Suedesi
Full Member
Strade Bianche, Pogacar: 81 km winning breakaway.
Tadej Pogacar, made a remarkable debut this season by winning Strade Bianche. Pogacar showcased his exceptional talent on the 18th edition of Strade Bianche, particularly on the challenging 11.5km stretch of Monte Sante Marie dirt road, known for its five-star difficulty rating and steep 18% gradients. With 81km remaining, Pogacar launched a decisive attack, quickly distancing himself from the peloton with a 10-meter lead. His closest rival, Sepp Kuss appeared bewildered by Pogacar's move. As Pogacar surged ahead, the weather shifted from rain to sunshine, symbolizing his dominance. He crossed the finish line in Siena's Piazza del Campo with a substantial lead of 2'43" over Latvian Toms Skujins and 2'46" over Belgian Wout Van Gils, followed by Tom Pidcock and Matej Mohoric.
The absence of cycling stars like Van der Poel, Van Aert, Evenepoel, and particularly Vingegaard doesn't diminish Pogacar's impressive achievement. With 30km remaining, he led the main group by four minutes. His 2022 victory at Strade Bianche featured a 51km solo breakaway, starting from the same Monte Sante Marie section, but this year he extended it to 81km. When considering major one-day races, excluding grand tour stages, Pogacar's performance is unparalleled. The closest comparison might be Fausto Coppi's legendary solo win at Milan-San Remo in 1946, covering 147km from the Passo del Turchino, marking cycling's post-World War II revival. Pogacar is now set for another challenge at Sanremo on March 16, where he has consistently excelled in the final stages. He will be up against the world champion, Van der Poel, promising an exciting showdown.