Team Jumbo-Visma’s Primoz Roglic today climbed to victory in stage 5 of Tirreno-Adriatico 2023 - the hardest stage of this year’s edition of the legendary race. 

The stage was expected to become a challenge between the general classification favorites in their bid to take the overall victory in the race and test their form and skills ahead of this year’s Giro d’Italia.

Race organizer R.C.S. Sport had originally designed the route as a 168-kilometer ride from Morro d’Oro to Sarnano-Sassotetto, but as weather conditions worsened and strong winds dominated the intended mountaintop finish location, the stage was shortened to a total length of 165.6 kilometers, by shortening the length of the final climb to 10.8 kilometers and having the stage end in Sassotetto-Fonte Lardina. The climb, however, remained a tough 7.3-percent Hors Categorie ascent and offered demanding segments of up to 9.8 percent.

The stage was won by Roglic, who won the sprint across the finish line from a select group of riders that featured many prominent climbers and general classification stars. The group had caught lone attacker Damiano Caruso (Bahrain-Victorious) approximately 700 meters from the end of the stage.

By winning the stage, Roglic further highlighted his return to form following the injury and recovery period he was exposed to after crashing in last year’s Vuelta a Espana.

Trek-Segafredo’s Giulio Ciccone crossed the finish line in second place while Tao Geoghegan Hart completed the podium. Roglic gained ten valuable bonification seconds by taking the stage victory, while Ciccone had to settle for six and Geoghegan Hart had to settle for a four second bonus.

"It’s crazy to get another win after yesterday, but it’s really cool and I’m definitely having good fun,” a smiling Roglic told Roadcycling.com after the stage.

“There were gusts of wind in the valley already and then also in the climb. But this was the only pro race that was finished in Europe today despite the weather. I had some hard times up that final hill, which was a much bigger one than yesterday, but at the end we saw the possibility of a sprint finish.”

“I asked Wilco (Kelderman) to pull things together and get us a chance to go for the stage win. With two stage wins, I have already achieved more than I expected before coming to Tirreno-Adriatico. But one of the reasons for adding this race to my program was to do one more race with some of the riders who will stand by my side at the Giro d’Italia, including Wilco and Koen (Bouwman). With these guys, I’ll do my best to defend the jersey tomorrow.”

By winning today’s stage, Roglic also took over the lead in the general classification. Roglic now leads the race by four seconds over Lennard Kämna (Team Bora-Hansgrohe) while Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) is twelve seconds behind the leader.

Saturday’s penultimate stage 6 of Tirreno-Adriatico 2023 will be a hilly 193-kilometer ride from Osimo Stazione to Osimo.

Stay tuned to Roadcycling.com for coverage from Tirreno-Adriatico 2023.