In the final stretch of the Tirreno-Adriatico race, held in San Benedetto del Tronto, Spain’s Juan Ayuso emerged victorious overall, as Jonathan Milan sprinted to win the concluding stage of the renowned “Race of the Two Seas.”
Ayuso, showcasing formidable performance, clinched the lead from Filippo Ganna on Saturday by executing an outstanding solo attack on the toughest mountain stage. He maintained his advantage to the finish line in San Benedetto del Tronto, thus claiming one of cycling’s unique prizes after narrowly missing victory last year.
The prize, a large trophy, is distinctively crafted in the shape of Neptune’s trident.
Filippo Ganna, who had slipped to the third position following Saturday’s race, improved his standing by earning an intermediate time bonus, allowing him to finish second overall. He completed the event 35 seconds behind Ayuso and edged out fellow Italian Antonio Tiberi by just one second.
In a close sprint finish, Italian cyclist Jonathan Milan outpaced Sam Bennett, securing victory by a wheel’s margin, with Olav Kooij finishing third. The race witnessed a dramatic turn when Paul Magnier crashed while jostling for position, resulting in a chain reaction that brought down several riders.
This victory marked Milan’s second stage win in this edition of the Tirreno-Adriatico, mirroring his achievement from the previous year where he also triumphed in the final stage.
The concluding stage, measuring 147 kilometers (91 miles) and starting from Porto Potenza Picena, featured two climbs before culminating in five laps of a flat, 15-kilometer circuit along the picturesque seafront.
