10 conclusions from Strade Bianche 🇮🇹
We analyse performances from Ineos Grenadiers, FDJ-SUEZ, UAE Team Emirates-XRG, SD Worx, and many others across the men's and women's races
Two quite frankly amazing races, and two well deserved winners.
Here are 10 conclusions from the men’s and women’s races at Strade Bianche and analyses of team performances from Ineos Grenadiers, FDJ-SUEZ, UAE Team Emirates-XRG, SD Worx, and many others. There’s in-depth content on rides from Tom Pidcock, Tadej Pogačar, Demi Vollering, and more.
Once again, I’ve purposely omitted the winners and any race-outcome details from the title and strap of this email. This is a newsletter, and I don’t want to spoil the race's outcome if you haven’t seen it yet.
The first two conclusions are free, while the rest are for paid subscribers.
Thanks
Daniel 🫶
Pogačar’s dominance knows no bounds 🇸🇮
The first male winner to go back-to-back in the race, the first male rider to win the race in the rainbow jersey, and the second male rider to win three editions of Strade Bianche: This was a truly phenomenal ride from Tadej Pogačar, who salvaged a victory from what looked like the jaws of defeat when he allowed his concentration to drop and ended up on the deck with 49.7km to go.
Before the crash, the race seemed on course for a Pogačar versus Tom Pidcock showdown, with the Slovenian holding the upper hand due to his experience and prior accomplishments. Pidcock had appeared threatening, particularly in the technical sections, yet Pogačar remained the favourite. The accident shifted that perception, at least temporarily. Following two rapid bike changes and kit that was left a bloody mess, it seemed the world champion was in serious trouble before he finally caught up with the British rider after a frantic chase.
Even after that, Pogačar appeared unsteady on the gravel corners. Honestly, anyone would seem second best to Pidcock on such terrain, but there was a palpable nervousness surrounding Pogačar's riding from that moment on. He looked hesitant, even laboured, when observed side by side against Pidcock’s more fluid cadence.
However, when it mattered most, Pogačar delivered, hitting the crucial sector 16 at Colle Pinzuto and leaving Pidcock behind with a devastating turn of speed. In the saddle, he powered ahead while Pidcock sprinted up the steep ascent, desperately trying to stay in contention. Within seconds, it became clear that the gap was insurmountable, as Pogačar settled into that familiar position of riding away from the field with victory in sight.
Watching the crash replayed several times, it’s astonishing that the world champion emerged with nothing more than road rash. Fate, luck, call it what you will, but even a fall couldn’t prevent the predicted inevitable ending. This wasn’t the crushing 81km solo break from last year, but in a way, it was a more complete win.
Vollering: control and calmness personified 🇳🇱
As a journalist, you can sit with a rider for hours and never receive anything as clear, concise, or emphatic as what Demi Vollering said to FDJ-SUEZ team boss Stephen Delcourt at the finish in Siena. “We fucking did it” perfectly summed up the nature of Vollering’s win, and it was telling that her sentence began with ‘we’ as she embraced her new boss and celebrated what was a defining victory for her and the squad that welcomed her with open arms.
Vollering was superb in Strade Bianche, not only because she was the strongest rider but also due to her laser-like focus and ability to adapt to a race that could at times have become chaotic. For instance, when a risky move involving riders from all her main rivals broke away and established a lead of over a minute, the gap initially didn’t decrease. Instead of chasing frantically, she challenged her teammates to chip away at the gap, and when the race reformed, Vollering didn’t waver even when her chain slipped during her first attack. She regrouped and gained ground on Anna van der Breggen - aided by her teammate - when the SD Worx rider broke clear in the early sections of Le Tolfe, then launched her attack at the perfect moment with 11.8km to go at the summit of the ascent.
The run-in to the finish was tense, with Van der Breggen hesitant to work at first. However, instead of playing games or appearing flustered, Vollering remained at her calculating best, knowing that Van der Breggen would falter and start to work sooner or later. Van der Breggen attempted one more move through the final corners before heading onto the last climb, but Vollering utilised that final surge as the launchpad she needed before pulling clear with just over 500m to go.
Pidcock’s best road performance as he continues to haunt Ineos Grenadiers 🇬🇧
Pidcock is a champion, so while he smiled on the podium and accepted the plaudits for waiting on Pogačar following the crash, a significant element of today’s outcome will still feel bittersweet for the British rider. That’s what separates the best from the very best.