RCS Sport announced the route for the 55th Tirreno-Adriatico on Thursday, which since 2011 has started each year with a prologue or team time trial on the west coast, starting with a 134-km stage at Lido di Camaiore.

Although avoiding high mountains this year, the 2020 Tirreno-Adriatico route will feature a summit finish on the Sassottetto on stage 4. The 1345-meter-high mountain has not been featured since 2018, when Mikel Landa won on the snow-covered summit.

As per tradition, the Tirreno Adriatico will conclude with a 10.1 km time trial in San Benedetto del Tronto.

The 2020 Race of the Seas will feature a mix of traditional stages and new routes, with the new opening stage taking place on a tough 26 km circuit that includes Monte Pitolo. [The second stage, from Camaiore to Follonica, is 198 km long and crosses Sassetta on a mostly flat route. Stage 3 is 233 km long and includes two sectional climbs (Scansano and Poggio Nibbio).

In addition, a 204 km long stage continues from Terni to the summit finish at Sassottetto. The Sassotet climb was not only the summit finish of 2018, but also on the route of stage 5 to Camerino in 2009, when Michele Scarponi took the stage win.

This year's Sassottetto stage passes through four sectional mountains: the 15km-long Pettino, the shorter Forca di Ancarano, and the climb to the Machereto Sanctuary of Santa Margherita before a 13km climb to the finish.

Loreto will be the finish of stage 5. This 181 km stage from Pieve Trina is called "The Wall" by the race organizers. With three 25km laps around Loreto and an uphill and steep climb to the finish in Recanti, this stage is ideal for the classics specialists.

Sprinters will enjoy the 178-km stage from Castelfidardo to Senigallia. This is a change from the hilly, undulating course to four laps of a completely flat and wide 16 km circuit.

San Benedetto del Tronto will host the 54th Grande Finale out of 55 total. Only in the first edition is the finish from San Benedetto del Tronto to Pescara different.

The 10 km individual time trial along the seafront will continue from 2015 with an intermediate check at the 4.7 km mark and a 2.5 km straight to the final.

Says Stefano Allocchio, race director of RCS Sport: "This year's course is slightly different from the previous one. We decided to do away with the team time trial and opted for a road stage suitable for sprinters.

"There will also be an uphill finish on the same sassottet that Mikel Landa won in 2018, which will be a key moment in the race. There are two dangerous stages in Lazio and Marche (with its famous walls) before concluding with the traditional individual time trial in San Benedetto del Tronto and finishing in Loreto.

"It's a well-balanced route, suitable for all-rounders who can fight on any terrain. I am convinced that the final winner will not be known until the final stage.

Stage 1 Pieve Torina - Loreto 181km

Stage 6 Castelfidardo - Senigallia 178km

Stage 7 San Benedetto del Toronto (individual time trial) 10.05km [41]