Strade Bianche Race Report: UAE Group Emirates’ Tadej Pogačar was the favorite to win the 2024 Strade Bianche, however nobody guessed he would assault with 80 kilometres to go and solo to the end in Siena. The Slovenian champion quickly had a lead of 4 minutes and the others behind him had been racing for the rostrum. Toms Skujiņš was second and Maxim Van Gils third, each at almost 3 minutes. Final 12 months’s winner, Tom Pidcock took fourth place.
Tadej Pogačar received Strade Bianche for the second time in his profession. He attacked 81 kilometres from the end, to trip a formidable solo and cross the road in Siena with minutes to spare.
Spectacular win for Tadej Pogačar
The Route
Strade Bianche is tougher this 12 months as the space is now over 200 kilometres for the primary time. The previous six editions had been raced over 184 kilometres, the riders now should cowl 215 kilometres. 4 new gravel sections have been added to the route and there may be now fifteen sectors of the white roads. There are actually 71.5 kilometres of gravel, up from 63. The beginning and the end are nonetheless in Siena. The primary 9 gravel sections of the race are the identical as final 12 months. The primary of those, Vidritta, comes after 21 kilometres. Some sections are quick, the shortest being solely 600 metres and two sections of over 11 kilometres. A few of gravel roads are virtually flat, whereas others are steep and punishingly lengthy. Previously, the primary actual choice within the race got here on the 11.9 kilometre part of Lucignano d’Asso, which instantly goes onto the 8 kilometre Ponte d’Arbia. This 12 months there are nonetheless 120 kilometres to go to the end, so perhaps too early, however lately, races open up a lot before earlier than. Simply take a look at the opening weekend in Belgium.
Strade Bianche’24 map
The sectors of San Martino in Grania and Monte Sante Marie are each lengthy and uphill, they each get 5 stars, the toughest issue. After the 11.5 kilometres of Monte Sante Marie, additionally named after Fabian Cancellara, then there are greater than 20 kilometres of correct street. The longest stretches of sterrato have now been ridden, however the race doesn’t get any simpler. At 55 kilometres from the end there may be the Monteaperti part of 600 metres. That is adopted by the Strade di Colle Pinzuto (2.4km) and Le Tolfe (1.1km). Final 12 months the race went to Siena after this final sector, however this 12 months there may be an additional circuit, which begins virtually instantly after Le Tolfe with the unknown Strada del Castagno (1.3km). Fourteen kilometres later comes the brand new Montechiaro part at 3.3 kilometres. The Strade di Colle Pinzuto and Le Tolfe make their second look earlier than the end. These climbs are steep and can present any weak spot. After the final part of Le Tolfe, there are 10 kilometre of undulating roads to Siena. The end is within the well-known Piazza del Campo, the setting for the Palio horse race, however earlier than that’s the Contrada dell’Oca. The riders move below the Thirteenth-century Porta di Fontebranda and begin to climb on the massive flagstones of the Through Santa Caterina. This street could be very steep, with a most gradient of 16%. From the highest there may be nonetheless half a kilometre to the end. The final bend is on the border between the districts of Civetta (owl), Leocorno (unicorn) and Torre (tower). Whoever will get by means of this primary usually wins the race.
Strade Bianche’24 profile
The White Highway Sections:
Settore Sterrato 1: Vidritta (2.1km) *
Settore Sterrato 2: Bagnaia (5.8km) ***
Settore Sterrato 3: Radi (4.4km) **
Settore Sterrato 4: La Piana (6.4km) **
Settore Sterrato 5: Lucignano d’Asso (11.9km) ****
Settore Sterrato 6: Pieve a Santi (8km) ****
Settore Sterrato 7: San Martino in Grania (9.5km) *****
Settore Sterrato 8: Monte Sante Marie (11.5km) *****
Settore Sterrato 9: Monteaperti (0.6km) **
Settore Sterrato 10: Colle Pinzuto (2.4km) ****
Settore Sterrato 11: Le Tolfe (1.1km) ****
Settore Sterrato 12: Strada del Castagno (1.3km) ***
Settore Sterrato 13: Montechiaro (3.3km) **
Settore Sterrato 14: Colle Pinzuto (2.4km) ****
Settore Sterrato 15: Le Tolfe (1.1km) ****
Whole: 71.5 kilometres.
Prime favorite – Tadej Pogačar
Attila Valter and Sepp Kuss say good day
After quite a lot of early motion, a breakaway of 5 fashioned. Dion Smith (Intermarché-Wanty), Mark Donovan (Q36.5), Lawson Craddock (Jayco AlUla), Nils Brun (Tudor) and Anders Halland Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility) constructed up a lead of two:30. UAE Group Emirates and EF Schooling-EasyPost didn’t let the break get any extra time and began to drag them again.
The primary sections of sterrato weren’t too onerous
There had been quite a lot of rain throughout the week
After Craddock and Brun needed to let go resulting from mechanical issues, the others within the lead group had been additionally caught 100 kilometres from the end. Quinn Simmons and Magnus Cort then jumped off the entrance of the already thinned out peloton. When the 2 had been introduced again, the American champion attacked once more by means of the heavy rain. All the things got here collectively once more on Monte Sante Marie, an 11.5 kilometre lengthy gravel part. Fairly a number of riders had been dropped, together with former winner Julian Alaphilippe, who had crashed earlier and deserted.
