The race was won for the second time in three years by Colombian rider Nairo Quintana, riding for the Movistar Team.[3] Quintana took the race lead after winning the queen stage of the race to Monte Terminillo, and maintained it to the end of the race, ultimately winning by 25 seconds over BMC Racing Team rider Rohan Dennis, who won the final individual time trial stage as well as being part of the opening stage-winning team time trial. The podium was completed by FDJ's Thibaut Pinot, a further 11 seconds in arrears of Dennis.[4]
In the race's other classifications, Bora–Hansgrohe's Peter Sagan won the points classification after two stage victories, a second-place stage finish and a third place; Androni–Sidermec–Bottecchia rider Davide Ballerini won the mountains classification, while Bob Jungels (Quick-Step Floors) overtook Egan Bernal for the victory in the young rider classification, overhauling him in the final time trial. Quintana's Movistar Team won the teams classification with Jonathan Castroviejo also placing in the top ten overall.
As Tirreno–Adriatico is a UCI World Tour event, all eighteen UCI WorldTeams were invited automatically and obliged to enter a team in the race. Four UCI Professional Continental teams competed, completing the 22-team peloton.[5][6]
The route of the 2017 Tirreno–Adriatico was announced on 15 December 2016.[7] The sixth stage, initially due to be held over 159 kilometres (99 miles) was extended to 168 kilometres (104 miles), as a result of sub-standard road conditions.[8]
For the second year in succession, BMC Racing Team sealed victory on the opening day, as the American team recorded a time some 16 seconds faster than their closest rivals, Quick-Step Floors. Leading the team over the line was Italian rider Damiano Caruso, which enabled him to receive the first blue jersey for the general classification leader. The team's overall contenders Tejay van Garderen and Rohan Dennis were amongst the sextet at the finish,[11] taking an early advantage over their rivals.
The team time trial was marred by a crash suffered by Team Sky rider Gianni Moscon, when his front wheel disintegrated at high speed. Moscon fell to the tarmac, suffering abrasions, but was able to remount.[12] After the stage,[13]Geraint Thomas stated to the media that two other team members suffered broken wheels during the stage; Team Sky ultimately finished 1 minute, 41 seconds down on the time of the BMC Racing Team.
There was a crash in the final kilometres of the stage that took down Quick-Step Floors's main sprinter, Fernando Gaviria, and delaying numerous other riders as well – with the crash coming within the final 3 km (2 mi), all riders in the group were given the same time as the stage winner. At the finish, the world champion Peter Sagan (Bora–Hansgrohe) took his first victory of the season, edging out Elia Viviani (Team Sky) and Jürgen Roelandts (Lotto–Soudal) in a sprint to the line.[22] With race leader Greg Van Avermaet (BMC Racing Team) among those that were delayed by the Gaviria crash, he ceded the race lead – for the third leader in as many days – to teammate Rohan Dennis.[23]
In the 2017 Tirreno–Adriatico, four jerseys were awarded. The general classification was calculated by adding each cyclist's finishing times on each stage. Time bonuses were awarded to the first three finishers on all stages except for the individual time trial: the stage winner won a ten-second bonus, with six and four seconds for the second and third riders respectively. Bonus seconds were also awarded to the first three riders at intermediate sprints; three seconds for the winner of the sprint, two seconds for the rider in second and one second for the rider in third. The leader of the general classification received a blue jersey.[36] This classification was considered the most important of the 2017 Tirreno–Adriatico, and the winner of the classification was considered the winner of the race.
Points for stage victory
Position
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Points awarded
12
10
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
The second classification was the points classification. Riders were awarded points for finishing in the top ten in a stage. Unlike in the points classification in the Tour de France, the winners of all stages – with the exception of the team time trial, which awarded no points towards the classification – were awarded the same number of points. Points were also won in intermediate sprints; five points for crossing the sprint line first, three points for second place, two for third and one for fourth. The leader of the points classification was awarded a red jersey.[36]
Points for the mountains classification
Position
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Points for Superior
15
10
7
5
3
2
1
Points for single category
5
3
2
1
0
There was also a mountains classification, for which points were awarded for reaching the top of a climb before other riders. Each climb was categorised as either Superior-, or single-category, with more points available for the more difficult, Superior-category climb, Monte Terminillo.[36] For Monte Terminillo, the top seven riders earned points; on the other climbs, only the top four riders earned points. The leadership of the mountains classification was marked by a green jersey.[36]
The fourth jersey represented the young rider classification, marked by a white jersey.[36] Only riders born after 1 January 1992 were eligible; the young rider best placed in the general classification was the leader of the young rider classification.[36] There was also a classification for teams, in which the times of the best three cyclists in a team on each stage were added together; the leading team at the end of the race was the team with the lowest cumulative time.[36]
