On Tuesday, Estonian cyclist Madis Mihkels achieved a notable ninth-place finish in the third stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico cycling tour, covering a distance of 221 kilometers. The stage victory was claimed by Danish cyclist Tobias Lund Andresen from the Decathlon CMA CGM Team, who outpaced Belgian riders Arnaud de Lie and Jasper Philipsen. Mihkels expressed surprise at the finishing dynamics, indicating he was in a strong position but caught on the wrong side of the final push due to wind conditions, which affected his sprinting strategy.

Mihkels highlighted that he had anticipated a different racing outcome as he was positioned behind compatriot Jonathan Milan, who finished seventh. He remarked on the tactical element of the finish line, where he expected the left side to close up during the final left-hand turn, but this did not transpire, leaving him unable to respond effectively in the closing moments. This lack of tactical execution impacted his finishing speed, ultimately leading to his ninth-place result.

Currently, the overall leader of the cycling tour is Mexican cyclist Isaac del Toro from UAE Team Emirates – XRG. With Giulio Pellizzari of Italy trailing by four seconds and Magnus Sheffield of the USA trailing by 14 seconds, Mihkels stands in 128th place overall, a significant distance behind the leaders. Despite this result, Mihkels's performance in such a competitive field indicates potential for future races as he continues to develop his sprinting skills.