Tirreno-Adriatico 2025 Stage 6 recap - Juan Ayuso wins Queen stage to take lead as Tom Pidcock is second on stage

Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates – XRG) won the Queen stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico and took the overall lead.

UAE Team Emirates – XRG controlled the pace on the 7.6-kilometre climb up to the ski station at Frontignano.

Overall leader coming into the stage Filippo Ganna (INEOS Grenadiers) cracked under the pressure along with many of the stage favourites.

Eventually Ayuso was left alone and was followed by Tom Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team), Jai Hindley (Red Bull - BORA – Hansgrohe), Mikel Landa (Soudal Quick-Step) and Derek Gee (Israel - Premier Tech).

The pace of Ayuso was too much for his opponents and with three kilometres remaining he was left alone.

Pidcock led the charge behind and closed the gap to Ayuso to 13 seconds before beating Hindley to the line.

A respectable ride from Ganna saw him finish around 50 seconds behind and lose the overall leaders jersey to Ayuso.

Heading into the final flat stage tomorrow Ayuso lead the overall classification by 37 seconds ahead of Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain – Victorious) in second and Ganna in third (+0.38).

Juan Ayuso reflected on taking victory on Stage 6 of Tirreno-Adriatico and the overall lead.

He told TNT Sports: "We did pretty well.

"The team did an amazing job. We pulled first and in the final we knew we had to make it hard in the end.

"It was quite wind and on the wheel you can save a lot (of energy).

 "I'm glad I had Isaac del Toro because he pulled amazingly in the head wind.

"I was really suffering on wheel, but everybody else was also. I went for it and I knew I had to just put in my tempo to the top.

"The last kilometre or so, I suffered a bit, but I'm really glad I could make it."

Ayuso has time to celebrate the stage win and overall lead.

Pidcock is rewarded for driving the chasing group by sprinting for second on the stage ahead of Hindley.

Gee and Landa were dropped from the chasing group as Pidcock forced the pace into the last kilometre.

Ganna has an incredible climb but finishes in a group 50 seconds behind and loses the overall lead to Ayuso.

Stage result:

Ayuso has a 24-second advantage over his chasers and is on his way to taking the stage and overall.

The rest are fighting for the podium sports as Derek Gee joins Hindley, Landa and Pidcock.

Ayuso keeps trying to distance his opponents and eventually the elastic snaps with three kilometres remaining.

Ganna has lost 41 seconds and now Ayuso is alone.

Behind Pidcock is joined by Hindley and Landa.

Following the pace of UAE Team Emirates – XRG there is a small group remaining to battle out this stage.

The pressure is on Ayuso to push the pace from the select group at the front.

UAE Team Emirates – XRG lost control at the bottom of the climb before pushing the pace as it developed.

De Plus and then Ganna are distanced as UAE force the pace.

Once Battistella attacked the breakaway the rest of his companions refused to co-operate and their advantage diminished quickly to a charging peloton.

Vendrame was the last breakaway rider standing as he rode clear into the five-kilometre mark.

The breakaway turns onto the finishing climb and Battistella is the first to attack.

Meanwhile, Soudal Quick-Step drive the peloton into the finishing climb as those at the back of the peloton drop off the back.

The tension between the teams is starting to boil over as Bahrain – Victorious and Red Bull - BORA – Hansgrohe battle for the front position.

Two lead-out riders bump arms and are lucky to both stay upright as neither backs down.

The breakaway’s advantage continues to fall and is now at 1-30.

The 7.6-kilometre climb up to the ski station at Frontignano is awaiting.

The breakaway has seen its advantage reduced to less than two minutes.

The peloton is spread across the road as a false flat will take them to the bottom of the final climb.

It is a wide road so there should not be a huge fight for position.

Vendrame from the breakaway took the sprint in Pieve Torina earlier in this stage.

Jonathan Milan will lead the sprint classification by four points from Vendrame heading into tomorrow’s final stage.

The final stage has one intermediate sprint before a flat finish.

