CYCLING: Quintana holds on to win Tirreno-Adriatico

Colombian cyclist Nairo Quintana celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the fourth stage of the Tirreno Adriatico cycling race from Montalto di Castro to Terminillo, Italy, Saturday, March 11, 2017. (Dario Belingheri/ANSA via AP)

Colombian Nairo Quintana laid down an early marker for the Tour de France when he won the Tirreno-Adriatico stage race after holding on to his overall lead at the end of the final time trial on Tuesday evening.

Australian Rohan Dennis (BMC) prevailed in the 10.5-km solo effort against the clock to finish second overall ahead of France’s Thibaut Pinot (FDJ).

Quintana (Movistar), a twice Tour de France runner-up, who built his victory with a win in the main mountain stage that ended up the Terminillo pass, finished with a 25-second advantage over Dennis, with Pinot ending up 36 seconds off the pace. World champion Peter Sagan nearly knocked down a lady who walked in front of him.