On the day when Cadel Evans decided to head home to prepare for the Giro d'Italia, BMC got a great result from a Tirreno-Adriatico that has been mostly disappointing for the American team. Manuel Quinziato continued his recent progress in time trials by finishing 8th in a field that contained all the biggest specialists in the world.

Manuel Quinziato powered to an eighth-place finish for the BMC Racing Team Tuesday in the individual time trial that concluded Tirreno-Adriatico. The flat, 9.2-kilometer, out-and-back route along the seaside mostly followed the same time trial circuit that has been utilized at Tirreno-Adriatico since the late 1990s.

Cadel Evans did not start the final stage, opting instead to return home and refocus his training on his season-long goal of racing well at the Giro d'Italia.

Adriano Malori (Movistar Team) won the stage in 10:13, six seconds faster than Fabian Cancellara (Trek Factory Racing) and 11 seconds better than Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky). Quinziato's result was his second top 10 finish in a time trial this season, adding to a sixth-place at the Tour de San Luis in January.

Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo), winner of Sunday's uphill finish at Guardiagrele, took the overall title – and Neptune’s trident trophy that goes with it – 2:05 ahead of Nario Quintana (Movistar Team). Contador's teammate, Roman Kreuziger, was third, 2:14 behind. Ben Hermans was the BMC Racing Team's top finisher overall in 16th, 5:24 behind. Dominik Nerz was also in the top 20, in 19th, 6:34 back.

"I am pretty happy because my shape is good," Quinziato says. "This was my last stage race before the classics so I think I am ready. It was a flat time trial – nine kilometers – and high power, so I am pretty happy with my performance. My sixth place at Argentina gave me good confidence and I believed I could be top 10. So I am happy I did it."

"Manuel was super motivated to go full gas in this short time trial," sports director Valerio Piva said. "It's good for him. As for the overall, we started this race with big objectives on the GC (general classification) with Cadel. From the beginning – the team time trial – it was not good. When you start the wrong direction, it is difficult to find a good way.

"Cadel was not in the best shape and Philippe (Gilbert) only had one stage where he was able to do something, when he was fourth. But he was there for the victory. So we did not have the best Tirreno-Adriatico, but we had some good signs from Philippe. So I am happy he finished his preparations well and everyone is in good health."