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Sunday, March 6, 2022

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Strade Bianche team reports

We posted the report from 3rd-place Kasper Asgreen's Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl team with the results.

Here's the report from winner Tadej Pogacar's UAE Team Emirates:

From Emirati sand to the dust of the Siena hills: Tadej Pogačar adds another pearl to his collection of prestigious successes, winning the 2022 edition of the Strade Bianche.

Tadej Pogacar attacking far from the finish line. Sirotti photo

The magnificent landscapes of Tuscany inspired the Slovenian champion, inspiring him to paint a cycling masterpiece: the UAE Team Emirates rider attacked 50 km from the finish, in a downhill stretch of the dirt sector of Monte Sante Marie, crushing the resistance of all opponents.

At first, only Carlos Rodriguez (Ineos-Grenadiers) followed Pogačar thirty seconds behind, while the group of the main contenders slipped to 1’30 “.

With the passing of the kilometers, the Slovenian showed no signs of abating, while behind him the duo formed by Kasper Asgreen (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) and Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) managed to reduce the gap to under one minute, but without spoiling Pogačar’s success.

Second place for Valverde (+37 “), third place for Asgreen at 46”.

No one had ever triumphed in the Siena dirt track attacking so far (the longest winning action was that of Alexandr Kolobnev in 2007, 19.4 km).

To add drama to the day there was a crash 100 km from the finish line, in which the captain of the ‘UAE Team Emirates was involved suffering abrasions.

Pogačar: “It was a beautiful, incredible victory. I started from afar, and I was only sure I made it when there were about 5 kilometers to go, but even on the last climb I checked if anyone was coming behind me.

"I attacked in the Sante Marie sector, a part of the route that is usually crucial for the result of the race: no one followed me, so I decided to continue alone and I am happy to have managed to reach the finish line, also because they never gave up and, with the passing of the kilometers, my energies were decreasing ”.

Pogačar’s triumph comes on top of Yousif Mirza’s victory in the UAE Time Trial Championship in the morning, bringing UAE Team Emirates’ seasonal successes to 13.

The next competitive appointment for the Emirati team will be Tirreno-Adriatico, a race Pogačar won in the last edition.

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Here's the report from 4th-place Attila Valter's Groupama-FDJ team:

Attila Valter will long remember his journey through the Tuscan dirt roads in this afternoon of March 2022. The 23-year-old Hungarian particularly shone on Saturday in the sixteenth edition of the Strade Bianche and finished just outside of the podium in the Italian WorldTour Classic. After a lively race opened out from far, the former wearer of the pink jersey fought until the very end and caught some competitors one by one in the final to finally bring Groupama-FDJ its best result ever in Siena. That makes it a new highlight for him.

As usual, the charming city of Siena hosted the start of Strade Bianche, a recent Classic but already considered by some to be a Monument in the making. Before the next real Monument, namely Milan-Sanremo, the riders lining-up in Tuscany had to face a traditional route through some “white paths” mixing ground and gravel. Out of the 184 kilometres to be covered, almost a third was on these particular trails, through eleven distinct sectors.

The race did not have to wait for the first one, located after fifteen kilometers, for the day’s breakaway to establish itself with Simone Bevilacqua, Sergio Garcia (Eolo-Kometa), Marc Brenner, Leon Heinschke (DSM), Lilian Calmejane (AG2R-Citroën), Davide Martinelli (Astana), Taco van der Hoorn (Intermarché-Wanty Gobert), Edoardo Zardini (Drone Hopper-Androni Giocattoli) and Samuele Zoccarato (Bardiani-CSF-Faizenè). The group however never got more than a five-minute lead, and the latter further decreased over the kilometres and the gravel’s sections. When approaching the sequence of the fifth and sixth sectors, the gap was reduced to two minutes to a more-and-more nervous bunch.

It is because of the tension, but also because of quite powerful wind, that a massive crash occurred one hundred kilometres from the finish. Lewis Askey was at the forefront to attend it, and to be caught with it. “At thatmoment, even if we don’t have too much time to think, I thought that this was going to be a cool photo”, joked the Briton later. “I was there with the biggest riders in the world. After I hit the ground, I think I was the fastest to get back on my bike (laughs)”.
Relatively unscathed, the young Englishman then came back in the peloton, which actually took a few tens of kilometres to get together again following this major race event. “With fifty kilometres to go, we still had six riders in the peloton”, added Yvon Madiot. “Antoine was the only one missing after falling in the big crash”.

