Two time-trial stages - one team and one individual - two sprinters’ stages, two stages for finisseurs and a finish for the climbers at Prati di Tivo. Vincenzo Nibali is looking for a second consecutive victory.

San Vincenzo, 28 January 2013 – Today, the Verdi Theatre in San Vincenzo (Italy) saw the official presentation of the 48th edition of the Corsa Dei Due Mari, in the presence of three cycling champions – Ivan Basso, Damiano Cunego and Moreno Moser. Other VIPs included the Mayor of San Vincenzo,  Michele Biagi and the Mayor of Castagneto Carducci, Fabio Tinti, who will be hosting the start of the race. Rcs Sport’s Cycling Chief Operative Officer, Mauro Vegni and Technical and Sport Director, Stefano Allocchio, La Gazzetta dello Sports Cycling Editor in Chief Luca Gialanella and riders Damiano Caruso and Steve Cummings were also in attendance, together with Italian cycling legend Alfredo Martini.

The percorso for this year is similar to the one that saw Vincenzo Nibali take the overall victory in 2012. He will try once again to win the Sea Master Trophy, the Neptune’s Trident trophy given to the winner of the “Race of Two Seas”, as well as the honour of wearing the blue Banca Mediolanum jersey of the race leader.

The race starts on Wednesday 6th March in San Vincenzo with a 16.9km Team Time Trial, finishing in Donoratico. The following day sees the second stage also start in San Vincenzo, with 232km taking the peloton to Indicatore (Arezzo) – a stage designed for the sprinters.
Third stage on Friday 8th March, from Indicatore to Narni-Scalo (190 km), looks undulating on the course profile but should again suit the sprinters.
Saturday 9th March will host the fourth stage: Narni – Prati di Tivo (173 km). The riders first face the Capannelle Pass and then at the end of the stage, the summit finish of Prati di Tivo at 1450m. This is a stern test at 14,550 m long, with an average gradient of 7,1% and a maximum of 12%, ideal for climbers. It was on this very climb last year Vincenzo Nibali launched his bid for overall victory.
The following day the riders will face a long, difficult stage from Ortona to Chieti: 230 km, with the climbs of Forchetta di Palena and the Lanciano Pass, before facing the tough finale – with the gradient reaching 19% in some points – finishing in Chieti.
On Monday 11th March the sixth stage will be 209 km long, with the start and finish in Porto Sant’Elpidio. It will be a very hilly route, typical of Le Marche, with incessant up and downs.
The final stage, a 9.2 km Individual Time Trial on Tuesday 12th March, will be on the San Benedetto del Tronto seafront.

The guests of honour at the launch had this to say:
Ivan Basso “The race is ideal preparation for the Grand Tours, in particular to find the right balance you need in a team. Sometimes our race programs are drawn up in winter when you don’t know the specific details of the races. Now that Team Cannondale knows the route of Tirreno-Adriatico we will decide who will be our best team to race it”.
 

Damiano Cunego: “I will be at the start of this fantastic event. It’s a complete race: time trial stages, climbs, there’s everything. I will try to be as prepared as I can, thanks to the help of Michele Bartoli”.
 

Moreno Moser: “There is a great expectation on me this season - last year I was racing without that. I will race Tirreno-Adriatico without many races already in my legs but I will try to give everything I can. Tirreno is one of the most important races in Italy alongside Giro d’Italia, Milan-Sanremo and Il Lombardia. My stages will be the hilly ones.”
 

The Mayor of San Vincenzo, Michele Biagi: “Last year Tirreno-Adriatico was a big investment for us but we really wanted to have it here again because of the great impact it has on the image of our region. We will try to host it in 2014 too.”
 

Mauro Vegni, Rcs Sport’s Cycling Chief Operative Officer: “I particularly love Tirreno-Adriatico because it is where I started out in cycling many years ago. With 7 stages crossing 5 Italian regions and broadcast to 120 different countries all over the World. We believe professional cycling is now, more than ever, the best way to promote local communities and sustainable mobility.”
 

Stefano Allocchio: “Tirreno-Adriatico is probably the cycling race with the highest profile start-list in the World. With two time trial stages, two sprinters’ stages, one for climbers and two for finisseurs, the 1060 km of the 48th Tirreno – Adriatico are extremely diverse, giving the whole spectrum of riders the ability to contest the race. It is sure to be exceedingly hard fought and a great spectacle.”

All the race information (including stage maps and profiles) is available on www.tirrenoadriatico.it