Tour de France winner Tadej Pogacar has won the Strade Bianchi spring cycling race in Italy. The 23-year-old Slovenian reached the finish line in Siena after 184 kilometres as a soloist following a breakaway of around 50 kilometres.
It was Pogacar's first victory in the race, which also takes place on gravel roads. The two-time Tour winner underlined his strong early form after his recent win in the UAE Tour.
Second place, 37 seconds behind, went to 41-year-old former world champion Alejandro Valverde from Spain. Behind him in third place was the Dane Kasper Asgreen. There was a mass crash about halfway through the race in Tuscany, in which world champion Julian Alaphilippe was also involved. Unlike other riders, the Frenchman was able to continue the race.
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