When Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo) bridged across to the early escapees in today's Tirreno-Adriatico stage, the stage seemed to have been decided. However, Simon Geschke (Giant-Shimano) almost did the impossible as he was very close to matching the Spaniard all the way to the top of the brutally steep Muro Guardiagrele.

Simon Geschke has finished in second place on stage 5 of Tirreno-Adriatico today at the end of a tough 25% climb to the finish.

Geschke got himself into the early breakaway of eight riders, initially missing the move but then attacking and bridging across to the others.

The breakaway was full of strong rouleurs and they soon set about building up big gap over the peloton, however with a long climb of the Passo Lanciano and then a steep finishing hill to the line, with gradients of up to 25% a healthy advantage was needed.

On the long penultimate climb of the day, Geschke pulled away with just Ben King (Garmin) for company and pulled clear while behind the GC favourites started to stretch their legs.

Alberto Contador (Saxo) attacked from the chase group and on the descent back down into the valley he bridged across to Geschke, dragging one other over with him to make it four at the front. From here it was all about saving as much energy as possible for the energy sapping slopes to the finish.

Contador pulled away at the base of the climb but Geschke dug deep and clawed his way back before Contador went again and held on to the finish to take his second consecutive stage of the race. Geschke finished a few seconds behind to take an impressive second place, his first podium spot of the year.

After the stage, Simon Geschke said:

“I was feeling good all day and I said to [sports director] Aike early on when I was in the break that I had the legs to go for a result today. On the long hill I could tell that I was the strongest in the break and I pushed on but knew I had to save something for the finish.

“When Contador came across it was obvious that he wanted to win the stage and he was fresher and stronger. The finish hill was brutal – I was riding 34 x 28 but it still felt like I was in the big ring. If I could have held onto Contador for a bit longer I think I stood a good chance of winning the stage but when he went again I couldn’t stay with him.

“I felt great today though which is good and am climbing well, so I am happy.”

A proud coach, Aike Visbeek said:

“The plan was again to go for the break with Simon and then for Tobias [Ludvigsson] to test himself on the climbs. It worked out perfectly and Simon was on a really good day, probably the strongest out front. He survived the last mountain but couldn’t hold on at the last past of the steep finishing climb.

“Tobias rode full gas behind and finished strongly too, and the team support he had is a great learning experience for him. There were no mistakes today, i’m a proud DS.”

Tomorrow’s stage returns to the flat lands and will be another opportunity to set up Marcel Kittel for a sprint finish before the final individual time trial on Tuesday.

You can read our preview of stage 6 here.