Everything as expected. Tadej Pogačar is simply the strongest rider in the world, and he didn’t miss the chance to prove it once again at Strade Bianche 2026. The Slovenian, in a sort of déjà vu of the 2024 edition, made the decisive move on Monte Sante Marie, dropping everyone and riding clear with 78.5 km to go (two years ago he went solo with 81 km remaining).
Grit and determination were not enough for Paul Seixas (Decathlon–CMA CGM), who tried to hold on for as long as he could but eventually went into the red and let the world champion break away. At his age, however, Pogačar was not even a professional yet, which means this kid still has plenty of time to grow, come back and win in Piazza del Campo. The young Frenchman still managed to drop Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates–XRG) on the final wall of Via Santa Caterina, relegating the Mexican to third place in the same square where he wore the Maglia Rosa last year.
Tadej Pogačar, poker at the Strade Bianche
RACE REPORT – The race was animated by an early breakaway featuring Tibor Del Grosso (Alpecin–Premier Tech), Martin Marcellusi (Bardiani CSF–7 Saber), Jack Haig (Ineos Grenadiers), Patrick Konrad (Lidl–Trek), Samuele Zoccarato (MBH Bank CSB Telecom Fort), Adrien Boichis (Red Bull–Bora–hansgrohe), Anders Foldager (Jayco AlUla), Tim Rex (Visma | Lease a Bike) and Davide Toneatti (XDS Astana). Unfortunately for them, UAE Team Emirates–XRG kept everything under control from the start, holding them within reach and reeling them in before Monte Sante Marie.
Then, Jan Christen lifted the pace dramatically, shattering the peloton and leaving only a group of nine favourites at the front. Not for long, though, because Pogačar launched his move with 80 km to go. Seixas, Del Toro and Matteo Jorgenson (Visma | Lease a Bike) tried to follow, but they were dropped one after the other.
For the Slovenian, it became the usual solo exhibition that only ended in Piazza del Campo. Behind him, a chasing group initially formed with Jan Christen, Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates–XRG), Pello Bilbao (Bahrain Victorious), Paul Seixas, Paul Lapeira (Decathlon–CMA CGM), Ben Healy, Michael Valgren (EF Education–EasyPost), Clément Braz Afonso, Romain Grégoire (Groupama–FDJ), Quinn Simmons (Lidl–Trek), Tom Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling), Gianni Vermeersch (Alpecin–Premier Tech), Wout Van Aert, Matteo Jorgenson (Visma | Lease a Bike) and Andreas Kron (Uno-X Mobility). Between Colle Pinzuto and Le Tolfe, they were reduced first to seven and then to two, when Seixas rode clear with Del Toro to contest second place.
For Pogačar, this is his fourth victory at Strade Bianche, giving him the outright record just one day after the ceremony in which the Colle Pinzuto sector was dedicated to him. At 19, Seixas becomes the youngest rider ever to reach the podium, while Del Toro has already said he will return soon to try to win it. We will be hearing a lot about these three riders this season.
FINISHING ORDER
1 – Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates–XRG), 203 km in 4h45’15”, average speed 42.699 km/h
2 – Paul Seixas (Decathlon–CMA CGM Team) at 1’00”
3 – Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates–XRG) at 1’09”
Shortly after crossing the finish line, Strade Bianche Crédit Agricole winner Tadej Pogačar said: “First of all I have to thank the team. My teammates did an incredible job from the start, controlling the breakaway and setting a very strong pace. I’m happy to have won, especially for them. Paul Seixas tried to follow me on Monte Sante Marie and it wasn’t easy to drop him. I told myself I had to go full gas all the way to the top, and that’s what I did. It’s the best way to start the season.”
