• The penultimate stage featured a relentless barrage of short, steep climbs
  • Juan Antonio Flecha was in a playful mood ahead of the start
  • Alberto Contador was in the red points jersey but was plotting how to possibly take the race lead
  • The Maglia Azzurra belonged to Chris Froome who took a 20-second lead into the 209-kilometre test
  • Dario Cataldo was impressive once again in a supporting role on the climbs
  • In the break for the second day in succession was Damiano Cunego
  • Third time up the Sant'Elpidio a Mare climb Vincenzo Nibali put in a dig...
  • ...Dragging Joaquim Rodriguez and Peter Sagan along with him on the difficult finale
  • The combination of 27% gradient and wet roads meant some riders, including Stijn Devolder, had to walk it
  • Others like Greg Henderson needed a push start on the incredible climb
  • The incline was too much for Niki Terpstra
  • Sagan resorted to zig-zagging his way up the hill
  • Nibali, right, and Rodriguez struggled against the gradient
  • Nibali was on a mission and set about putting time into his rivals
  • Behind the remaining contenders, including Chris Horner, scrambled to try and set up a chase
  • Froome became distanced and had to battle back solo to the next chasing group
  • Cadel Evans drove the second chase group forward, the peloton in pieces
  • At the finish it was Sagan who bested Nibali and Rodriguez in the sprint
  • The margin of victory was convincing as the Slovak cemented his favourite status for Milan-Sanremo
  • Contador finished next in a group of four chasers, 44 seconds back
  • Froome finished a further six seconds down behind Evans after a valiant effort
  • Nibali was the big winner on the day, moving into a 34-second lead with just a short time trial remaining

Tirreno-Adriatico Stage Six Gallery

The penultimate stage featured a relentless barrage of short, steep climbs