He seemed to be trying to be fair, this Tadej Pogacar, who is also in his own league this year. In any case, the Slovenian professional cyclist announced his plan before the race on Saturday – so that the competition has a chance? Attack on Monte Sante Marie.
That’s what Pogacar said before the Strade Bianche one-day race, which was extended to 215 kilometers this year and was therefore even more difficult. It’s just stupid if everyone thinks it’s a joke because it’s still more than 80 kilometers from there to the destination. But Pogacar is Pogacar: always up for a joke. But when it comes to racing, you should take it first. At any time!
Hail, rain and mud
That sounded like a good story: the winner who announces before the race where he will attack. When he arrived at the finish, the 25-year-old revealed that it was more of a joke that he had made before the chase through Italy.
But when they arrived at Monte Santa Marie, it felt like the right moment. “Maybe a little too early, but I knew everyone was suffering because of the terrible conditions.” Hail, rain and mud had softened many of the 15 gravel sectors. Suddenly things got even harder for everyone when Pogacar decided to turn a joke into something serious.
The race on Saturday, which the two-time Tour de France champion visibly enjoyed at the end in the narrow streets of Siena after more than 5:15 hours, was a one-man show. Like in 2022, when Pogacar won. Even then, just over the last 49.2 kilometers. So now without any outside help over 81.1 kilometers. It was Pogacar’s longest solo win of his career.
That was “very painful”. But it was also the longest solo ride by a rider in a one-day race since 2010 (second on this list: Dylan van Baarle with his victory at Across Flanders 2021 with 58 kilometers). And there has never been a greater time difference than the 2:44 minutes that Pogacar separated from the field in a one-day race in the past 15 years.
Without help and slipstream
The race on Saturday was once again one in which people asked themselves afterwards: How can that be? That someone drives away seemingly effortlessly, increases the distance and then holds on long enough that, shortly before the finish, he still has time to high-five the fans on the side of the road in the narrow streets of Siena. Without help from the team. Without slipstream. 81.1 kilometers long.
In cycling, history always quickly raises the suspicion that things might not be going well. Pogacar, who has often been confronted with this due to his dominance, has always rejected allegations of doping. He was not questioned about this on Saturday. There were certainly other explanations that had nothing to do with banned substances or substances.
A comment from Christoph Becker Published/Updated: , Recommendations: 5 A comment from David Lindenfeld Published/Updated: , Recommendations: 17 Alex Westhoff Published/Updated: Recommendations: 14
His team had made the race difficult for a long time, prepared the attack well and then also disrupted the follow-up work. In addition, the pursuers did not agree. “We attacked each other for several kilometers instead of following together,” said Matej Mohoric to the “radsport-news” portal.
That’s not how you catch up with Pogacar. “Of course Tadej is stronger, nobody could follow the attack. But we had him in sight and if we had rotated we would have caught up with him again. But somehow nobody had faith in it.” Mohoric wasn’t the only one who was impressed: “When he attacked, it felt like we were in the grupetto,” said Tom Pidcock, who came fourth: “Everyone looked at each other and thought : What the hell?”
Watch out, dear Jonas!
It was the first race of the season for Pogacar, who is tackling the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France double this year. The way he went about it and won was a clear message heading into July. The Tour de France will also have gravel sectors on one stage.
Jonas Vingegaard, who recently denied Pogacar victory twice, is not known for feeling comfortable on such sections of the track. Completely different from Pogacar. He seemed to signal something with every step on the gravel path: Watch out, dear Jonas!