Reigning Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar made history by becoming the first male rider to win the prestigious Strade Bianche one-day race back-to-back.
Despite a high-speed crash with 50km to go, Pogacar recovered to beat Tom Pidcock by one minute and 24 seconds.
Pogacar and Pidcock broke away from the pack with 78.5km remaining, but the Slovenian’s crash on a corner raised concerns about his ability to continue.
However, he swiftly got back on his feet, caught up with Pidcock, and eventually made his move on the penultimate gravel sector to secure the win.
“I enjoyed it until I crossed the finish line,” Pogacar said. “Now the adrenaline has started to wear off, and I’m feeling a lot of pain. It’s not the best way to win a race, but a win is a win.”
Pidcock finished second, while Tim Wellens completed the podium, two minutes and 12 seconds behind Pogacar.
The Slovenian’s victory marked his third Strade Bianche title, tying him with Fabian Cancellara for the most wins.
The women’s race was won by Demi Vollering, who claimed her second Strade Bianche title in three years.
