After a successful Paris-Nice also Tirreno-Adriatico has come to an end. Jens Debusschere won a stage and Jurgen Van den Broeck finished on the eleventh place in GC. The overall victory was for Nairo Quintana.

After the team time trial was replaced by a prologue Lotto Soudal immediately took a win on Thursday. In a hectic final Jürgen Roelandts led Jens Debusschere perfectly to the front. The Belgian champion could avoid crashing and sprinted to his first victory of the season and became leader in the points classification. The next day Peter Sagan took over that red jersey. In the tough fourth stage Jurgen Van den Broeck remained in the group of favourites. A day later it was time for the stage to the Terminillo, the only summit finish. Nairo Quinana left everyone behind in the snow and on the podium he received the blue leader’s jersey. Jurgen Van den Broeck finished on place thirteen and moved up to the twelfth place in GC.

After the snow the riders ended up in the pouring rain in the penultimate stage. Belgian champion Jens Debusschere came close to a second victory but he ended up on the third place, behind winner Peter Sagan. In the closing time trial in San Benedetto del Tronto Van den Broeck set the 42nd time, just not enough to finish in the top ten of GC, he was eleventh. Nairo Quintana successfully defended his first place and is the overall winner of this Tirreno-Adriatico. Mollema and Uran could join him on the podium.

“The goal was to finish in the top ten of GC," Lotto Sooudal sports director Bart Leysen said. "I think we are as disappointed as Jurgen Van den Broeck himself that he finishes just outside top ten. His condition is fine, but maybe he misses some competition. In the prologue and today’s time trial Jurgen probably lost precious seconds.

“We can be very happy with the performance of Jens Debusschere. He came to this race to get a top five in a bunch sprint, maybe a top three. By winning the second day he already performed above all expectations. Also on Monday he came close to the stage win, but finished on the third place. The entire team raced well and we are satisfied.

“Unfortunately Stig Broeckx had to abandon yesterday, because he was sick. Maxime Monfort joined a long breakaway the day before. Jürgen Roelandts got better every day and Jelle Vanendert is in excellent shape as well. He seems to be ready for Milan-Sanremo, his first real goal. Lotto Soudal was strong in Italy and I am positive for the classic races the next few weeks.”