Tirreno-Adriatico: on the scene at stages 3, 4, and 5

After a few days without much internet access, I finally seem to have a decent connection, so I'll take the opportunity to post some photos from the last three T-A stages.

It took a bit of effort to find a good spot near the finish line in Arezzo, since we weren't allowed for safety reasons to be out on the road during the five circuits through the city.  I eventually stood at the open gate to the RAI booth enclosure, expecting to be shooed away, but no one said a word.  After a while, a few more photogs joined me.  One of them was Roberto Bettini!  That's when I knew I had picked a good spot.

The breakaway group held off the Tinkoff-Saxo-led peloton for the first few circuits.

Crowds of spectators lined the road for the viewer-friendly circuits.

Nibali, Uran and Quintana rode together.

Nocentini rode back in the cars with Betancur for the early circuits, before moving up to finish in the front group.

Greg Van Avermaet wins a close one as Stybar and Sagan lunge for the line.  Van Avermaet said at the press conference that he knew it was too close for him to risk any pre-finish-line celebration.

Cancellara after the finish:

Contador:

Van Avermaet headed back to the podium to collect his trophy and leader's jersey.

Sagan, presumably disappointed by missing out on the stage win, looked sheepish as he collected his points jersey.

stage 4 winner Wouter Poels looked thrilled as he rode into the finish area, met up with his teammates, and took his turn on the podium.

After four sunny stages, the Terminillo finish of stage five was a different story.

A small but vocal Colombian contingent braved the snow to cheer their hero on to victory.

Bauke Mollema rode to an impressive second place on the stage.

Uran, Pozzovivo, Contador, Rodriguez, and Yates:

Van den Broek and Kreuziger:

The snow fell harder as the stage went on, probably making Nibali's bad day feel even worse.

Brambilla:

Snow was building up on Danni Moreno's bare forearms.  Ouch!

By the time later groups came through, visibility was as bad as it had been on the foggy Terminillo stage of the 2010 Giro.