown again to 4'15" and is continuing to expand. 

Davide Bais (Polti-VisitMalta) leads the KoM standings with five points ahead of teammate Alessandro Tonelli (Polti-VisitMalta) on three points then Manuele Tarozzi (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizane) on two and Steven Kruijswijk (Visma-Lease a Bike) on one. Can Lorenzo Conforti (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizane) challenge him for the points today?

One potential winner today is celebrating his 25th birthday. Søren Wærenskjold (Uno-X Mobility) is the birthday boy. The winner of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad comes into this race with mixed form but he is 8th in GC just +37" down. 

200km to go

Conforti and Bais have just over four minutes on the chasing peloton. 

Over an hour of racing down so far with the average speed being at 37kph. It has not been a fast one. In fact, this is slower than yesterday and that was almost a record for being so far behind the race schedule. 

The break are just under 30km to go until the first categorised climb of the day, the Passo del Lume Spento. 

In the peloton it is the team of the leader, Filippo Ganna, leading the way. He has almost all of his Ineos Grenadier teammates in front of him with their man for the GC, Laurens De Plus, behind him. 

180km to go

The gap up to Bais and Conforti has gone back up to 4'55" as they near the bottom of the first climb of the day. 

The breakaway have started the Passo del Lume Spento. 

The time gap has apparently ballooned to over six minutes between the breakaway of Lorenzo Conforti (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizane) and Davide Bais (Polti-VisitMalta) and the Ineos Grenadiers led peloton. 

It is a rather damp day on the bike for the riders with the temperatures being around 12 to 14 degrees centigrade. 

170km to go

For now, the time gap is said to be stable at around six minutes between the breakaway and the peloton as they are now both on the Passo del Lume Spento. 

Abandon

Pascal Ackermann (Israel-Premier Tech)

The German sprinter has had to leave the race. He wasn't in the mix for the win yesterday, finishing 41st on the day. 

His torrid time of things seems to be continuing into 2025 after also not being involved in any sprints at his first race of the season, the Tour de la Provence as well. 

Crash!

Hugo Houle (Israel-Premier Tech)

This day is going from bad to worse for the Israeli registered team. 

The break are now close to the top of the first categorised climb of the day with the green KoM jersey of Davide Bais being the favourite to take maximum points, 

However, Lorenzo Conforti is no slouch and will put up a fight as the two Pro Continental teams of Polti-VisitMalta and VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizane battle it out. 

Abandon

Hugo Houle (Israel-Premier Tech)

The Canadian rider becomes the second rider from the team to abandon today's stage, leaving them with just five riders. 

Lorenzo Conforti wins the first KoM sprint ahead of mountain jersey wearer, Davide Bais. 

The weather has really taken a turn for the worst out in Italy...

KoM Sprint (Passo del Lume Spento)

1. Lorenzo Conforti (ITA) VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizane 5pts
2. Davide Bais (ITA) Polti-VisitMalta 3pts
3. Manuele Tarozzi (ITA) VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizane 2pts
4. Salvatore Puccio (ITA) Ineos Grenadiers 1pt

150km to go

At the bottom of the Passo del Lume Spento descent the break's new gap back to the peloton now sits at just over three minutes as the rain continues to fall. 

The breakaway's time gap has just taken a dive and is now sat just over two minutes between them and the peloton. 

Breakaway caught

Suddenly, Davide Bais (Polti-VisitMalta) and Lorenzo Conforti (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizane) decide that they have had enough of being in the break and allow the peloton to catch them. 

The race is all together again just 15km from the next climb, La Foce. 

With the breakaway caught, this should set up a battle royale for the next KoM sprint with both Bais and Tarozzi likely being involved. Likewise Conforti and Tonelli who also are involved in the battle for green. 

The riders have started the second climb of the day, La Foce. This climb is 5.2km long with a reported average gradient of 4.6%. 

130km to go

Three hours of racing and they have averaged 36.1kph today in the pouring rain. 

The weather continues to be extremely unpleasant for the riders...

The riders are still on the second climb of the day as the pace gets even slower with the average speed dropping to 34.9kph. 

