As the dust settles on another edition of Strade Bianche, the events and emotions of the day slowly become clearer.
In just 20 years, the Tuscan race has transformed memories of heroic pre-war racing by Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali on dirt roads into a modern Classic, a monument of the sport in every way but name.
There was so much to take in and enjoy. Tadej Pogačar was making his season debut but again lived up to expectations and dominated the men’s race in true Pogesque style. The women’s race was far closer, far more tactical and far more entertaining, with Elise Chabbey diving into the last corner to take the win in Piazza del Campo.
Paul Seixas gave us a glimpse into the future with his defiant attempt to follow Pogačar, while the pain of defeat shown by Elisa Longo Borghini and Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney showed the cruelty of cycling and especially Strade Bianche.
There were also record race speeds, high-speed crashes, riders going the wrong way down farm tracks and the simple celebration of making it to the finish of the race.
Pogačar’s dominance is not boring
Tadej Pogačar is back racing and looks stronger than ever. He lived up to expectations and respected the predictions, winning Strade Bianche with another dominant display of force.
Each of the Slovenian’s major victories creates more records and consumes the superlatives. Strade Bianche organiser RCS Sport highlighted that Pogačar became the first rider to win Strade Bianche four times and the first to win three consecutives times….
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