More steep climbs but no mountain finish for 2019 Tirreno-Adriatico
(Cyclingnews.com)

The 2019 Tirreno-Adriatico will include more short, steep `muri` climbs instead of a decisive mountain finish, increasing the list of potential overall winners.  Grand Tour riders including Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida), Alberto Contador and Nairo Quintana (Movistar) have dominated recent editions of the so-called `Race of the Two Seas`, but the many short and steep `muri` (wall) climbs in the 2019 Tirreno-Adriatico race route will favour more aggressive finisseurs who have the support of a strong team time trial squad. The seven-day stage race will again start with a 21.5km team time trial in Lido di Camaiore and end with a 10.1km individual time trial on the seafront of San Benedetto del Tronto. The 2019 Tirreno-Adriatico will be held between Wednesday March 13 and Tuesday March 19. It will again overlap with Paris-Nice (March 10-17) and follow on from Strade Bianche (Saturday, March 9) and precede Milan-San Remo (Saturday, March 23).ADVERTISEMENT Michal Kwiatkowski (Team Sky) won the blue jersey and trident trophy in 2018 after gaining some final seconds on Damiano Caruso (BMC Racing) in the final time trial. Geraint Thomas joined his Team Sky teammate on the final podium, relegating mountain stage winner Mikel Landa (Movistar) to fourth. Other stage winners included Marcel Kittel (Katusha-Alpecin), who won the two sprint stages, and Primoz Roglic (LottoNL-Jumbo) took a stage. Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) has already confirmed he will kick off his European season at the 2019 race. Nibali will target a third overall victory, while Chris Froome (Team Sky) could opt for Tirreno-Adriatico if he decides not to ride the Giro d`Italia.  Stage details You can read more at Cyclingnews.com