Pogačar takes Strade Bianche title in style

From Emirati sand to the dust of the Siena hills: Tadej Pogačar adds another pearl to his collection of prestigious successes, winning the 2022 edition of the Strade Bianche.

The magnificent landscapes of Tuscany inspired the Slovenian champion, inspiring him to paint a cycling masterpiece: the UAE Team Emirates rider attacked 50 km from the finish, in a downhill stretch of the dirt sector of Monte Sante Marie, crushing the resistance of all opponents.
At first, only Carlos Rodriguez (Ineos-Grenadiers) followed Pogačar thirty seconds behind, while the group of the main contenders slipped to 1’30 “.

 
With the passing of the kilometers, the Slovenian showed no signs of abating, while behind him the duo formed by Kasper Asgreen (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) and Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) managed to reduce the gap to under one minute, but without spoiling Pogačar’s success.

Second place for Valverde (+37 “), third place for Asgreen at 46”.
No one had ever triumphed in the Siena dirt track attacking so far (the longest winning action was that of Alexandr Kolobnev in 2007, 19.4 km).

To add drama to the day there was a 100 km from the finish line, in which the captain of the ‘UAE Team Emirates was involved suffering abrasions.

Pogačar: “It was a beautiful, incredible victory. I started from afar, and I was only sure I made it when there were about 5 kilometers to go, but even on the last climb I checked if anyone was coming behind me.
I attacked in the Sante Marie sector, a part of the route that is usually crucial for the result of the race: no one followed me, so I decided to continue alone and I am happy to have managed to reach the finish line, also because they never gave up and, with the passing of the kilometers, my energies were decreasing ”.

Pogačar’s triumph comes on top of Yousif Mirza’s victory in the UAE Time Trial Championship in the morning, bringing UAE Team Emirates’ seasonal successes to 13.

The next competitive appointment for the Emirati team will be Tirreno-Adriatico, a race Pogačar won in the last edition.

Results

1. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) 4h47’49 “
2. Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) +37 ”
3. Kasper Asgreen (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) +46 “