Tadej Pogačar will make his season debut at Strade Bianche on Saturday, happy to be back racing and hungry for a second victory on the spectacular gravel roads of Tuscany.
The Slovenian has trained quietly at home in Monte Carlo in recent weeks, watching his Grand Tour rivals Jonas Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel dominate their early races.
He’s opted for a reduced spring programme to prepare for his Giro d’Italia-Tour de France double attempt in the summer but is bursting with energy and enthusiasm after getting a taste of the gravel roads of Strade Bianche during a route reconnaissance on Thursday.
“In the last few days, I really felt the desire to race, to have some fun. I’m really motivated, I can’t wait to get going,” Pogačar admitted to La Gazzetta dello Sport in an exclusive interview.
Pogačar posted several photographs of his recon ride on social media, including on the final climb to central Siena up the steep Via Santa Caterina and in the stunning Piazza del Campo that hosts the annual Palio horse race and the finish of Strade Bianche.
He has ridden Strade Bianche every season since turning professional except for 2023 when he targeted Paris-Nice. He won two years ago with a 50km solo attack and the combination of gravel roads and steep climb seems to suit him perfectly.
Gazzetta listed Pogačar as their only five-star favourite and everyone else knows they will have to beat Pogačar and his strong UAE Team Emirates squad if they want to win in Siena on Saturday.
“It’s different from every other race,” Pogačar said of Strade Bianche with enthusiasm. “I love the route and the gravel sectors. Then there are lots of climbs that suit me too. Strade Bianche is pure fun.
“It was one of the first one-day races I rode as a professional [in 2019 – Ed]. I loved it from that first time. It’s a kind of chaos. Year after year I saw how I progressed until I was able to win it in 2022.
“It makes me feel like a kid again, especially when we race hard on the climbs. I also love Tuscany. It’s a pity not to have ever been here on holiday but that’s a goal for the future.”
Pogačar last raced in early October when he won Il Lombardia for a third consecutive time. In recent weeks he has watched from home as Remco Evenepoel and Jonas Vingegaard impress at the Volta ao Algarve and O Gran Camiño.
With Pogačar not racing Paris-Nice or Tirreno-Adriatico, he will only race…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at CyclingNews RSS Feed…