Don’t be fooled by appearances. Last year, Tadej Pogacar reigned over the Strade Bianche by taking the tangent 50 terminals from the finish. No one had seen him then. Too strong, too powerful, the Slovenian had raised his arms like a lord on the sumptuous piazza del Campo in Siena. This year, the victory goes to Tom Pidcock, he too escaped at the same level of the track but the race scenario was totally different.
10 km from the final, the Englishman saw his pursuers come back to almost seven seconds. We then thought the race was open as ever. What if Valentin Madouas tricked everyone? What if Matej Mohoric did Milan-San Remo 2022 again and sickened his world downhill? The misunderstanding between them, symbolized by Tiesj Benoot’s annoyance towards his Jumbo Visma team-mate Atila Valter, allowed Pidcock to regain the lead and savor this prestigious victory.
Last summer, the leader of Ineos, world champion and Olympic cyclo-cross champion, had already distinguished himself by winning the Alpe d’Huez stage of the Tour de France. He is now the first Briton to triumph over this sixth Monument. “That was not the plan at all. It’s not normally the decisive sector, but suddenly I swerved. I had the feeling that something beautiful was going to happen, all week. I knew this was going to be my day, and now I’ve made it…it’s awesome, I don’t know what to say. They approached a few times and I kept thinking: I fucked up, I left too soon. But it goes so fast in these races, it’s hard to go back. »
Valentin Madouas, a 2nd place and regrets
Valentin Madouas finished second ahead of Benoot. A great performance for the Brestois of Groupama-FDJ, who confirms his talents in one-day races after his 3rd place last year on the Tour of Flanders. Very clever, the 26-year-old runner was able to extricate himself from the group of pursuers in the last meters of the cobbled ascent. What all the same leave regrets if they had all collaborated, Madouas the first, to join Pidcock?
“I had the legs to do better today, but I fell 70 kilometers from the finish and found myself really, really far behind. I had to go back alone, it made me make a huge effort, and in the sector where Pidcock comes out, I couldn’t go there because I really needed to breathe. I think that’s what costs me a better performance, explains the Breton. I’m really very happy with this place on the podium, it validates the winter work, but to come so close to such a great victory, it’s really a shame. I will be back for years to come, that’s for sure. »
Alaphilippe and Van der Poel released when the serious things started
One thing is certain: the two favorites of these Strade Bianche were hugely disappointed. Julian Alaphilippe and Mathieu Van der Poel were released as soon as the race got tough. The two stars finish in the peloton, 1 minute and 43 seconds behind Pidcock. Winner last weekend of the Ardèche-Classic, the double French world champion has never been in the game. A first big failed test against the leaders of the peloton. Tuscany no longer suits him. During the previous edition, he had fallen heavily, the first hitch of a dark season.
“I tried to always stay well placed, but in the Monte Sante Marie sector, a place where you need to have great legs, I immediately felt that I didn’t have them,” he said. he continued and concluded.
Note, however, the very good day of Romain Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ). The Bisontin is one of the great promises of tricolor cycling. This Saturday, for his first experience in a World Tour race, he clinched a promising eighth place. European junior road champion in 2021, he is the youngest rider in Strade Bianche history to finish in the top 10.