Tadej Pogacar claimed his third victory at the Strade Bianche, overcoming a crash 50km from the finish to triumph in the prestigious one-day race. The Slovenian rider finished 1 minute 24 seconds ahead of Britain’s Tom Pidcock, with Belgium’s Tim Wellens a further 48 seconds behind in third place.
With this win, Pogacar, 26, equals Swiss rider Fabian Cancellara’s record of three victories in the event, having previously won in 2022 and 2024. The race, spanning 213km across the Tuscan countryside, was fiercely contested, with a high pace set from the start.
“Pretty good race today. The race was super fast. It was a really strong breakaway, and our guys did amazing work in the front,” Pogacar said after completing the course in 5 hours 13 minutes. “We just went fast, and it was a really hard race.”
Pogacar suffered cuts and bruises, particularly on his left shoulder, after falling on a descent. Despite the injuries, he managed to recover and press on to victory. “I enjoyed it until I crossed the finish line. Now I’m in adrenaline wear-off and I start to feel a lot of pain,” he admitted.
In the women’s race, Demi Vollering powered to victory, securing her second Strade Bianche title. The Dutch rider completed the 136km circuit in 3 hours 49 minutes, ahead of compatriot Anna van der Breggen in second place. France’s Pauline Ferrand-Prévot finished third, 1 minute 24 seconds behind.
“I’m super happy. I knew I was in good shape beforehand, and everybody expected a lot from me before the race even started. But then to actually do it is another thing,” Vollering said. “You have so much pressure and you really, really want to finish it off. Not only for yourself but for your teammates, family, friends everybody who is behind you.”
Vollering, who moved to the French team FDJ-Suez from SD Worx during the off-season, made her decisive move on the final gravel sector with 12km to go. Only Van der Breggen, 34, who returned to competition this season after three years in team management, was able to follow her attack. However, she eventually cracked on the punishing final ascent in Siena.
“It’s fun to race against Anna. It feels like the old days when I first started, so it’s a good reminder of how much I have grown over the years,” Vollering said. “It’s good to battle it out against her again.”
Ferrand-Prévot, the reigning Olympic mountain bike gold medallist, is making a return to road cycling this season. After leading an earlier breakaway, she was eventually reeled in by Vollering and her FDJ-Suez teammates but managed to hold on for a podium finish.
The Strade Bianche, known for its scenic yet challenging gravel roads, once again delivered a thrilling contest, highlighting the resilience and tactical brilliance of its champions.
