Italian time trial champion Adriano Malori (Movistar) won the Tirreno-Adriatico prologue with a great ride against the clock in front of his home fans.
Malori won the final stage of Tirreno-Adriatico 12 months ago, before winning the final stage of the Vuelta a Espana too, and the Italian ace continued his great form to pull on the first blue jersey of this year’s race.
Fabian Cancellara (Trek Factory Racing) had looked like overhauling Malori at the death, appearing to be in a great position as he got out of the saddle and put the power down on the final straight but he fell short by just one second.
There was not such good news for Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo) and Nairo Quintana (Movistar), however, both of whom have small deficits to make up on the likes of Rigoberto Uran (Etixx-QuickStep) and Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) overall.
With recent foul weather in Tuscany leading to closed roads and forcing a change from the planned team time trial to a shorter individual time trial, Davide Villella (Cannondale-Garmin) was the first man off the start ramp.
Daniel Oss (BMC Racing) set the first major benchmark, with his mark of 6.08 proving too fast for the next two hours – with Jonathan Castroviejo (Movistar), Edvald Boasson Hagen (MTN-Qhubeka) and Niki Terpstra (Etixx-QuickStep) among those who fell just short.
Peter Sagan (Tinkoff-Saxo) continued to prove he is capable of making a difference against the clock too, finishing just two seconds slower than Oss.
Former UCI Hour Record hold Matthias Brandle (IAM Cycling) finally ousted Oss from the hot seat however, knocking two seconds off the mark with a great effort.
Malori went even quicker though, the Italian time trial champion giving a textbook, smooth ride to set a new best time of 6.04.
Malori’s ride, alongside putting him into the lead, actually overshadowed a top effort from Mark Cavendish (Etixx-QuickStep) too, the Manxman having put the power down to go through in 6.16.
Cavendish’s effort, though good, was not the British best though – Steve Cummings (MTN-Qhubeka) earning that honour as he rode into seventh place – milliseconds ahead of Sagan.
Malori’s time was briefly threatened by Cancellara, who just could not hold his pace on the final straight, but the main GC men were off the pace.
Contador may have been expected to place highly on the stage, but he found himself well down the pecking order – as was Quintana – though neither will worry too much with the race likely to be decided in the mountains.
Tirreno-Adriatico 2015: prologue – result
1) Adriano Malori (ITA) – Movistar – 6.04
2) Fabian Cancellara (SUI) – Trek Factory Racing +1”
3) Greg van Avermaet (BEL) – BMC Racing +2”
4) Maciej Bodnar (POL) – Tinkoff-Saxo – ST
5) Matthias Brandle (AUT) – IAM Cycling
6) Daniel Oss (ITA) – BMC Racing +4”
7) Ramanus Navardauskas (LIT) – Cannondale-Garmin +5”
8) Steve Cummings (GBR) – MTN-Qhubeka +6”
9) Peter Sagan (SVK) – Tinkoff-Saxo – ST
10) Johan le Bon (FRA) – FDJ +8”
General classification
1) Adriano Malori (ITA) – Movistar – 6.04
2) Fabian Cancellara (SUI) – Trek Factory Racing +1”
3) Greg van Avermaet (BEL) – BMC Racing +2”
4) Maciej Bodnar (POL) – Tinkoff-Saxo – ST
5) Matthias Brandle (AUT) – IAM Cycling
6) Daniel Oss (ITA) – BMC Racing +4”
7) Ramanus Navardauskas (LIT) – Cannondale-Garmin +5”
8) Steve Cummings (GBR) – MTN-Qhubeka +6”
9) Peter Sagan (SVK) – Tinkoff-Saxo – ST
10) Johan le Bon (FRA) – FDJ +8”
