5 insights from Strade Bianche: More than just a lot of dust and Pogacar's solo win

1st Strade Bianche is monumental

The debate has been going on for several years: does Strade Bianche, the race over the gravel roads (in Italy these are called "strade bianche") of Tuscany around Siena, have what it takes to become a "monument" of cycling? The five most traditional and difficult one-day races in professional cycling are considered monuments: Milan-San Remo, Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, Liège-Bastogne-Liège and Tour of Lombardy. What these races have in common is that they are more than 100 years old and are at least 250 kilometres long. Strade Bianche is a young thing. It only premiered in 2007 - under the name Montepaschi Eroica. The route was shortened to 203 kilometres for this year's edition. Nevertheless, the breathtaking scenery, the plumes of dust, the gravel roads, the man-to-man battle, the best man wins in the end - all this makes this race an eye-catcher, an outstanding event in the racing calendar of the whole season, much more worth seeing than most stages of the Tour de France.

2 Tadej Pogacar remains in a class of his own

Last year, Tadej Pogacar sometimes seemed tired. But anyone who thought he would start his season debut in Tuscany somehow relaxed, less ambitious and less superior was mistaken. His team-mates Florian Vermeersch and Jan Christen turned the gravel climb to Monte Sante Marie into a launch pad for the Slovenian series winner's next impressive solo. 79 kilometres solo - even rival Tom Pidcock, two-time Olympic mountain bike champion and winner of the 2023 Strade, later conceded that once again he was no match for his rival. You can find that boring in view of the race - or simply breathtaking.

3 Paul Seixas - a teenager reaches the top of the world

Paul Seixas is only 19 years old - but he already has a lot to carry. In France, they believe they have identified the teenager as the man to end the 40-year drought: No Frenchman has triumphed in the Tour de France since Bernard Hinault in 1985. Seixas, a very young professional cyclist from Team Decathlon CMA CGM, should have what it takes. Last year, he impressed with strong results in his first year as a professional. He finished third in the European Championships, sharing the podium with winner Tadej Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel, who had made such a strong professional debut in last place. The young Frenchman was unable to follow Pogacar over the hills of Tuscany, but the way he fought his way to the finish in second place with Pogacar's team-mate Isaac del Toro as an annoying appendage in his slipstream and kept the prominent pursuers at bay deserves the highest recognition. Seixas is already more than just a talent.

4. cycling takes centre stage: the Piazza del Campo

It is perhaps the most beautiful and densest backdrop that international professional cycling has to offer for a finish area. The Piazza del Campo, the central square in the historic centre of Siena. Only the finish of Paris-Roubaix, in the velodrome, offers a similarly unique backdrop - albeit with a much rougher charm. Before that, the route leads through the extremely steep, cobbled Via Santa Caterina in the historic centre towards the finish line - there is no more thrilling atmosphere for a cycling race.

5. the German cyclists: invisible

The cycling race in Tuscany at the beginning of March is a real showcase of performance - the best of the best compete shoulder to shoulder here. There was no sign of the German cyclists - only four were even at the start. German champion Georg Zimmermann had to cancel his planned start at short notice due to a crash injury. Best German: 21-year-old Emil Herzog in 83rd place - 16:38 minutes behind Pogacar (the time limit was 22:49 minutes). Maximilian Schachmann stood on the podium in the centre of Siena in 2020 - previously Linus Gerdemann (third in 2008) and Fabian Wegmann (second in 2009) had achieved this. German cycling currently seems to be left behind internationally - at least in the really tough, demanding one-day races. Nobody can currently compete at the highest level in this cycling category. Hopes are pinned on Florian Lipowitz, who should inspire again at the Tour de France in July.