Nikias Arndt was the fastest home for Team Giant-Alpecin at the end of the closing 10km individual time trial of this year’s Tirreno-Adriatico, finishing just 43″ off the pace.

Arndt, a silver medallist at the German National Time Trial Championships in 2014, covered the fast, flat course in a time of 12’06”, with an average speed of over 49km/h. Chad Haga was next home in 60th, 57″ down on stage winner Fabian Cancellara (Trek Factory Racing).

After his effort, Haga said: “For me it was a disappointing result. I had a good race with the legs I brought, but they didn’t have much left in them after the past four days of hard racing.

“It was a real power course, basically two flat straights of 5km where you just put your head down and go. I’ll make good use of the few easy days ahead now to be ready to tackle Milan-Sanremo on Sunday.”