Refresh
30KM TO GO
Nonetheless the hole comes down, albeit steadily. It is now at 1:20 between Pogačar and the chasers.
Gianni Vermeersch and Romain Grégoire have joined as much as the primary chase group. That might give them added firepower.
Keep in mind, Pogačar’s lead was as much as 1:50 at its highest. It’s come down considerably from that.
Within the second chase group, Ben Healy has been dropped. He is paying for the numerous assaults he made earlier.
Nonetheless the hole decreases, now right down to 1:20. That is getting attention-grabbing…
Seixas and Jorgenson within the chase behind.
The hole’s nonetheless reducing, now right down to 1:30. Might the unthinkable be taking place, and Pogačar is getting drained?
Each Del Toro and Christen shall be passengers on this group, as teammates of Pog. The onus is on Jorgenson, Seixas and Pidcock to do all of the work in the event that they press on with this.
These 5 are dedicated, mirrored by Pogačar’s lead, which has come down a bit of to 1:35.
5 of the chasers have a small hole over the others – Jorgenson, Del Toro, Seixas, Pidcock and Christen.
Healy assaults because the chase group arrives onto Strade del Castagno.
Regardless of attacking, Pidcock was unable to go clear, and the chase group stays collectively.
40KM TO GO
Pogačar’s lead stays at 1:50.
GRAVEL – STRADA DEL CASTAGNO
Pogačar’s again on the gravel, this time the 2-star Strade del Castago.
The crowds up this climb are making it very slender on La Tolfe, and Healy was briefly held up by them.
Pidcock assaults.
Van Aert leads the remainder of the chasers on La Tolfe, and has introduced again Lapeira and Christen.
Lapeira has Jan Christen on his wheel, and a niche forward of the others.
Lapeira has attacked out of the chase group, as they method La Tolfe.
GRAVEL – LA TOLFE
Pogačar’s again on the gravel, taking over the tenth part, La Tolfe.
Pogačar’s lead is basically within the ascendancy now. It’s grown to 1:50. Absolutely there isn’t any bringing him again now.
Decathlon are the most effective represented workforce within the chase, with Lapeira and Labrosse current to assist Seixas.
Seixas takes over and accelerates, however although the group is strung out, not a lot harm has been executed.
Gianni Vermeersch leads the chase group on this part.
GRAVEL – COLLE PINZUTO
Pogačar is now onto the web gravel part. This one is especially particular to him, because it’s been named in his honour following his exploits at earlier editions of Strade Bianche.
‘Let’s have some enjoyable’ – Tadej Pogačar visits his personal gravel sector forward of bid for file fourth Strade Bianche title
50KM TO GO
They undoubtedly aren’t going to catch Pogačar driving like this. Their deficit is as much as 1:25.
The riders on this newly-grown chase group are actually attacking one another reasonably than be part of collectively to chase.
Christen, Bilbao, Lapeira, Gianni Vermeersch, Simmons, Valgren and Clément Braz Afonso are the riders from the second chase group who’ve now joined the primary chase group.
The second chase group has caught the primary. So we now have a giant grop of about 15 all collectively behind Pogačar.
GRAVEL – MONTEAPERTI
The principle chase now has seven riders in it, however may but be joined by the second chase group, which is just 20 seconds behind.
Healy has gone clear with Andreas Kron out of the second chase group, and are about to hitch the Seixas group.
Right here was Pogačar being arrange for what seems prefer it could be a race-winning assault on the Monte Sane Marie.
60KM TO GO
Regardless of the approaching collectively, the chase group goes backwards they’re now 1:15 behind Pogačar, and solely 15 seconds forward of the Van Aert/Healy chase group.
Healy can also be in that group, and is attacking it.
The Van Aert chase group has shrunk, with himself and about 7 different riders going clear – amongst them are Valgren, Simmons, Bilbao, Lapeira and Jan Christen.
A well-recognized sight – Pogačar main the race in his rainbow stripes.