Riders sort themselves out after the crash. Sirotti photo

The peloton later started to lose some riders in the sector of San Martino in Grania (7th), but it eventually was the Monte Sante Marie’s one that proved decisive, like often. The race indeed completely exploded following the accelerations of the double world champion Julian Alaphilippe and of the double Tour winner Tadej Pogacar. The latter flew away and quickly built a minute-gap between him and the rest of his competitors. After this gravel’s section, about forty kilometres from the finish, the “bunch” was made of just thirty men including Lewis Askey, Sébastien Reichenbach and Attila Valter. “It was a bit of a hectic race with the wind and this big crash”, said the Hungarian. “I did my best and tried to stay calm. Antoine gave me very good advice yesterday. He told me that even if I felt good, I had to try to hit the brakes because many others could feel just as good, and I would have to fight them in the end”.

While Pogacar continued his solo, the real fight for the remaining places started in the back with about twenty kilometres to go when five riders went away in the penultimate sector. Attila Valter did not follow at this point, but he took advantage of the final gravel’s section in Le Tolfe to go for it.

The Hungarian later recounted in detail: “From the recon we did two days ago, I knew that the last section was a hard one, but I knew that it could suit me if I still had the legs. On the bottom, I followed a guy who was setting a good pace, and I told myself that if I wanted to get a result, I had to open the gas now. I did my best, and arrived at the top alone. Then Bilbao came back to me, and we worked very well together to come back to the three riders ahead. We were therefore five for the places from 4th to 8th.

It was a little more tactical, but we still worked pretty well because we didn’t want to see another group come back. I needed to breathe for a moment, but then I felt that I would still have the legs to go again on the steep final climb”. A minute behind Pogacar, and thirty seconds behind Valverde and Asgreen, Attila Valter launched a sharp attack in the streets of Siena to take fourth place on the day. “It was so spectacular, with a lot of the fans, and I felt I had to go full”, he added. “It was really nice because I could see the shadows in that final ramp. I saw the ridersbehind me when I attacked, but I saw their shadows gradually dropping down, and that gave me even more strength.” The 23-year-old young man crossed the line with a smile on his face as he conquered a sublime fourth place on Piazza del Campo.

“It’s a very good result for me, my best one in a one-day race so far,” he said. “It’s a pity that Asgreen and Valverde got away, I think I could have fought with them for a podium. That being said, I have to be very happy with this result. It was a really nice day. I think it’s really good for the team and I hope they’re happy too.” A minute after him, Sébastien Reichenbach got a very solid fourteenth place to confirm a fine team effort for Groupama-FDJ. “I am happy because we did what we said we would do”, said Yvon Madiot. “We knew that we did not necessarily have the big favourite to win the race. We said that we had to be opportunistic, go into the moves, follow the attacks. There was not really a protected rider. Everyone had a chance, everyone had carte blanche to get a result. In the final, we had two guys to go for the top 10 and we even made it into the top 5. It’s even better! I am very satisfied. The guys got involved, because it is certainly a pretty race, but it is also a very particular and demanding one.

"Apart from Attila, Seb did a great race and I didn’t expecthim at this level in a race like this! Lewis is fiery, he still has to learn, but he’s got great potential. I want to congratulate everyone tonight! “It was crazy,” added Lewis, thirty-fifth on the line. “It was everything I expected and more. I had very good legs. The only thing is that this race is a bit too hilly for me, but I’m really happy with how long I managed to hang in there”. Attila Valter had the final word: “It was unique. I can’t wait to come back next year.”

Fifth-place Pello Bilbao's Bahrain Victorious team posted this report:

Bahrain Victorious took a solid top-five result in Strade Bianche, as Pello Bilbao crossed the finish line in the stunning Piazza del Campo in Siena in 5th place, after a chaotic and hard-fought race.

Pello Bilbao on the Monte Sante Marie sector. Sirotti photo

The 184km course that runs through the rolling hills of Tuscany, featuring 11 sectors of gravel roads, was made even more challenging due to strong wind.