Alessandro De Marchi was eager to get issues began
The primary climbs stretched the peloton
The sunny sky turned to rain
Tim Wellens led the peloton on Monte Sante Marie for Tadej Pogačar. The Slovenian champion attacked kilometres from the end and nobody may observe him, though Vuelta winner, Sepp Kuss, tried at first. Pogačar left the race behind him and shortly had a big lead. On the finish of that gravel part he had 1:15 on Maxim Van Gils, the primary chaser. Round 30 seconds behind the Belgian, there was a gaggle of about 20 riders. This included 4 riders from Visma | Lease a Bike: Attila Valter, Ben Tulett, Christophe Laporte and Sepp Kuss, plus Ben Healy, Matej Mohorič and Tom Pidcock. The British rider had Magnus Sheffield and Thymen Arensman with him. The Dutchman rode onerous on the entrance for his chief, however Pogačar simply gained time.
UAE Group Emirates had been in charge of the peloton
Crash for Michal Kwiatkowski (INEOS Grenadiers) and Paul Magnier (Soudal Fast-Step)
Whereas Pogačar received to over three minutes, Van Gils dropped again to Pidcock group. Healy tried a number of occasions to get away from the chasers, however he couldn’t get away alone and had no assist. The group, which was now competing for a podium place, had thinned out extra as a result of Irishman’s assaults. Simply earlier than the primary passage of the Le Tolfe, Healy crashed, simply because the Lotto Dstny riders; Van Gils and Lennert Van Eetvelt pushed on, on this four-star part and Van Gils managed to take a niche.
It was going to be a tough day
UAE had been preparing for a transfer by Pogačar
Quinn Simmons gave it a go, however he was pulled in and later crashed
Van Gils couldn’t get nearer to Pogačar, however he was taking time on the chase group. Skujins additionally attacked at the moment. The Latvian, who had beforehand crashed collectively along with his teammate Simmons, joined Van Gils 20 kilometres from the end. It regarded like these two could be becoming a member of Pogačar on the rostrum, as they quickly gained 1:30 on the group with Pidcock. Pidcock additionally counter-attacked on the Colle Pinzuto, the penultimate gravel part of the day, however he could be racing for fourth place.
Tim Wellens set the tempo for the Tadej Pogačar assault
With 80 kilometres to go and Pogačar was gone
The solar got here out and Pogačar had a lead of 4 minutes
This was all occurring properly behind Tadej Pogačar. The UAE Group Emirates chief, who was driving his first race of the season, saved his result in solo to victory. He had loads of time to have fun his victory on the Piazza del Campo in Siena lengthy earlier than some other rider was in sight. That is the second time that Pogačar has received the Strade Bianche, he additionally soloed to the win two years in the past. Behind Pogačar, Skujins and Van Gils fought it out for second place on the Through Santa Caterina, the final climb of the day. It was the Latvian who got here out on prime to take second place. Van Gils completed third. Tom Pidcock and Matej Mohorič took fourth and fifth.
The followers had been comfortable to see Pogačar
Strade Bianche winner, Tadej Pogačar (UAE Group Emirates): “I don’t know why I did that! There was a hail storm and that made the situations very powerful. There was little power left within the group. The race was very tough from the beginning. That made the race very selective very early on. I don’t suppose anybody anticipated that. There was a hail storm close to the Santa Marie, the place situations had been very tough. There have been solely 25 riders left. Isaac Del Toro and the remainder of the staff made it very tough, at that stage we couldn’t see something there. At that second I made a decision to start out after which I knew it might take a very long time. However once I had a niche, I wished to proceed till the top. I felt superb at first after which the staff did an excellent job, however it grew to become a really powerful race from far earlier than the end. And even when it rained closely, I felt good. I then additionally had it in thoughts to push onerous and go for the solo. The primary race of the season is all the time mentally powerful, since you by no means know whether or not the shape is sweet. However I had a great winter and put in additional onerous work for my first race. It was undoubtedly price it.” Is Strade Bianche a Monument? “I have no idea. It’s a lovely race, however I don’t actually know the principles of the monuments in biking. Strade Bianche shouldn’t be that previous, however it has attraction and could be very widespread. You’ll be able to depend this race as one of many hardest and most lovely races.”
Loads of time to have fun
Strade Bianche End result:
1. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Group Emirates in 5:19:45
2. Toms Skujiņš (Lat) Lidl-Trek at 2:46
3. Maxim Van Gils (Bel) Lotto Dstny at 2:50
4. Thomas Pidcock (GB) INEOS Grenadiers at 3:50
5. Matej Mohorič (Slo) Bahrain Victorious at 4:26
6. Benoît Cosnefroy (Fra) Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale at 4:39
7. Davide Formolo (Ita) Movistar at 4:41
8. Lenny Martinez (Fra) Groupama-FDJ at 4:48
9. Filippo Zana (Ita) Jayco AlUla at 4:49
10. Christophe Laporte (Fra) Visma | Lease a Bike at 5:17.
# Meet up with all of the weekend information in EUROTRASH Monday.
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