Fabian Cancellara celebrated his birthday by proving that he is ready for Sunday's Milan-Sanremo when he posted his best-ever time on the flat course that is the tradition scene of the final time trial in Tirreno-Adriatico. Looking forward to pizza and wine this evening, the Swiss was pleased with his ride on a day that also saw Trek's GC riders Julian Arredondo and Robert Kiserlovski take overall top 7 results.

Trek Factory Racing finished with a bang on the final day in Italy, placing two riders in the top 10 for the stage and the overall classification.

The perfectly flat 9.1-kilometer time trial to end Tirreno-Adriatico paralleled the sea as riders traveled four kilometers, made a U-turn, and returned on the hotdog shaped course.

It was Adriano Malori (Movistar) blasting through the finish with the fastest time ever on this course in 10:13.  Fabian Cancellera was the closest finisher to the 26-year-old Italian stopping the clock in 10:19, six seconds slower. Bradley Wiggins rounded out the top three in 10:24.

“I did not have a good feeling at the start,” Cancellara explained soon after he had completed his effort. “I could not push the gears. Halfway through I had a better feeling of pushing gears and going really, really fast. I am actually happy how I finished since I did not do specific training as my focus is on something else. Malori put in a great ride and it shows that the competition in all disciplines is growing. 

“For me it is always good to do a time trial like this. I can definitely have a good glass of wine tonight, with a pizza!”

Trek Factory Racing’s Stijn Devolder placed ninth (+24”), showing he also is in good form for the upcoming Classics.

The top rungs in the general classification still had plenty room for movement with seconds separating second place through 12th, and the focus after the time trial specialists had all come through turned to the last riders starting the TT.

Robert Kiserlovski proved his work over the winter had paid off as he crossed the line in 10:57, good enough to jump him from 10th to 7th in the final overall.

“I am happy with this TT,” confirmed Kiserlovski. “Dirk [Demol] supported me a lot today, he kept telling me to push, push, push! I did much better than last year. Also, I am not 100% today; I am a little bit sick, so to do what I did…Yes, I am super happy.”

Julián Arredondo put in a strong performance. The diminutive climber finished in 11:09, and although he dropped one spot in the overall to fifth,  it was much better than expected.

“I went ‘a tope’; I gave it my all,” said Arredondo. “I love racing in Italy, and I am happy to finish in fifth. This gives me motivation to keep working for Flèche Wallonne, my dream race, and also for the Giro. I was not thinking to go for the overall here, maybe a stage win, so this is a surprise for me, and it makes me think maybe one day I can win a race like Tirreno.”

Alberto Contador handedly won the overall classification, as Nairo Quintana (Movistar) and Roman Kreuziger (Tinkoff-Saxo) successfully defended their podium spots to complete the final three GC.

Today is the birthday of Fabian Cancellara, and although he did not receive the birthday gift of a victory, he found something more rewarding when he ran into an old friend after the race.

“I am happy with the ride, and the birthday, but I found out after the race that there is more to life than making a good TT, or having a birthday. I saw someone today that I see maybe once per year, and today when I saw him he was not in the best state of health. It was not what I expected to see, and I was happy to be able to help boost his morale. In just two minutes you can give a person something more, and that has touched me more than anything else that happened today.”

Trek Factory Racing also gained valuable WorlTour points with its good performances in both Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriactico moving the team from 16th to 9th place in the team standings.