Fresh from the ceremony unveiling the special milestone dedicated to him at the entrance of the Colle Pinzuto sector, Tadej Pogačar is already focused on what lies ahead: tomorrow’s battle for what would be his fourth victory at Strade Bianche – an outright record. The world champion is making his season debut, but he has shown time and again that he hardly needs any warm-up to switch into dominant mode. The only real question is when he will attack. Monte Sante Marie is usually his favourite launching pad, and if he manages to go clear there – as we have seen before – he is almost impossible to bring back.
Alongside him will be Isaac Del Toro, who can enjoy supporting his captain without the pressure of delivering a result at all costs. Last year, on these very roads, the Mexican rider took flight towards the Giro d’Italia’s Maglia Rosa, proving he can master dust and gravel. Now he appears even stronger, so it would be no surprise if UAE Team Emirates-XRG attempted a remarkable one-two. The Emirati squad can also rely on Jan Christen and Florian Vermeersch, both already showing sharp form early this season.
All against Tadej
The race will also include a young rider many believe could become the “next Pogačar”: Paul Seixas of Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale. Just 19 years old, he has already claimed two victories this season – at the Volta ao Algarve and the Faun-Ardèche Classic – with attacks strikingly similar to those of the Slovenian champion. Of course, a race like Strade Bianche requires experience and a powerful team around you, things the young Frenchman still lacks compared with his rivals. But if his legs are turning well, there is no reason to place limits on his ambition. And if not this year, there will always be the next.
Tom Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) is one of the few riders who, over the past two years, has managed to withstand – at least for a few kilometres – Pogačar’s accelerations. Last year he responded to the world champion on Monte Sante Marie and even forced him to take risks on the descent, leading to a spectacular crash for the Slovenian. Unfortunately for Pidcock, Pogačar quickly got back on his bike, caught him and rode away again. Still, the Briton thrives on gravel – and after all, he would not have won the 2023 edition otherwise.
Another rider who has written some of the finest chapters of his career on dusty roads is Wout van Aert. The Belgian first made his mark at Strade Bianche with a podium finish in 2018, then went on to win the race in 2020. Last year, on these same roads, he delivered one of the most emotional moments of the Giro d’Italia. Van Aert returns to Siena after a few years away (excluding the Giro, of course), and if he is here, it is because he intends to make an impact. Within Visma | Lease a Bike, keep an eye on Matteo Jorgenson as well, far more than just a backup option.
