Pogacar achieves triplet in the Strade Bianche despite a hard fall

The Slovenian cyclist Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates XRG) has conquered this Saturday for the third time the Strade Bianche, 213 kilometers with departure and arrival in Siena (Italy), a triplet that allows him to match the number of victories in the Italian classic of the Swiss Fabian Cancellara, all despite suffering a hard fall in the absence of 50 kilometers.

The world champion knew how to rebuild when, 50 kilometers from the end and after entering a curve, the bicycle went and crawled down the asphalt before finishing on some brambles. He resumed the march and reached the British head of the British Tom Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team), which he left behind in one of the last sections of ‘Sterrato’.

Finally, he crossed the goal located in the Piazza del Campo de Siena stopping the chrono at 5:13:58, 1:24 ahead of Pidcock and 2:12 ahead of the Belgian Tim Wellens, who completed the podium. Thus, he joined this triumph to those achieved in 2022 and 2024, which allows him to match a maximum winner of the Swiss Fabian Cancellara (2008, 2012 and 2016).

The UAE Team Emirates-XRG, with Tim Wellens and the Mexican Isaac del Toro as protagonists, prepared the land for its leader and, with a very high pace, reduced the squad to about 30 units at 90 kilometers from the finish line. In spite of everything, Pidcock planted them face and escaped in the absence of 78 kilometers, with Pogacar to their wheel, and shortly after another British, Connor Swift (INEOS Grenadiers) would join them.

The three rolled together in the lead until the fall in the Pogacar curve occurred, which soon recovered. Soon he hunted Swift, but it would still cost him to ask for a few kilometers. With only 19 ahead, in Colle Pinzuto, the Slovenian escaped to cross the goal alone.