Del Toro, in the meantime, is simply sitting in the back of this group, resting up whereas his teammate leads the race.
Can the chasers work collectively to deliver Pogačar again? Proper now it’s benefit Pog as his lead grows to 1:00, however there’s numerous firepower on this group if Seixas, Pidcock, Jorgenson and Grégoire are all prepared to go laborious on this chase.
Seixas and Del Toro have been joined by the three chasers.
Paul Seixas is sitting up and ready for the chasing trio to hitch. A clever transfer – persisting alone would have been the error of over-zealous youth.
The all-important second Pogačar went clear from the others.
The trio can see Seixas and Del Toro. Can their presence add some impetus to the chase?
Behind them is a chase group being led by Van Aert, a complete minute behind the Pidcock/Jorgenson/Grégoire group.
70KM TO GO
So the scenario on the highway is that Pogačar leads the race, Seixas and Del Toro behind at 30 seconds, and Jorgenson, Grégoire and Pidcock subsequent on the highway at 45 seconds.
The chasing trio of Jorgenson, Grégoire and Pidcock are an additional 20 seconds behind them. May it’s extra helpful for Seixas for them to hitch him, so he can have some help within the chase?
The hole’s now being reported as 28 seconds. Wherein case Seixas may not be out of rivalry simply but.
Pogačar has completed Monte Sante Marie, and his lead over Seixas and Del Toro is getting greater – it is now as much as 45 seconds.
UAE main the peloton, earlier than Pogačar’s devastating assault.
Seixas is not giving up the ghost, and is about 20 seconds behind Pogačar. However with Del Toro say on his wheel, issues are very tough for him.
Del Toro has now caught as much as Seixas. UAE Group Emriates are in an ideal scenario.
Pogačar’s hole over Seixas is rising…
Del Toro is third on the highway, and behind him Jorgenson, adopted carefully by Pidcock and Grégoire.
Pogačar accelerates once more, and he is dropped Seixas!
And right here comes Seixas – he’s ridden his approach again onto Pogacar’s wheel!
80KM TO GO
Pogačar made his transfer with about 80km to go, however hasn’t fairly blown everybody away simply but.
Seixas is main the chase, he is dwelling as much as the hype!
Seixas, Jorgenson and Del Toro are a couple of seconds behind Pog.
POGACAR ATTACKS
Pidcock is on his wheel, however the others are being distenced.
Pogacar strikes to the entrance on a downhill a part of the gravel sector.
About 10 riders are clear in a lead group – Pogacar, Del Toro, Pidcock, Gregoire, Seixas, Jorgenson, Lapeira and Labrosse are all there, being led by Jan Christen of UAE.
There are splits opening up, Healy one of many riders caught behind.
Pidcock continues to be up there – his mechanical was a slipped chain reasonably than puncture, fortunately.
As is Jorgenson, however his teammate Van Aert is additional adrift.
Del Toro and Paul Seixas are proper behind Pogačar within the peloton, which stays massive.
MECHANICAL – PIDCOCK
The break has been caught.
Florian Vermeersch leads, Pogacar on his wheel.
GRAVEL – MONTE SANTE MARIE
We can’t spoil it right here, however if you wish to examine what occurred within the ladies’s Strade Bianche, here is our report.
Jorgenson’s again within the peloton already. That was a clean change.
Mechanical for Matteo Jorgenson. He’s having a motorbike change. Jorgenson is antother rider who might be proper up there immediately, driving alongside Van Aert for Visma-lease a Bike.
All the main favourites seem to nonetheless be within the peloton. A few Ineos riders have been dropped, nevertheless – Axel Laurance and Connor Swift.
90KM TO GO
UAE Group Emirates-XRG lead the peloton as they method the following part, Monte Sante Marie. If historical past is a sign, this might be the place their man Tadej Pogačar first lays the hammer down.
The break’s lead is collapsing, now right down to a mere 20 seconds. The catch might be imminent.
