Not even a heavy crash could stop Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates XRG) from winning Strade Bianche on Saturday.
With rips peppered across his white skinsuit, the world champion came back from sliding dramatically into a ditch to win the Italian one-day race for a third time. The fall came with 50km to go, and after leading through the Tuscan hills with 2023 winner Tom Pidcock (Q36.5), Pogačar attacked solo inside 20km from the line.
He arrived in Siena’s Piazza del Campo alone, bloodied and bruised. A sector of gravel will now be named in his honour – the reward for collecting three victories, and a memento by which to remember one of his most gripping victories.
"I enjoyed it until I crossed the finish line," Pogačar said post-race. "Now the adrenaline has worn off and I’m starting to feel a lot of pain. It’s not the best way to win a race, but a win is a win. Let’s hope it’s nothing worse than it looks. All should be fine."
Pogačar’s crash came suddenly and unexpectedly, a rare lapse of judgement from the world champion. Asked how it happened, he said: "I went too fast, I guess. I know this road very well, I’ve ridden it already now 20 times in my life, but sometimes you misjudge. I just slipped. Shit happens.
"For a moment, I didn’t know if I was ok. The bike was not working, so I had to change the bike. I was a bit worried, because when you crash, […]
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