Bloodied Tadej Pogačar reclaims title in Strade Bianche epic

Becoming the first rider in the race’s 18-year history to defend his title, Tadej Pogačar won Strade Bianche in the most spectacular fashion on Saturday afternoon. The UAE Team Emirates-XRG leader attacked with 18.6km to go and in a repeat of his performance from last season, stayed alone to the finish in Siena. In truth, however, the manner of victories could not be more different.

Battered, bloodied and bruised, the Slovenian was forced to produce a ride of the utmost bravery this time around to recover from a crash suffered inside the final 50km.

Having gone clear of the favourites group with Tom Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling), Pogačar hit the deck in a three-up move alongside the 2023 champion and Ineos Grenadiers’ Connor Swift. The dramatic tumble left Pogačar with abrasions to his left-hand side and holes aplenty in his (no longer) all-white skinsuit. However, the reigning champion showed tremendous grinta to drop Swift, chase down Pidcock and eventually surge clear of the Q36.5 man with 18.6km to ride.

At one point it had looked inconceivable, but the 26-year-old was soon roared into Siena as the first world champion to win Strade Bianche resplendent in his rainbow bands. With the tifosi producing a reception befitting of his epic ride, Pogačar could not contain his smile at a postcard finish within the Piazzo del Campo.

As the two-time champion heading into the race, all eyes were on Pogačar and his UAE Team Emirates-XRG teammates at the beginning of the day in Siena. However, the seven-strong squad did not let this pressure deter them from producing a result to remember.

Behind Pogačar’s startling display, Tim Wellens showed his own great form to drop the Slovenian’s chasers and come home in third place. It is the Belgian’s second podium at this race in recent years, with the pair becoming the first teammates in nine years to finish in the top three at Strade Bianche.

With his victory, Pogačar has equalled Fabian Cancellara’s record of three wins in the fan-favourite Classic. Bloodied, bruised, history-maker.

As he celebrated in the historic town square, Pogačar exuded all the enthusiasm that has made the world champion a perfect fit for this chaotic race. An hour or so earlier, though, it all looked to have gone wrong for the defending champion.

The day had started out in perfect manner, with UAE Team Emirates-XRG escaping the crashes that had befallen many of the team’s rivals. With 95km to go and the peloton well into the toughest period of the race, Florian Vermeersch led his teammates Isaac del Toro, Wellens and Pogačar, all four of them at the very head of the bunch. Vermeersch’s role in this moment was vital, making his eventual 18th-place finish all the more impressive.

For Del Toro, the moment to increase the pace come with a little over 81km to ride. The Mexican set a lightning pace at the front of the peloton, shredding the group in size and ensuring that the Monte Sante Marie would be as hard as possible for all involved. It was Wellens’ turn next, and the Belgian reduced the group of favourites to just Pogačar, Pidcock, Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) and Roger Adrià (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe).

With Pogačar’s attack appearing inevitable, Pidcock took his opportunity at 78.5km out to seize the initiative. To his credit, the Brit made the first proper attack of the race and ensured that the Slovenian would have to scamper along the gravel to stay on the wheel. With their form evident, the pair soon showed a clean pair of heels to the remnants of the day’s breakaway. That is, except for Swift of Ineos Grenadiers.

The British national gravel champion dug deep to stay involved and heading towards the final 70km, the trio quickly developed a gap of over a minute to those chasing. As Wellens surfed the wheels in the group behind, Pogačar would soon find himself at the centre of a moment of drama.

Taking a left-hand bend in first position at 49.7km to go, Pogačar saw his back wheel slide out and send the Slovenian to the asphalt. Holding on to his bars for as long as possible, the 26-year-old slid along the ground and went flying into the grass verge.

Safely negotiating the mayhem, Pidcock continued his forward march and went off alone, with Swift forced to unclip. As the latter went off in pursuit, the camera was focused solely on Pogačar, whose sunglasses were strewn across his nose in a scene that certainly captured the moment.

Thankfully, Pogačar was able to quickly remount and despite needing to change to an alternate within a few hundred metres, the Slovenian could put his head down into the chase aboard his backup bike. With added motivation, the UAE Team Emirates-XRG man produced a ferocious assault that saw Swift caught and dropped, before bridging across to Pidcock at 46km to go.

The pair would ride together, that is, with Pogačar torn and bruised, until the Colle Pinzuto, which was the day’s penultimate sector of gravel. On the climb, Pogačar put the finishing touches on this particular masterpiece, attacking out of the saddle and leaving Pidcock in an exhausted trail of dust.

It had been a fantastic ride by the former champion, but he was unable to follow Pogačar’s acceleration and as the Slovenian entered the 16th and final sector of gravel, the gap was already an unassailable one minute. As for Wellens, the Belgian too made use of the gravel climb, pressing on from the chasing group and riding strongly to the finish in Siena. His third-place finish ensured that two UAE Team Emirates-XRG riders would take to the day’s podium.

Taking place over the white gravel roads of Tuscany, Strade Bianche only has a short history but has quickly become one of the most popular points on the calendar. With the spin of a back wheel on the loose asphalt and a cacophony of noise emanating from the roadside fans, the world champion road with all the heart of a three-time champion as he wrote another impressive chapter into his palmarès.

The Slovenian’s victory on Saturday marks UAE Team Emirates-XRG’s 15th of the season, with the Emirati squad on pace to eclipse last season’s record-breaking campaign. With the Tuscan backdrop to his courageous assault, Pogačar’s Strade Bianche success will no doubt last the test of time as one of the highlights of the season.

Pogačar: “It was a pretty good race today. It was super fast, a really strong breakaway and our guys did amazing work on the front. I’m really happy to take the win.

“I really enjoyed it all until I crossed the finish line. After the adrenaline wore off I start to feel the scratches and scrapes, so it is not the best way to win a race. Thankfully it’s nothing serious but I will be picking out thorns from my side for a few days.

“I know that stretch of road very well, I have ridden it already 20 times in my life but sometimes you misjudge and I just slipped. For a moment, I did not know if I was ok, and I had to change the bike. I was a bit worried because when you crash, the body takes a lot from you but I still had enough to finish and I managed to pull it off. Tim also taking the final podium spot with me was the icing on the cake. He’s a great guy and deserves it.”

Thankfully, there are no concerns about Pogačar following the crash. He escaped only with abrasions.

Strade Bianche results

1. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 5:13:58

2. Tom Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling) +1:24

3. Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +2:12