Top Riders press conference at Tirreno-Adriatico: what Roglič, Del Toro and Tiberi said

If you don’t speak (much) Italian, there wasn’t a whole lot to gain on Sunday along the Tyrrhenian coast. Despite being billed as a “Top Riders Press Conference”, Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert — arguably the biggest global stars on the start list — did not attend.

That was hardly a shock. Van der Poel had enjoyed an early birthday dinner with his partner Roxanne Bertels the night before travelling to Italy, while Van Aert had already been required to appear at Friday’s Strade Bianche team presentation and then raced Strade itself on Saturday. On Sunday, he kept it to a relaxed 45-kilometre spin.

Those who were present included Isaac del Toro, Primož Roglič, Antonio Tiberi, Filippo Ganna, plus Jonathan Milan and Paul Magnier. The first three are widely viewed as the top overall favourites in the absence of Tadej Pogačar — though Ganna, who finished second overall last year, can also be added to that conversation with a bit of imagination.

“But I take it day by day,” said Ganna, who is starting Tirreno-Adriatico for the tenth time. “I feel less than last year right now, but back then my peak for Paris–Roubaix was already behind me. The opening time trial in Lido di Camaiore is obviously a goal. I hope to win it for a fourth time.”

Press conferences with Roglič are never dull — at least not if you enjoy his trademark dry humour. Roglič, one of the last major names to begin his 2026 road season, was asked about that fact. “Yes, that’s true,” the Slovenian replied. “Maybe the others are wiser than I am, despite my age. We will see, huh.” Roglič delivered the line while wearing a beanie, sunglasses, a base layer, a jersey and a gilet — despite temperatures of around 17 degrees Celsius and some sunshine on the Italian coast.

Roglič, a former ski jumper, also confirmed he used the winter to visit the Olympic Winter Games. “Everyone here knows I actually wanted to compete in the Winter Games, but it became the Summer Games,” said the 2021 Olympic time trial champion. “But it was nice — I enjoyed it.”

As for his training afterwards? “I was on Tenerife, but it wasn’t a holiday,” he explained. “It was a good altitude camp, and now I’m happy to race again. I’m not worried about the result — I’m mainly looking forward to racing again.”

Anyone checking the bookmakers will see Del Toro listed as the outright top favourite to win this Tirreno-Adriatico. The Mexican, however, wasn’t in the mood for a long chat the day after his third place at Strade Bianche. “It’s going to be a difficult race, but we have to stay alert every day,” Del Toro said. “I don’t really see a queen stage, because anything can happen on any day.” Standard answers delivered — and he was gone.

Antonio Tiberi, by contrast, had much more to say. Like many Italians, he arrived at the UNA Versilia hotel on the phone, then offered his thoughts on what’s coming. “I finished third at Tirreno-Adriatico last year and that’s a great memory,” said Tiberi. “But this year’s course suits me less than last year.”

The Bahrain Victorious rider — a recent UAE Tour stage winner — continued: “I prefer longer and harder climbs, but some of the finales look interesting. I already reconned stage two with the gravel roads and I’m going to try to do well again. It could be an exciting race with small gaps, where intermediate sprints make the difference,” he predicted.