KoM Sprint (La Foce)

1. Lorenzo Conforti (ITA) VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizane 5pts
2. Davide Bais (ITA) Polti-VisitMalta 3pts
3. Alessandro Tontelli (ITA) Polti-VisitMalta 2pts
4. Manuele Tarozzi (ITA) VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizane 1pt

The virtual KoM standings:

1. Davide Bais (ITA) Polti-VisitMalta 11pts
2. Lorenzo Conforti (ITA) VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizane 10pts
3. Alessandro Tonelli (ITA) Polti-VisitMalta 5pts
4. Manuele Tarozzi (ITA) VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizane 5pts
5. Salvatore Puccio (ITA) Ineos Grenadiers 1pt
6. Stevan Kruijswijk (NED) Visma-Lease a Bike 1pt

Ineos Grenadiers have dramatically upped the pace with small splits forming in the pouring rain. The temperature has dropped to around seven degrees centigrade. 115km to go. 

I don't think this is exactly how Søren Wærenskjold (Uno-X Mobility) pictured spending his 25th birthday...

Just under 40km to go to the intermediate sprint in Castel del Piano. This is now very important for the GC as all three, two and one bonus second(s) are available to take. 

100km to go

Riders taking the opportunity for a natural break. 

We're at that bunny-hopping over a stray bidon in the pouring rain point of insanity on this very slow day in wet wet Italy...

Multiple new teams have come to the front of the peloton, replacing Ineos Grenadiers. The two main teams up at the front are XDS-Astana and Lidl-Trek.

80km to go

No team is working specifically on the front now. Dries De Bondt (Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale) is trying to tell riders to go faster. 

Attack!

Dries De Bondt (Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale)

He is joined by a long list of riders and they're going nowhere. They basically just want to get warm and go at a faster pace. 

Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) himself now moves to the front and started setting a hard tempo with just under 10km to the intermediate sprint. 

The conditions are absolutely horrific. 

3km to go until the intermediate sprint and Ineos Grenadiers have moved Ganna back towards the front. 

70km to go

The pace will likely pick up very soon for the intermediate sprint with 2km to go until that with three, two and one bonus seconds available. 

Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) wins the intermediate sprint ahead of Tim van Dijke (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe).

Attack!

Andrea Pietrobon (Polti-VisitMalta)
Dries De Bondt (Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale)

Pietrobon and De Bondt have around half a minute on the peloton heading to the final 60km of racing. Finally, De Bondt gets his wish of a higher pace. 

60km to go

De Bondt and Pietrobon stretch their advantage to a minute and a half. 

The two riders up the road have extended their gap to two and a half minutes now. Bahrain Victorious, oddly, are the team taking up the pacing in the peloton alongside XDS-Astana. 

Even in these horrific conditions, Esteban Chaves (EF Education-EasyPost) is still smiling... 

50km to go

Pietrobon and De Bondt now have three minutes on the peloton! 

Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek) needing to stop to change his clothing with help from the team mechanic and sports director. 

Ineos Grenadiers have returned to the front of the peloton with the entire team. The gap has now stabilised at just over three and a half minutes up to the breakaway. 

40km to go

Pietrobon and De Bondt have just over three and a half minutes as Ineos Grenadiers start to up the tempo. 

About 10km before the race gets to the bottom of the Valico di Colfiorito climb. 

Puncture

Derek Gee (Israel-Premier Tech)

The Canadian GC rider stops, stays calm and looks very relaxed as they have plenty time before they get to the Valico di Colfiorito climb. 

30km to go

The gap is coming down to the duo up front now with the gap around three minutes now as the leaders lose half a minute. 

Crash!

Johannes Staune-Mittet (Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale)

The French team's Norwegian leader for the GC hit the deck and slid out in the puddles. Quick bike change and back riding but very poor timing. 

Crash!

Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek)
Simone Consonni (Lidl-Trek)

Several others down including more Lidl-Trek riders. 

Onto the climb goes the riders with over two minutes to the leaders. Milan (Lidl-Trek) is back riding but he is out of contention today and will just try to get to the finish. 

Ineos Grenadiers are joined by Alpecin-Deceuninck, UAE Team Emirates-XRG and Visma-Lease a Bike on the front of the peloton. 

20km to go

Q36.5 up the pace dramatically in the peloton for Tom Pidcock as the time gap up to Pietrobon and De Bondt is at 2'30". 

Connor Swift (Ineos Grenadiers) takes over on the front of the peloton with Filippo Ganna and Laurens De Plus right up on his whel as well. 

Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost), Kevin Vauquelin (Arkea-B&B Hotels), Tom Pidcock (Q36.5), Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) and other favourites are all up to the front. 

Three Ineos Grenadiers riders leading the way as Ganna drops back onto the whel of Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) to get more protection from the wind. 

