Epic solo ride!

Slovenian Tadej Pogacar dominates Strade Bianche

The Slovenian Tadej Pogacar has underlined his exceptional position in cycling with another special performance. The 25-year-old UAE pro won the Italian one-day classic "Strade Bianche" on Saturday in his first race of the season after an 80 km solo ride in superior style. 

Pogacar triumphed after 215 km in Tuscany, 71 of which were on the eponymous white natural roads, 2:44 minutes ahead of Latvian Toms Skujins.

Wet road
Pogacar had successfully attacked from a leading group on one of the longest gravel sections 81 km before the finish. Intermittent rain had made the race, which had been extended by 30 km this year with 3,700 meters of climbing, even tougher. One of the casualties was former world champion Julian Alaphilippe, the Soudal rider who won in 2019 dropped out after a crash.

The women's race (137 km) was won by world champion Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx), as in 2022. The Belgian outsprinted the Italian Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl/+ 4 sec.) on the final climb. Her teammate and last year's winner Demi Vollering (NED/26) finished third. The Tyrolean Christina Schweinberger from the Fenix team finished 15th, two minutes back.