photo credits @ Strade Bianche
Tadej Pogačar once again stamped his authority on Strade Bianche, after the World Champion jettisoned the lead group with one of his signature long-range attacks with just under 80 kilometers to go, earning the Slovenian rider a record-breaking 4th victory in the early-season semi-classic.
His triumph now means he’s the only rider in the race’s 20-year history to win four times, surpassing a record he previously shared with three-time winner Fabian Cancellara.
Meanwhile, in the duel for second place, Paul Seixas dropped Pogačar’s UAE Team Emirates – XRG teammate Isaac del Toro on the Via Santa Caterina finishing climb to claim the penultimate spot on the podium.
Race Highlights
A nine-rider breakaway group containing Tibor Del Grosso (Alpecin-Premier Tech), Patrick Konrad (Lidl-Trek), Jack Haig (Ineos Grenadiers), Tim Rex (Visma-Lease a Bike), Martin Marcellusi (Bardiani CSF 7 Saber), Davide Toneatti (XDS Astana), Anders Foldager (Jayco-AlUla), Adrien Boichis (Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe) and Samuele Zoccarato (MBH Bank CSB Telecom Fort) escaped the peloton early on. However, UAE Team Emirates – XRG was keen to lift the pace along the Monte Sante Marie gravel sector, later reeling in the escapees.
From there, UAE-Emirates continued to control the pace, and with 79.5 kilometers to go, Pogačar executed his winning move, leaving only Seixas to chase in earnest.
Indeed, at one point, it appeared as though the French rider might catch Pogačar, but ultimately, the Slovenian remained outside of his grasp.
In the meantime, Del Toro bridged his way to Seixas. However, Seixas later dropped his Mexican rival on the Le Tolfe II, while race hopefuls such as Tom Pidcock and Wout van Aert languished well behind.
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