Michael Valgren seals the winning breakaway in the challenging and spectacular fifth stage of Tirreno - Adriatico, the Marotta-Mondolfo - Monbaroccio. The Danish rider from EF Education Easypost was one of the day's main protagonists and on the Pesaro walls he excelled, finding victory after five years and a very serious injury suffered in 2022.

Second place for Isaac Del Toro and third for Matteo Jorgenson: the two were able to drop Pellizzari, Ciccone and Roglic right on the last of the 21 walls scheduled for today. And the Mexican from UAE Emirates XRG returns to wearing the blue leader's jersey snatching it from his friend-rival Pellizzari who is now second at 23". Third in the general classification, 34" back, is the American from Visma Lease a Bike.

THE STAGE – The start from Marotta/Mondolfo was extremely fast with Van der Poel, Milan and Alaphilippe very active in the opening kilometers. Between attacks and counter-attacks, the first significant action of the day was launched around kilometer 30 by Edward Planckaert (Alpecin-Premier Tech), Joan Bou (Caja Rural - Seguros RGA), Jack Haig (INEOS Grenadiers), Sjoerd Bax (Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team), Sean Flynn (Team Picnic PostNL). The latter, however, due to a mechanical failure, is caught by the peloton.

The situation evolves and other athletes emerge from the peloton chasing the escapees. Around the fortieth kilometer of the race, radio reports signal a group of seven men at the front: Edward Planckaert (Alpecin-Premier Tech), Joan Bou (Caja Rural - Seguros RGA), Michael Valgren (EF Education - EasyPost), Jack Haig (INEOS Grenadiers), Georg Zimmermann (Lotto Intermarché), Sjoerd Bax (Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) and Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) closely followed by Emiel Verstrynge (Alpecin-Premier Tech), Martin Marcellusi (Bardiani CSF 7 Saber) and Ethan Hayter (Soudal Quick-Step).

Planckaert's Dutch teammate manages to reach the front while, after several kilometers of chasing, first Hayter and then Marcellusi are caught by the peloton led by Red Bull - BORA – hansgrohe and UAE Team Emirates.

The eight attackers reach the GPM of Monte delle Cesane where Joan Bou (Caja Rural - Seguros RGA) beats Jack Haig (INEOS Grenadiers) and Emiel Verstrynge (Alpecin-Premier Tech). With an advantage of over 4 minutes and Alaphilippe virtually leading the general classification, the eight attackers also contest the Saltara Intermediate Sprint won by Julian Alaphilippe who thus "pocketed" points and bonus seconds.

On the challenging climb towards Monte della Mattera, UAE Team Emirates works intensely to reduce the gap with the group of escapees from which Joan Bou drops. The climber's prize then goes to Planckaert. A few kilometers later Bax is slowed by a puncture and so he too is forced to abandon the leading group which now consists of six men.

In view of the climb leading to the Sanctuary of Beato Sante, a new selection: Planckaert drops back and almost simultaneously Valgren (EF Education - EasyPost) and Alaphilippe (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) accelerate.

In the group of favorites, meanwhile, UAE Team Emirates and Red Bull Bora increase the pace and reduce the gap until they catch some of the day's escapees. Less than 10 kilometers from the finish, taking advantage of the second passage over the GPM of Sanctuary Beato Sante, the Danish rider in EF colors goes all-in, leaves Alaphilippe in his wake and flies towards the finish line.

Behind him, the battle among the classification contenders explodes further: Del Toro opens the throttle and in an instant the group of favorites closes back on the Frenchman from Tudor, followed by attacks and counter-attacks until the Mexican champion's new acceleration who brings Jorgenson to his wheel but drops Pellizzari and returns to wearing the leader's jersey.

Tomorrow for the athletes of Tirreno-Adriatico 2026, the sixth stage is scheduled, the San Severino - Camerino of 188 kilometers, which for Giulio Pellizzari is his home stage. Certainly extra motivation for the Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe rider who we are sure will put up a fight.

FINISHING ORDER

1. Valgren Michael (EF Education-EasyPost) in 04:43:33
2. del Toro Isaac (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) + 11
3. Jorgenson Matteo (Team Visma | Lease a Bike)
4. Johannessen Tobias Halland (Uno-X Mobility) + 24
5. Ciccone Giulio (Lidl-Trek) + 28
6. Pellizzari Giulio (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) + 30
7. Roglic Primoz (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)
8. Pinarello Alessandro (NSN Cycling Team) + 40
9. Storer Michael (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) + 41
10. Buitrago Santiago (Bahrain Victorious)

To be updated

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