The peloton’s greater than 40 riders once more – it appears some are catching again on now that they are again on the tarmac.
The break up the highway, now solely 40 seconds forward.
The peloton has damaged up on this gravel part. It has been diminished to about 40 riders.
Matej Mohorič is an outdoor wager for victory immediately, having proven one thing of a return to kind early season, and as a grasp on the gravel as confirmed by his victory on the World Championships three years in the past.
‘There shall be much less room for heroics this 12 months’ – after Opening Weekend chaos, Matej Mohorič co-leads Bahrain Victorious at barely simpler model of Strade Bianche
GRAVEL – SAN MARTINO IN GRANIA
They’re onto the gravel now. This one’s 9.4km, is usually uphill, and has been given the utmost 5 star score. We are able to count on carnage!
100KM TO GO
We’re nearing the San Martino in Grania gravel part. Issues are getting tense!
110KM TO GO
The much-hyped Paul Seixas has negotiated all the day’s gravel sections to this point, regardless of his lack of expertise right here. He’s tried to minimize expectations, however many – not least the French public – are anticipating a lot from him immediately.
‘For the second, any comparability with Pogačar isn’t actual or related’ – Paul Seixas stays modest earlier than Strade Bianche showdown
The riders are off the gravel. There’s some respite now till the sixth part, San Martino in Grania – that is the place the race may actually get going, with probably decisive, race-shaping assaults.
120KM TO GO
A crash on the gravel, with three riders down – George Bennett, Markus Hoelgaard and Aaron Dockx.
The ladies’s race is coming to a detailed, and it’s been a thriller. Make sure to discover out what occurs right here.
GRAVEL – PIEVE A SALTI
The riders are out of the frying pan that was Lucignano d’Asso, and into the hearth of the fifth gravel sector, which is 8km with a vicious uphill in the direction of the tip.
The peloton, nonetheless being led by UAE Group Emirates-XRG.
130KM TO GO
Although he’ll be driving in service of his teammate Tadej Pogačar, Isaac del Toro has an opportunity to get a powerful outcome for himself too immediately. The Mexican is on electrifying kind already this 12 months, taking total victory on the UAE Tour, and, having excelled on the gravel stage of final 12 months’s Giro d’Italia, seems well-suited to Strade Bianche.
‘I’m excited to get caught in myself once more and at last race’ – Tadej Pogačar primes for season debut at Strade Bianche with Isaac del Toro in help
GRAVEL – LUCIGNNANO D’ASSO
UAE Group Emirates XRG main the peloton.
140KM TO GO
The riders current within the break demonstrates how, though a one-day basic identified for its highway surfaces, Strade Bianche is nowadays a climber-friendly race. Jack Haig and Patrick Konrad are each riders higher identified for his or her exploits within the mountains and stage race GC battles than as classics males.
The character of the race and the chaos of the gravel means there are many incidents that go unreported. Right here’s Quinn Simmons being held up by an incident earlier. Every rider can have their very own particular person tales with ups and downs, and we’ll solely study the complete image within the race’ aftermath.
The riders have crested the Montalcino climb, which is a uncommon impediment on this race in that it’s a climb, however over a tarmacked highway.
Again to taking a look at a few of immediately’s favourites.
In addition to Tadej Pogačar and Tom Pidcock, Wout van Aert is one other former winner participating immediately. It’s been a very long time since his triumph right here in 2020, and adjustments within the path to make it harder, along with a decline in his kind, has made him a much less seemingly winner. However you may’t write off a person of his high quality, even when the Belgian himself is not sure how effectively he can problem.
‘I’ll arrive firstly with extra query marks than I had hoped’ – Wout van Aert prepares for voyage into the darkish at Strade Bianche
Listed below are the 9 riders up the highway within the day’s break.
150KM TO GO
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Tadej Pogačar driving safely within the peloton on the gravel roads.
Additional up the highway, it’s all kicking off within the ladies’s Strade Bianche – a reminder that you may comply with together with all the motion in that race with us too.
