The only classified mountain stage for this years version, meaning Andy Schleck has to make his move today. Cunego wil also try to hold off Nieve and Pozzato for his leaders jersey.



The other interesting competition available today is the KoM. And current leader Lars Ytting Bak is working hard to be in the breakaway.



The peloton has other plans through, 30kms into the stage everyone is brought back. Lampre is making a point they aren't letting a 20 man breakaway go.



Eventually a group does get free, and Bak is one of them. Daniel Martin decides against joining them.



As we approach the major climb of the day a few brave puncheurs try to get away, including Sylvain Chavanel and Maxime Monfort.



At the sprint point at the foot of the climb the breakaway holds a lead of just 4 minutes.



EA-Sony isn't messing around, Kessiakoff and Martin attack.



They are working great together and are now closing in on the Chavanel group, having easily broke away from the peloton.



However it is two breakaway men of Morris Possoni and Giampaolo Cheula that lead everyone over top.



And surprisingly no moves from any of the favourites.



Until Andy Schleck tries a sneaky attack, Lofkvist is all over it.



However as we reach the next KoM climb Lampre pulls them back.



20kms to go, Morris Possoni and Maxime Monfort are leading the way.



In between the leaders and the peloton can be found Martin and Kessiakoff.



It only takes till the final sprint point before we finally have everyone up front in one group. Key names missing from the group are 3rd in GC Filippo Pozzato and 6th in GC Cancellara.



With Lampre pulling back everything heading into the final climb we find out Andy Schleck saved some room for one last burst.



To no advail, we will go to an elite bunch sprint. Lofkvist is the last EA-Sony man in the front group.



Jurgen Van den Broeck leads the way to the line, Lofkvist is fading but is just glad he will get the same time as everyone else.



And its Cunego that gets around Van den Broeck in the last 50 meters to repay the hard work put in by Lampre today. Lofkvist moves up two spots into 5th overall, +1'25". Two stages to go.

Stage

GC

The hills are back for one last challenge before the race against the clock tomorrow. Cunego pretty much has a wrap on 1st overall, but with a good ride Lofkvist could position himself to jump
into the top 3 with the time trial on stage 7.



GC might not be decided today, but the KoM competition will be.



Daniel Martin does his jump and gets in the breakaway,
KoM leader Bak on the other hand does not.



And the Irishman easily takes the first climb, and now is tied with Bak and Morris Possoni at 10 points. 1 KoM climb left,
plus points are going to be handed out at the finish as well.



The breakaway is still free as we come up to the next KoM climb. Martin just needs to cross the line in the first three spots to win the competition.



4th ... by a few inches! So now his only hope is to pick up points at the finish, or else him and Bak and Possoni share the jersey.



We are now under 20kms to go, Cunego decides to attack.
Everyone lets him go. Probably not the best idea.



10kms to go, Francesco Masciarelli attacks out of the breakaway. Cunego catches Martin and the rest of the breakaway at the same time.



Kessiakoff finally takes some action and starts pulling Cunego back for Lofkvist, Martin is trying to plead his case to let the breakaway make it the finish. Sorry, Daniel but GC and more important than KoM.



Andy Schleck attacks once Martin and his fellow breakaway men are pulled back.Lofkvist tries to counter, Cunego is still up the road leading the race.



When Schleck and Lofkvist are pulled back by Movistar,
the Swed kicks again. Cunego is get clicking off the kilometers up front.



They just couldn't pull him back,
Damiano Cunego delights the home crowd with a great win.



2nd places goes to a breakaway man that everyone misplaced, Oscar Gatto. Raphael Delobel tries to fool the race organizers by coming arcoss in 2nd, but his trick doesn't work and he still has a lap to go.



But Lofkvist does make sure a EA-Sony rider finish 3rd though. A nice result becomes even better when he gets a 11 second time gap to Schleck, Nieve, and Vino. And a few of you may be wondering what happen with the KoM competition? Well, with the points at the finish Cunego steals the jersey finishing with 11 points.

Stage

GC

Mountain

Today is really divided into two parts, 1. Battle for the Stage 2. Battle for GC. Larsson will take on Cancellara for the stage,
and teammate Lofkvist is looking to jump some spots in GC.



Larsson isn't in top form here early in the season
but does post the time to beat at 12'16''.



Cancellara takes some revenge out on Larsson after taking his Rainbow jersey, coming at 12'02''.



Can't forget this guy however, Iván Gutiérrez who actaully beat Fabian earlier in the year. But it looks like his form has ran out,
he is 22 seconds slower than Cancellara.



Cancellara takes part 1. On to part 2, Lofkvist is out of course.
Setting his mark at 12'18''.



Vino stops the clock 2 seconds slower! They are tied for 4th overall,
we will have to wait and see how the organizers handle that ...



Nieve and Schleck lose chuncks of time ...
but not enough for them to lose their positions.
Andy being the closest, just 4 seconds in front of Lofkvist and Vino.



And then their was Cunego. He was no problems in comes in at 12'39''.
And wins Tirreno-Adriatico.

Now, back to the battle for 4th place. They break open the rulebook,
and after hours of calulating the organizers finally had the result.

"Alexandre Vinokourov finishes 4th due to review of the hundredth seconds recorded after each stage, total margin was .16 seconds. Therefore, Thomas Löfkvist finishes 5th. Thank you for waiting."

Stage

GC

Sprint

Mountain

Youth

Team