Ganna retains Tirreno lead after late attack

Filippo Ganna retained the race lead at Tirreno-Adriatico after almost springing a surprise on the peloton with a late attack on a soaking wet stage three.

The Italian was shepherded over the day’s final climb by his INEOS Grenadiers teammates, before launching a dangerous attack with 3.5 kilometres to go.

With panic spreading amongst the reduced peloton, his rivals eventually managed to regroup and bridge across the slender gap, making the catch ahead of the final kilometre.

The action came back together late on, with Andrea Vendrame (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) holding off Tom Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling) to win the bunch kick. Despite his efforts Ganna was still able to hold on to claim 10th place across the line.

The Grenadier holds a 22-second lead over Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates – XRG), with Laurens De Plus moving up to eighth overall, 45 seconds back.

The longest stage of the race at 239km, the team got through a lot of work setting a tempo on the front, with Salvatore Puccio particularly putting in a huge stint at the head of the bunch.

Paris-Nice also saw tough conditions, with the fourth stage neutralised temporarily during the day due to wet and icy conditions.

Tobias Foss put in a valiant late effort on the final climb on a day which saw the Grenadiers on the attack throughout.

Foss had been part of a move on the Cote du Canon alongside teammate Josh Tarling prior to the neutralisation. The pair had opened up a handy gap on the peloton, and when the race re-started, were joined by teammate Ben Swift who had dropped back from the day’s initial break.

The trio worked well on the approach to the final climb, with Swift and Tarling teeing up Foss who pushed on solo. The Norwegian held a gap of 38 seconds heading into the final eight uphill kilometres, but as the attacks began behind, that advantage was quickly eroded.

Eventually caught with 2km to go by new race leader Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike), Foss held on for 14th place on the day. Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates – XRG) timed his late burst well to come around Vingegaard and win the stage.

Also present in the peloton was Thymen Arensman, who crossed the line ninth on the day, 17 seconds back. The result elevated the Dutchman to sixth overall, two places ahead of Foss.