Strade Bianche Girls LIVE – Chabbey and Włodarczyk lead as riders tackle key gravel sectors
Within the absence of Mathieu van der Poel – who deems the Strade Bianche path to be too demanding for his attributes – Tibor Del Grosso is main the Alpecin-Premier Tech workforce, and is a harmful man to let into the day’s break.
160KM TO GO
There are 9 riders on this breakaway group:
That group has over a minute on the peloton. It appears we’ve our break of the day!
A bunch of about ten has gone clear, and it’s bought some spectacular names in it, together with younger expertise Tibor Del Grosso.
Whereas we look forward to a break to kind, let’s take a look at among the favourites, the boys more than likely to take the race to Tadej Pogačar immediately.
‘If I can battle with Tadej for a bit of or for a very long time, that is a optimistic’ – Tom Pidcock prepares to once more tackle Pogačar at Strade Bianche
This is a small group that attempted, however failed, to get away.
170KM TO GO
One other deserted to report – Luca Paletti of the Bardiani workforce.
The riders on the entrance of the peloton, engaged within the battle to kind the day’s break.
GRAVEL – RADI
A primary glimpse of the peloton up shut on the highway immediately. The climate is dry, which is able to make for an obligation race over the white gravel roads.
180KM TO GO
Sadly, we have already got information of abandonments – Albert Withen Philipsen, Kim Heiduk and Robbe Dhondt are all out of the race. It’s unclear in the event that they have been concerned in a crash.
The peloton is thru the second gravel sector, however nonetheless stays along with no break having gone clear but.
GRAVEL – BAGNAIA
190KM TO GO
GRAVEL – VIDRITTA
Not one of the fallers appear badly harm, and all are again driving once more.
There’s been a crash already, and we’re not even onto the gravel roads but. About half a dozen riders have gone down.
Pogačar firstly, with among the peloton’s nationwide champions – most notably Quinn Simmons in his American champion’s jersey.
OFFICIAL START
Early predictions of it being a light, dry day have come into fruition, and so the peloton are set to tackle the notorious gravel roads of their dry kind, reasonably than the moist mud that has been the case in some latest editions.
Tadej Pogačar firstly, about to start his mission to get his fingers on that trophy as soon as extra.
The boys are on the transfer – they’re making their approach by Siena in the direction of the official begin, which is just a matter of minutes away.
We’re nonetheless ready for the boys to get going, however the ladies’s race is already effectively underway and into the gravel sectors. You possibly can comply with together with all of the motion right here with Cyclingnews.
Additionally probably enjoying in opposition to Tadej Pogačar’s strengths are adjustments made to the route. After years of getting more durable and more durable, the organisers have this time tweaked it to make it shorter, function much less gravel sectors, and due to this fact much less brutally tough – which is able to (in idea not less than) make it more durable for the Slovenian to experience away from the remainder of the sphere as he has in earlier editions.
Strade Bianche 2026 route cuts race distance and variety of gravel sectors after years of Pogačar dominance
After which there’s the issue of the opposite riders catching up, particularly a brand new technology able to rise – epitomised by 19-year-old Paul Seixas. At this time the stunningly-talented teenager makes his Strade Bianche debut, and is braced for a duel in opposition to Pogačar in what may develop into a terrific new rivalry.
Will this 12 months’s version be fairly so simple for Pogačar? Not essentially. As chic because the Slovenian has been these previous two seasons, these requirements he has set are impossibly excessive to keep up for too lengthy, he inevitably should peak finally – may that peak have already come?
Strade Bianche can also be a race Pogačar is aware of right down to a tee, and he’s confirmed to be unstoppable right here lately, successful all three of the editions he has began since 2022.
He’a again! Virtually 5 months since rounding off one other historic season by successful Il Lombardia, Tadej Pogačar is again racing once more, and the expectation is for him to choose up from the place he left off and begin terrorising the opposition as soon as extra.
Hey and welcome to the 2026 males’s Strade Bianche!
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