It was the crosswind to cause a huge and dramatic crash on a sterrato with 98km to go involving several big riders, including the race favourite, the World Champion Alaphilippe and our riders Pello Bilbao and Matej Mohorič.

Unfortunately, the Slovenian Champion suffered severe pain in his knee and was forced to abandon the race.

At that moment, the peloton was chasing the early 9-man breakaway, with a remaining quartet that could stay away until 52km to go.

A few minutes later, the decisive move of the race happened as Tadej Pogacar attacked to go solo until the finish, taking a solo win in Siena, ahead of Valverde (+37”) and Asgreen (46”).

Pello Bilbao managed to retrieve after a flat tyre right when Pogacar opened the attack. He closed the gap to the second chasing group coming to the finish in 5th place at 1’09”: “The first feeling, I must admit, I’m a bit disappointed as I had a super good feel and was believing in the podium. I also thought I could follow the attack of Tadej Pogacar. When he attacked, I was in a perfect position to try to go. But I had a flat tyre, and I had to ride for about 1km before Jan Tratnik gave me his bike. Then I changed it on the tarmac and gave everything to chase the group in front. It was a bit chaotic race, but in the end, we still could find a good collaboration also when it seemed the race was gone.

"We had bad luck as a team, as we were involved in the big crash with the wind Matej and me too. But then all the team was compact. They believed in me. They helped me recover the positions to fight for the next gravel sector. I was near the podium, and I finished with a good feeling. Next time I will fight to be on the podium”.

Gorazd Stangelj Team Bahrain Victorious Sports Director: “The wind was a significant factor in the race today. We had a lot of splits in the peloton due to the wind, and also, the race was affected by crashes. Unfortunately, Matej was involved. Our guys were in front because they were aware of the danger of that sector at open-air and crosswinds, but the crash happened anyway, and with the high speed, they couldn’t react so fast.

"Pello suffered a puncture in a super difficult moment on the sector of Sante Marie. It was the worst moment to have a flat tyre. Happily, they reacted in a super good way. Jan was very strong today, he was close to Bilbao, and he was, fortunately, the only one who could give him a bike.

"Pello’s result is probably the maximum we could reach today, considering what happened during the race. At 25km to go, he controlled the race and kept calm, saving energies for the last 5 km, where he did very well. He caught the second group of guys chasing Pogacar and was able to do a top five, so we’re happy with the result”.

Here's the report from Team INEOS Grenadiers:

Jhonatan Narvaez led home the INEOS Grenadiers in sixth at Strade Bianche as Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) won with a long-range attack. 

Narvaez finished in a chase bunch after a superb effort to try and chase down Pogacar, who was able to stay away after attacking a reduced peloton with nearly 50 kilometres remaining.

The race split up as Pogacar attacked on the long Monte Sante Marie gravel sector and quickly amassed a sizeable advantage.

Carlos Rodriguez was the only rider able to react as Pogacar accelerated on a 10% climb and gave chase to the UAE Team Emirates rider.

Carlos Rodriguez on the Monte Sante Marie sector. Sirotti photo

The Spanish youngster kept the pressure on the solo leader and was able to hold off the peloton until the final 25 kilometres, when he was caught, with Narvaez was able to join a counter attack which escaped the peloton and led the chase.

However, with a lead around one minute, Pogacar managed to hold on to win the race, with Narvaez battling to sixth, with Rodriguez finishing 20th.


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Here's the report from 8th-place Tim Wellens' Lotto Soudal team:

Tim Wellens finished in eighth place at today’s Strade Bianche. The Lotto Soudal rider rode an attentive race, partly marred by a massive crash caused by a heavy gust of wind, just under 100 kilometres from the finish line. The crash forced several riders to abandon the race, which was also the case for Victor Campenaerts and Brent Van Moer. The victory went to Tadej Pogačar, who started an impressive solo on Monte Sante Marie and ended it successfully in Siena.

After a quiet start to the 16th Strade Bianche, in which a front group of nine took shape, the peloton was startled by a massive crash taking place at a little under 100 kilometres to go. A gust of wind made several riders crash at the front of the peloton, causing a domino effect which brought down almost half of the peloton. Lotto Soudal rider Tim Wellens could narrowly avoid the crash. Often the case at Strade Bianche, the race exploded on Monte Sante Marie, a gravel section of over ten kilometres long, including several steep ramps. When Tadej Pogačar accelerated, no one was able to follow the Slovenian as he quickly opened up a gap of one and a half minute.