Into the final 15km and the gap is now 1'26" between the two leaders and the Ineos Grenadiers led peloton. 

Alpecin-Deceuninck now come to the front of the peloton for Mathieu van der Poel to up the pace even further and to try and bring the breakaway back to allow the former world champion to sprint for victory. 

Intermarche-Wanty come to the front of the peloton now for Vito Braet, potentially. Ineos Grenadiers and Alpecin-Deceuninck also keen to keep the pace high. Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe also hitting the front. 

10km to go

Andrea Pietrobon (Polti-VisitMalta) and Dries De Bondt (Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale) now only have 29" on the chasing peloton as Alex Aranburu's Cofidis team also come to the front. 

Attack in break

Andrea Pietrobon (Polti-VisitMalta)

Dries De Bondt (Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale) sits up and is caught by the peloton. 

Attack in peloton!

Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost)
Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)

This drags out a lot of other favourites as Pietrobon is caught. 

Attackers:

Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost)
Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)
Derek Gee (Israel-Premier Tech)
Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal-QuickStep)

But Ganna drags it back with new moves coming!

Attack!

Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost)
Romain Gregoire (Groupama-FDJ)

But there are several riders trying to come across as Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Laurens De Plus (Ineos Grenadiers) joining the leaders. 

Several riders come across to make a group of 13 riders but the peloton is bringing it back yet again with 7km to go. 

Laurens De Plus now moves to the front of the bunch to keep the pace high for Ineos Grenadiers teammate and race leader, Filippo Ganna. The peloton is stretched out in one long line. 

Ganna briefly letting the wheel of De Plus go but Ayuso drags him back. 

Attack!

Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ)

But he isn't given an inch. Healy tries another move but, again, not getting much of a gap and it is closed again. 

Manuela Tarozzi (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizane) managed to get to the front and win the KoM sprint!

Attack!

Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers)

He used a huge amount of momentum and Tom Pidcock (Q36.5) tried to follow but just couldn't live with the power. Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) now leading the chase. 

2km to go

Derek Gee (Israel-Premier Tech) closes the gap to Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers) a bit but now Uno-X Mobility put in a big effort. 

Flamme Rouge

Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) closes Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers) as Healy goes over the top with 500 metres to go. 

Andrea Vendrame (Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale) wins stage three of the 2025 Tirreno-Adriatico! That was an absolutely brutal stage in horrific weather. 

Tom Pidcock (Q36.5) and Romain Gregoire (Groupama-FDJ) complete the podium on the day. 

Top 10

1. Andrea Vendrame (ITA) Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale 6:28'25"
2. Tom Pidcock (GBR) Q36.5
3. Romain Gregoire (FRA) Groupama-FDJ)
4. Rick Pluimers (NED) Tudor
5. Roger Adria (ESP) Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe
6. Simone Velasco (ITA) XDS-Astana
7. Filippo Fiorelli (ITA) VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizane
8. Alex Aranburu (ESP) Cofidis
9. Samuele Battistella (ITA) EF Education-EasyPost
10. Filippo Ganna (ITA) Ineos Grenadiers, all S.T.

Three stages and three wins for the Italians in Italy. Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers), Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) and Andrea Vendrame (Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale). 

General classification after stage three

1. Filippo Ganna (ITA) Ineos Grenadiers 11:25'55"
2. Juan Ayuso (ESP) UAE Team Emirates-XRG +22"
3. Antonio Tiberi (ITA) Bahrain Victorious +29"
4. Derek Gee (CAN) Israel-Premier Tech +34"
5. Mattia Cattaneo (ITA) Soudal-QuickStep +36"
6. Kevin Vauquelin (FRA) Arkea-B&B Hotels +41"
7. Eddie Dunbar (IRL) Jayco-AlUla +44"
8. Laurens De Plus (BEL) Ineos Grenadiers +45"
9. Ben Healy (IRL) EF Education-EasyPost +48"
10. Romain Gregoire (FRA) Groupama-FDJ S.T.

For all the reaction from this brutal long burner of a stage, make sure to check out our post race report by clicking the link below...

>>> Tirreno-Adriatico: Andrea Vendrame beats Tom Pidcock to stage 3 victory 

Meanwhile, as we leave the action in Italy, there has been more horrific weather in France and the fourth stage of Pairs-Nice is on our live report with the link below...

>>> Paris-Nice stage 4 Live - race resumes after weather causes neutralisation