With 15 kilometres remaining in this stage the bunch is spread across the road as it climbs up the climb of Le Fornaci.

The breakaway’s advantage continues to be reduced and is currently at 2-11.

It was always going to be unlikely that the peloton were going to allow the breakaway enough time for Vendrame to take the overall lead.

The breakaway has now seen its advantage cut to 2-20. The road is starting to ramp up and a 2.5-kilometre unclassified climb at around 5% awaits the riders next. The tension is clearly visible in the peloton and the rain is starting.

Red Bull - BORA – Hansgrohe sit in a string at the front of the peloton heading into this last 25 kilometres.

Their best placed rider is Jai Hindley who is 56 seconds behind overall. However, the Australian must feel good for today’s stage win as they are BORA are putting a big team effort into it.

The breakaway has seen their advantage reduced to 2-36.

Manuele Tarozzi (VF Group - Bardiani CSF – Faizanè) is not part of today’s breakaway so missed the first KOM points available today.

Pietrobon led the breakaway over Crispiero earlier in this stage.

However, Tarozzi still has a healthy 21-point advantage.

The race situation is unchanged with the breakaway 2-52 ahead of the peloton.

Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates – XRG) sits just 22 seconds behind on GC heading into this stage.

He expects the race to explode up to the summit finish up to Frontignano.

He told TNT Sports: "We know we have to do a hard pace because Filippo (Ganna) has been riding super-good this week.

"If we sleep a bit at the start, then we might get a surprise later. We have to do a hard time, but I don't think necessary it is going to be from us.

"I think the race is just going to explode because there are many guys who have to attack.

 "I think the race will be full on for when we start the climb."

Pressure on your shoulders?: "Today is the day you can win or lose the race.

"It’s a special feeling that, it can be a big day and a great day. These are the days that I live for."

The breakaway remain at 2-50 as the race snakes up and down these rolling roads.

The last 40 kilometres of this race is set to be a cracker as the tension continues to rise on this Queen stage.

There are two unclassified climbs and lots of gradual climbing before the foot of Frontignano with eight kilometres to go.

You can watch all the action live on TNT Sport and discovery.

Mikel Landa (Soudal Quick-Step) sits 16th overall at 1-02 and hopes to ‘make a difference’ today.

He told TNT Sports: "I’m in a pretty good position to aim for the podium.

"The GC may already be decided, but today is the day to make a difference.

"Everybody has to try his luck, no one is happy with their current position (on GC) and we'll able for the podium or the stage win.

About the course: "It hasn’t been a good race for me. I haven't been in a position where I could make a difference, but it's the same every year and it won't change.

"My goal here was to get in touch with the competition, ride a few kilometers and warm the legs."

The breakaway has maintained an advantage of 2-56 as the peloton looks content at the moment.

Cian Uijtdebroeks is expected to be the leader for Team Visma | Lease a Bike this afternoon.

However, the 22-year-old says that the finishing climb to Frontignano is ‘not ideal’ for him.

He told TNT Sports: "Today will be pretty hard.

"It's a hard day and the load of all the other days building up.

"I hope to follow for as long as possible with with the big guys."

Not a long climb: "I'm looking forward to see how the body reacts to it. It's not the ideal course, I prefer climbs of 20 kilometers or a little bit less explosive.

"It's definitely the hardest finish of the race this year."

Simon Yates to work for him: "We are there for each other.

"He’s a really nice guy to work with. We will be there up in the final and if necessary, we will manage it."

The peloton have now reduced the breakaway’s advantage to 2-47 and the race is not fully on yet.

The race has stayed largely together up the Crispiero with some riders spat out the back.

Those who have worked on the front from Q36.5 are some of those who are feeling the pace.

Today’s stage profile will result in some tired legs by the time they hit the lower slopes of the finishing climb.

The race has hit the Crispiero – the second hardest climb of today’s profile after the finish.

The climb is 5.6 kilometres long with an average gradient of 5% and the lower slopes have gradients of 6.4%.

The breakaway has seen their advantage reduce to 3-10.