Heavily tipped as the favourite for victory at the Tirreno-Adriatico stage 7 summit finish, Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) fully lived up to his billing with a hugely impressive solo victory that also put him into the race leader's blue jersey going into the final stage.
Set up by his Mexican teammate Isaac Del Toro, Ayuso made three attacks, but was chased down each time by Tom Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling), Jai Hindley (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) and Mikel Landa (Soudal Quick-Step). When he made his fourth thrust, though, the 22-year-old Spaniard forged a gap and finished 13 second clear of Pidcock and Hindley.
The complexion of the race changed, though, when UAE’s Del Toro took over the pace-making at the front of the bunch. He quickly lined out the group behind him and brought the break within sight. Vendrame made a vain effort to stay clear, but was reeled in with 4.5km remaining.
Del Toro’s pressing had also thinned and then split the group of favourites, and race leader Ganna was in the wrong half of that divide. Second overall coming into the stage, Ayuso didn’t hesitate before trying to take further advantage of this, making a series of accelerations that only Pidcock, Hindley and, with some effort, Landa managed to respond to. Yet, when the Spaniard surged away for a fourth time, his three pursuers were left fighting for second place.
Ayuso will go into the final day with a significant cushion on his rivals. The stage into San Benedotto del Tronto is likely to go the way of the sprinters, making it just as likely that the UAE rider will improve on last year’s second place by winning this 60th edition of Tirreno.
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