The 2026 edition of Tirreno-Adriatico got underway this Monday as it traditionally does, with an individual time trial along the seafront in Lido di Camaiore. At the end of the 11.5-kilometre course, Filippo Ganna claimed victory as expected, while Clément Braz Afonso, the first rider from Équipe cycliste Groupama-FDJ United in the standings, conceded 1’09 to the Italian national champion.
There were no unpleasant surprises awaiting the riders at the start of the week on the Tyrrhenian coast. In Lido di Camaiore, the now traditional Tirreno-Adriatico individual time trial was on the menu. The course was in fact identical to last year’s, covering 11.5 kilometres in an out-and-back format. “It wasn’t a technically difficult time trial,” explained Luca Festa, coach of Équipe cycliste Groupama-FDJ United. “There was just a little bit of wind, headwind up to the first intermediate point (km 4.5), then a tailwind on the way back. It was very straight, so full gas, and with no particular danger.” Rémy Rochas was the first rider from the group to roll down the start ramp at 1 p.m., followed by Lorenzo Germani, Brieuc Rolland, Kevin Geniets, Valentin Madouas, Josh Kench and Clément Braz Afonso, at twenty-four-minute intervals.
Starting among the last riders, Filippo Ganna logically set the best time of the day in 12’08 to take the win. Recording the fastest time among the Groupama-FDJ United riders, Clément Braz Afonso completed the course in 13’17. “The goal today was for everyone to try to do the best possible time trial, but also to produce an effort that would prepare us for the coming days,” added Luca. “The guys were really committed from the warm-up, and we did everything in a very thorough way, as we always do.” The “Race of the Two Seas” is now underway and will head towards San Gimignano on Tuesday. “It will be a tricky final, with a gravel section and an uphill finish in a village,” Luca concluded. “It could be an interesting stage, and probably already a crucial one for the general classification.”
