Pascal Ackermann makes late dash to pip Fernando Gaviria to Tirreno-Adriatico 2020 stage one win
The German sprint star came from a long way back to pass Fernando Gaviria on the line
Pascal Ackermann took victory on stage one of Tirreno-Adriatico 2020 with an amazing seated sprint threading his way between the riders and the barrier, passing Fernando Gaviria on the line, winning by a tyre width.
Gaviria (UAE Team Emirates) looked like he had the win in the bag with 50 metres to go, but Ackermann (Bora-Hansgrohe) came from about 15 wheels back to somehow make his way through the tightest of gaps.
It was a hectic finale that saw a nasty crash take out some of the sprinters hoping to contest the day including Tim Merlier (Alpecin-Fenix) and Alberto Dainese (Team Sunweb).
How it happened
The 2020 Tirreno-Adriatico started with a 133km stage starting and finishing in Lido di Camaiore.
The stage had laps of two circuits with three laps taking in a climb and two laps of the flat finishing circuit.
The early break was made up of seven riders including Marco Canola (Gazprom-RusVelo), Nathan Haas (Cofidis), Paul Martens (Jumbo-Visma), Simon Pellaud (Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec), Veljko Stojnić (Vini Zabù-KTM), Daniel Savini (Bardiani-CSF-Faizanè) and Julien Simon (Total Direct Energie).
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The battle for the mountains jersey was intense with riders attacking and counter-attacking with Haas coming out on top. The Australian will wear the mountains jersey for stage two.
It was the descent on the penultimate ascent of the climb, with 75km to go, where Pellaud and Martens kicked on away from the other riders who weren't working well together.
The new leading duo quickly pulled out an advantage of 1-30 over the other riders from the break who were caught at 65km to go.
UAE Team Emirates, Team Sunweb and Deceuninck - Quick-Step controlled the pace in the peloton for the majority of the day.
Haas kicked out of the peloton to take the last two points available confirming his mountains jersey before slotting back into the group.
Michael Matthews (Team Sunweb) managed to take one bonus second in the intermediate sprint ahead of Manuele Boaro (Astana), moving the Australian up to fourth in the general classification.
Pellaud and Martens were caught as they crossed the finish line for the penultimate time as they headed into the last lap and 19km to go.
A large crash taking out Belgian champion, Merlier, and young Italian sprinter, Dainese, among other with 1.5km to go.
But it was Ackermann who managed to thread his way through the tightest of gaps to beat Gaviria by the smallest of margins on the line.
Results
Tirreno-Adriatico 2020, stage one: Lido di Camaiore to Lido di Camaiore (133km)
1. Pascal Ackermann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe, in 2-57-55
2. Fernando Gaviria (Col) UAE Team Emirates
3. Magnus Cort (Den) EF Pro Cycling
4. Szymon Sajnok (Pol) CCC Team
5. Davide Cimolai (Ita) Israel Start-Up Nation
6. Andrea Vendrame (Ita) Ag2r La Mondiale
7. Jonas Rickaert (Bel) Alpecin-Fenix
8. Romain Seigle (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
9. Piet Allegaert (Bel) Cofidis
10. Pascal Eenkhoorn (Ned) Jumbo-Visma, all at same time
Tirreno-Adriatico 2020, stage one general classification
1. Pascal Ackermann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe, in 2-57-55
2. Fernando Gaviria (Col) UAE Team Emirates, at 4s
3. Magnus Cort (Den) EF Pro Cycling, at 6s
4. Michael Matthews (Aus) Team Sunweb, at 9s
5. Szymon Sajnok (Pol) CCC Team, at 10s
6. Davide Cimolai (Ita) Israel Start-Up Nation
7. Andrea Vendrame (Ita) Ag2r La Mondiale
8. Jonas Rickaert (Bel) Alpecin-Fenix
9. Romain Seigle (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
10. Piet Allegaert (Bel) Cofidis, all at same time
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Hi, I'm one of Cycling Weekly's content writers for the web team responsible for writing stories on racing, tech, updating evergreen pages as well as the weekly email newsletter. Proud Yorkshireman from the UK's answer to Flanders, Calderdale, go check out the cobbled climbs!
I started watching cycling back in 2010, before all the hype around London 2012 and Bradley Wiggins at the Tour de France. In fact, it was Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck's battle in the fog up the Tourmalet on stage 17 of the Tour de France.
It took me a few more years to get into the journalism side of things, but I had a good idea I wanted to get into cycling journalism by the end of year nine at school and started doing voluntary work soon after. This got me a chance to go to the London Six Days, Tour de Yorkshire and the Tour of Britain to name a few before eventually joining Eurosport's online team while I was at uni, where I studied journalism. Eurosport gave me the opportunity to work at the world championships in Harrogate back in the awful weather.
After various bar jobs, I managed to get my way into Cycling Weekly in late February of 2020 where I mostly write about racing and everything around that as it's what I specialise in but don't be surprised to see my name on other news stories.
When not writing stories for the site, I don't really switch off my cycling side as I watch every race that is televised as well as being a rider myself and a regular user of the game Pro Cycling Manager. Maybe too regular.
My bike is a well used Specialized Tarmac SL4 when out on my local roads back in West Yorkshire as well as in northern Hampshire with the hills and mountains being my preferred terrain.
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