In a tactical race, Thibaut Pinot finished sixth in the fifth stage of Tirreno-Adriatico on a snow-capped Monte Terminillo and kept his fourth place overall and the white jersey for best young rider. He demonstrated that it is one of three strong men of the peloton behind an untouchable Nairo Quintana.

Like on the French Riviera for the finish of Paris-Nice, winter returned to the Apennines and the riders battled all day in difficult conditions. Snow was forecast for the final part of the ascent, which was not displeasing to Pinot but unfortunately Cédric Pineau and Johan Le Bon were forced to retire.

The early break with Italian Scarponi (Astana) was about to be caugh when Quintana attacked and left everybody else behind.

Behind him, Pinot was the most active and part of a three-rider group with Contador (Saxo-Tinkoff) and Pozzovivo (AG2R-La Mondiale) but there was no cooperation.

"When we were three together, we did not cooperate. I attacked several times and Contador responded every time but when Mollema accelerated, he did not move," Pinot said.

"Thibaut really worked very well  although the headwind was frustrating," sports director Yvon Madiot said. "Quintana was above the rest but Thibaut was the most aggressive of the rest. It is unfortunate that there was no agreement because it allowed Mollema to take second place and a small group (with Joaquim Rodriguez and Uran) to get back. And it's a shame that there is only one stage for climbers in this race."

Everything is going to be decided in the final time trial in San Benedetto del Tronto (10 km) and as Madiot said, since the differences are not big, Pinot could end Tirreno-Adriatico in every place between 3rd and 6th. 

"He has worked very hard and if he rides as he did in the prologue, he will be in the top 5."