On a stage dedicated to Michele Scarponi, there was no surprise to see compatriot and former team-mate Dario Cataldo (Astana) in the breakaway, joined by Igor Boeve (Gazprom-RusVelo), Kristijan Koren (Bahrain-Merida), Steve Morabito (Groupama-FDJ) and Iljo Keisse (QuickStep Floors).

With little interest in the intermediate sprints or climbs, however, the group’s advantage – which stood at six minutes at its maximum, was soon whittled down.

Mitchelton-Scott and Team Sky both pulled in the peloton, and swept up most off the break with more than 10km still to race.

Cataldo put in one last dig to keep Astana at the front of the race, and pay his tribute to Scarponi, but he too was swept up before the final climb.

Behind him, Sagan led home the sprint for second, but Kwiatkowski claimed third place and enough bonus seconds to overhaul overnight leader Damiano Caruso’s slender advantage.

The Pole now leads the BMC Racing man by three seconds, with stage four winner Landa third at 23 seconds.

With a sprint stage and a time trial still to come, Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) also remains in the hunt for a podium finish at 29 seconds back, while Yates moved up to sixth at 36 seconds.

Tirreno-Adriatico 2018: stage five – result

1) Adam Yates (GBR) – Mitchelton-Scott – 4.16.35hrs
2) Peter Sagan (SVK) – Bora-hansgrohe +7”
3) Michal Kwiatkowski (POL) – Team Sky – ST
4) Tiesj Benoot (BEL) – Lotto-Soudal
5) Rigoberto Uran (COL) – EF-Drapac
6) Geraint Thomas (GBR) – Team Sky
7) Mikel Landa (ESP) – Movistar
8) Jaime Roson (ESP) – Movistar
9) Romain Bardet (FRA) – Ag2r-La Mondiale
10) Damiano Caruso (ITA) – BMC Racing

General classification

1) Michal Kwiatkowski (POL) – Team Sky – 21.31.28hrs
2) Damiano Caruso (ITA) – BMC Racing +3”
3) Mikel Landa (ESP) – Movistar +23”
4) Geraint Thomas (GBR) – Team Sky +29”
5) Rigoberto Uran (COL) – Team EF-Drapac +34”
6) Adam Yates (GBR) – Mitchelton-Scott +36”
7) Davide Formolo (ITA) – Bora-hansgrohe +37”
8) Tiesj Benoot (BEL) – Lotto-Soudal +39”
9) George Bennett (NZL) – LottoNL-Jumbo +41”
10) Jaime Roson (ESP) – Movistar +47”