Tadej Pogacar has enhanced his already impressive list of achievements with the Strade Bianche. The Slovenian Tour winner single-handedly chose the harepath at 50 kilometers from the finish in Siena. Many other favourites, such as Alaphilippe and Benoot, were more or less eliminated by a spectacular crash.
The 16th Strade Bianche in a nutshell:
- key moment (1): Falls and bad luck are part of the Strade Bianche like mayonnaise with chips, but the crash at 100 kilometers from the finish was horrifying. Lightweights like Julian Alaphilippe and Tiesj Benoot had no chance. Their course was there – partly or not – helped to the pennants.
- key moment (2): Tadej Pogacar also studied the Tuscan gravel closely, but the Slovenian Sunday child let the tumble slip away. What’s more: at 50 kilometers from the finish it was time to “arrivederci” and to book. Masterful!
- oldie of the day: On Alejandro Valverde but no wear. At 41 he had his best result in Siena. Still thinking about that pension?
A trap to be scared of
How was your day at work? A somersault at 100 kilometers from the finish, an attack 50 kilometers later and the victory in Siena another 50 kilometers further.
Tadej Pogacar’s Tuscan Saturday was by no means an everyday occurrence, but the Slovenian proved once again that he is not a baker.
Pogacar did not escape a spectacular fall 100 kilometers from the triumphal arch.
Julian Alaphilippe and a large bunch were strangled by a strong gust of wind, but the world champion was able to rejoin after catching up.
There was no good news for Tiesj Benoot, Victor Campenaerts and Gianni Vermeersch: their Strade Bianche was already over by then.
An attack that really instills fear
On adrenaline and wrath, Alaphilippe went on to lure the rest on the very tough 8th stretch, but everyone was speechless when Pogacar already unleashed his devils at 50 km from the finish.
The Slovenian kamikaze pilot accelerated in a descent and gathered all his courage for a solo of no less than 50 kilometers.
In no time the beaten were already looking at a deficit of 1’40”. Alaphilippe accepted a subservient role, with the courage of despair the rest tried to make something of it.
A victory that only deserves respect
On the 9th of 11 lanes Pogacar’s style got a bit more tense, but the counter-punch from Kasper Asgreen, Alejandro Valverde, Tim Wellens and Quinn Simmons only created some artificial tension.
The decline was logical, but by no means spectacular. With his daring solo, Pogacar once again confirmed that he cycles in a different competition and once again wrote his own cycling laws.
The Slovenian makes his mark in history and deserves more than his place in the gallery of the greats.
The places of honor of Valverde (2nd), Asgreen (3rd) and Wellens (8th) were unfortunately completely in the shade for them.
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Wow! Pogacar completes 50km solo and wins Strade Bianche
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Pogacar even hands out a high five to a Slovenian fan
