Tour de France champion Cadel Evans has been handed a potential duel with former three-time champion Alberto Contador when the pair line up for the Tirreno-Adriatico race in March.
Evans (BMC) won the Italian stage race known as the ‘Race of the Two Seas’ last year, and with Contador also set to compete – if he is cleared by a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) hearing – the pair could cross swords on stages four and five.
Stage four will lead the peloton through the central Appenine mountains, over 252 kilometres from Amelia to Chieti, and is capped by a formidable finale.
The climb over the Passo Lanciano mountain pass is followed by a tricky closing 25km which culminate with a steep climb, at a punishing average gradient of 18 per cent, towards the finish line in the streets of Chieti.
All eyes will be on Evans and Contador, as well as Italian aces Vicenzo Nibali and Michele Scarponi, but the biggest slice of action could come the next day on the 196km ride from Martinsicuro to Prati di Tivo.
It features a series of small climbs before the Piano Roseto (20.8km at an average of 4.7) and the 14.5km (at an average of 7) climb to the mountain finish.
If those stages are inconclusive, a 9.3km time trial around San Benedetto del Tronto on the final day should decide whether Evans keeps his title.
With a 16.9km time trial opening the race on March 7, sprinters – such as British world champion Mark Cavendish (Sky) – will get a chance for glory on stage two’s 230km run from San Vincenzo to Indicatore.
The finale of stage three meanwhile could be tricky enough to tempt one-day classics king Philippe Gilbert of Belgium (BMC).
Contador (Saxo Bank) is still awaiting a decision from the CAS, due for February 6, following a positive test for the banned substance clenbuterol at the 2010 Tour de France.
Stages
Stage 1: March 7: San Vincenzo-Donoratico (16.9km team time trial)
Stage 2: March 8: San Vincenzo-Indicatore (230km)
Stage 3: March 9: Indicatore-Terni (178km)
Stage 4: March 10: Amelia-Chieti (252km)
Stage 5: March 11: Martinsicuro-Prati di Tivo (196km)
Stage 6: March 12: Offida-Offida (181km)
Stage 7: March 13: San Benedetto del Tronto (9.3km time trial)