The Lotto Soudal team is presented during the starting ceremonies. Sirotti photos

Five riders broke away on the Monteaperti gravel section, in pursuit of Pogačar: Wellens, Valverde, Asgreen, Simmons and Narváez. However, the quintet never got much closer than one minute and it was Asgreen who attacked and was joined by Valverde a bit later. In the background, Tim Wellens battled for a result just outside the podium in a second chasing group. Pogačar went on to win Strade Bianche with an impressive solo effort, Tim Wellens had to settle for eighth place in the end.

Tim Wellens: “We were positioned really well during the first crucial sector but a big part of the bunch was mowed down by a heavy gust of wind. After that the race was put a little on hold until gravel section seven, where we took the initiative with amongst others Harry Sweeny and Maxim Van Gils. As we knew, the selection would be made on the Monte Sante Marie, where I was in fifth position when Pogačar attacked in the descent. I was in the ideal position but Tadej went so fast nobody could follow him. On the Monteaperti, the race exploded again and I was able to escape with four other riders. At that point, I still hoped for a podium place but on the next sector it turned out that Asgreen and Valverde were better. Before the tough final kilometre, a few riders joined our chasing group and on the steep ramps towards Piazza del Campo, I had a weak moment and ended up in eighth place. Of course I had hoped for more, but being in the front line with the best riders in the race makes me happy.”

“Strade Bianche is and will always be a beautiful race but you also need a decent amount of luck, even if you have to create that yourself sometimes. It is a really honest race and in the end, everyone ends up in the place they should. The team did a good job today, although we had quite some bad luck. Victor crashed on the first sector and also Brent was knocked down by the wind’, concludes Tim Wellens.

The massive crash forced many riders to abandon, including Victor Campenaerts and Brent Van Moer. Victor Campenaerts already crashed prior to the big pile-up, had to change wheels and was again involved in the crash at 100 kilometres to go. The Belgian suffered from back pain, but it doesn’t seem too bad at first. Brent Van Moer was at the front lines of the peloton and initially looked to escape the crash but a new gust of wind took down the young Belgian, who was hit on the hip and elbow.


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And here's the Strade Bianche report from Team Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert:

This Saturday, Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux participated in one of the most spectacular races of the season, the Strade Bianche (1.UWT, 5/03), in which more than 60 kilometers of “white roads” around Siena (Tuscany) were divided in eleven sections.

Dutchman Taco van der Hoorn, who was impressive in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne last Sunday, once more joined the early breakaway of nine riders. Together, the nine men achieved a maximal advantage of 4 minutes after the first three gravel sections in the first race hour.

When the rhythm in the peloton increased on the fifth section, more than twenty riders were involved in a crash. After crashes of Jan Bakelants and Théo Delacroix, Quinten Hermans and Lorenzo Rota were involved in this big incident. With the help of their teammate Simone Petilli both men managed to close the 2 minute gap to the peloton behind the breakaway with Taco van der Hoorn.

The stainless van der Hoorn continued his effort at the front of the race until the Monte Sante Marie with 50 kilometer to go. The climb made an end to his breakaway of 130km, after which the favorites accelerated and the transalpine duo Rota and Petilli battled in the chasing group behind new race leader Pogacar.

At the end of an exciting final race hour, Simone Petilli took ninth place, finishing as the first Italian rider. Just behind, Lorenzo Rota crossed the line on the Piazza del Campo in Siena in thirteenth place despite a hurting hand. Both Rota and Bakelants’ injuries will be examined at the hospital.

“Our strong collective performance in Laigueglia last Wednesday and the high level of our leader Lorenzo Rota gave us a lot of confidence ahead of the Strade Bianche. With Taco van der Hoorn in the breakaway it was a perfect start to the race, behind we tried to race in the front and to survive as good as possible. Despite his crash, Lorenzo was again strong today. In the final we worked hard to chase the group of counterattackers but there was no real collaboration. There were many attacks and this is how I managed to finish in the top ten. Given his performance, also Lorenzo deserved this result, so I think we can conclude that we again collectively showed our presence in the front.” - Simone Petilli

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