Cycling: Stars come out for Tirreno-Adriatico

ROME: Italy’s Vincenzo Nibali will today begin the defence of his Tirreno-Adriatico title, looking to hold off competition from 2011 winner Cadel Evans and Tour de France contenders Alberto Contador and Chris Froome.

The early season stage race, seen as a warm-up for the Milan-Sanremo on March 17, starts with a 16.9-km team time-trial from San Vincenzo to Donoratico in the west before a six-stage race to San Benedetto del Tronto. Astana rider Nibali finished third in last year’s Tour de France but Contador is out this season to add another first place in cycling’s most celebrated race after winning in 2007 and 2009 before serving a suspension for a doping violation.

Britain’s Froome will also provide a challenge on the back of his second-place behind Bradley Wiggins in the 2012 Tour de France.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 5^th, 2013. ree boundaries in