Tadej Pogačar's numbers 'a bit better than last year' ahead of Strade Bianche 🇮🇹
The Slovenian heads into the Spring Classics as the rider to beat as we interview his sports manager, Matxin Fernandez
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Be afraid - be very afraid - because, according to Matxin Fernandez, Tadej Pogačar’s sports manager, the world champion’s numbers are better than ever.
Pogačar launched his season at the UAE Tour last month, where he won two stages, spent over 200 km off the front of the peloton, and secured the overall title.
He hasn’t lost a stage race in over 18 months, while his one-day form in the last year has been phenomenal.
Last year, the Slovenian began his season at Strade Bianche, where he was polite enough to inform the press and his rivals about where he would attack and break away from the field. He duly attacked with 81 km remaining on the crucial sector of Monte Sante Marie and the rest of the field never saw him again.
This weekend, a repetition of that pivotal moment could occur when Pogačar aims to make history by becoming only the second male rider to win the race three times and equal Fabian Cancellara's record.
Read more: Can UAE Team Emirates keep all their GC leaders happy under Pogačar's reign?
However, according to Fernandez, the UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider will have to adapt to the circumstances of the race, just like he did in 2024. Fernandez noted that last year’s initial plan was to attack closer to the finish, but Pogačar altered the script when he saw the race blow apart earlier than expected.
“Tadej always starts a race to win, and that’s the mentality he has as the best rider in the world. Believe me, last year the idea was to attack with 51km to go at around Le Tolfe,” Fernandez told us on Tuesday morning.