First race of the season and first victory. That doesn’t matter 18th edition of Strade Bianche It will span 215 kilometers for the first time and will feature more ‘sterrato’ sections than ever before, from 11 in 2023 to 15, Tadej Pogacar (25 years old) He ruled the Italian classic with an iron fist aspiring to one day reach the ‘monument’ category against several overmatched rivals who had the privilege of sharing the first 138 kilometers with him until ‘Handsome’ sped up and was gone.
Pogacar started the season as the last one ended, with a victory and entered Italy. One of the Klanec He is comfortable racing in the Italian classics, and if he finishes 2023 with a victory in Il Lombardiathis saturday has started on beautiful Tuscany with another great victory, in a race that had everything, from heavy rain to a majestic sun that caressed the green of the valleys with its rays.
The speed and the terrain choose a race that takes its victims as it shortens the distance, leaving an elite group at the head of the race with the theoretically top contenders to fight for the podium and for the victory. Movistar team there were as many as four units in this elite group, which Build it the runner with the longest lead stride of the race. The race was tense and the surprise, or not, came when Pogacar He jumped to attack before the look of Sepp Kusswho could not follow him, in a defeat for Visma-Rent a Bike which, unlike many other events, did not put any of its riders at the head of the classic.
Pogacar celebrated his attack with the fans
Pogacar gradually opens up space, cheering, greeting and smiling at the fans who do not stop applauding his performance as he passes, while behind, as usually happens in these cases, the pursuers have doubts , which is where ‘Handsome’ He seized the opportunity to go from a two-minute margin to more than three.
‘Handsome’ its margin rolled up and comfortably rolled into Great Square of Siena, Piazza del Campothe true symbol of the city and one of the reasons why the UNESCO declared its historical center World heritagewhile behind them a fight broke out to know which two runners would join him in the podium photo.
Meanwhile, ‘Pogi’ shakes his fist at the camera at the city gate of Sienna and preparing to face the last hard ramp of St. Catherine, with a 16% slope. ‘Pogi’ didn’t expect to complete a more peaceful final kilometer, much to the delight of the fans. Smiling, waving, Pogacar achieved one of the most remarkable feats in memory Street Bianchewith a margin of just over four minutes over the peloton.
Second victory in the Strade Bianche, first of the season on the first day of competition and 64th victory as a professional at the age of just 25. He had guessed it in the morning. A place to attack? Mount Sainte Marie answered. And said and done.
Behind him, the Latvian Tom Skujins, that in the last climb he won the game against the Belgian Maxim Van Gilswith the winner of the last edition, the British Thomas Pidcockwhich is 4th.
THE PODIUM
1 – Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) 5h19’45”
2 – Toms Skujins (Lidl – Trek) in 2’44”
3 – Maxim Van Gils (Lotto Dstny) in 2’47”
Source: La Verdad
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