There were still 50 kilometres to the finish when Tadej Pogačar (UAE Emirates - XRG) suddenly lost control of his bike in an asphalt bend, skidded out of the bend and rolled over on a meadow. With numerous abrasions and a torn outfit, he jumped back on his bike and rode back to Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team). After a few kilometres, which he spent largely on the back wheel, he attacked irresistibly in the penultimate gravel sector 18 kilometres before the finish. The world champion left nothing to chance until the finish, becoming the first professional to defend his title in Tuscany. Sovereign. Pogačar had also won in Siena in 2022, but was not at the start in 2023.

Pogačar tackled the final climb to Piazza del Campo with a smile. After 213 kilometres to and from Siena, he joined Fabian Cancellara as the record winner of the race, which now has 19 editions in the books.

"I enjoyed the race right up to the finish line," said Pogačar, perhaps somewhat surprisingly, in the interview at the finish. But the 26-year-old added: "The adrenaline helped to hold back the pain until then. But now I can feel it. I hope it's not worse than it looks." The injuries on the left side of the Slovenian's body were obvious. He described his accident as follows: "I was simply going too fast. I actually know the roads well, I've ridden here 20 times in my life. But this time it was too fast and then I skidded off. I was okay, but I had to change my bike. I was a bit worried afterwards because a fall always takes a toll on the body."

If Pogačar does not suffer any long-term problems, his UAE team will ultimately be satisfied with the day, as Tim Wellens was the second professional from the Emirates team to finish on the podium. Pidcock, winner in Pogačar's year of abstinence, greeted the crowd as he crossed the finish line in second place and, after the brief disillusionment following Pogačar's attack, still seemed satisfied in the end.

After winning the UAE Tour in his season opener, he now celebrated his second victory in his second race.

>>Strade Bianche: Track, gravel sectors, favourites

Strade Bianche 2025 - Results

How Strade Bianche 2025 went

It took about ten kilometres for the race to pick up speed in the best spring weather - sunshine, good temperatures and hardly any wind. Twelve riders formed the first leading group of the day. With the two Brits Lewis Askey (Groupama - FDJ) and Connor Swift (Ineos Grenadiers), the breakaway was quite prominent, even if none of the top favourites were among them. The group went well, building up a lead of up to four minutes.

However, numerous defects at the front meant that the group was thinned out faster than it might have been from a sporting point of view. But many pros also crashed in the peloton. David Gaudu (Groupama - FDJ) and Krists Neilands (Israel - Premier Tech) were unable to continue. But for many other riders, too, the race was over sooner than expected. Only a small group of around 20 or 25 riders were left of the peloton 80 kilometres before the finish. Pogačar and Pidcock accelerated out of this group at the end of the Monte Sante Marie sector and then quickly caught up with the leaders.

However, the duo did not stay there for long. Only Swift was able to cling on to their rear wheel. New groups formed behind them, but they weren't really green, so the gap to the leading trio quickly grew to a minute and a half. Ben Healy (EF Education - EasyPost), Gianni Vermeersch (Alpecin - Deceuninck), Roger Adria (Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe), Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates - XRG), Magnus Cort (Uno-X Mobility) and Lennert Van Eetvelt (Lotto) were the most prominent names.

Pogačar falls, but manages to return to Pidock

50 kilometres before the finish, Pogačar took a wrong turn at the front, slid into the meadow and rolled over. He quickly jumped back on his bike, but was still marked by abrasions and torn trousers. Swift was also slowed down as a result. Pidcock initially kept up the pace, but later dropped back and waited for the Slovenian, who was able to catch up again after a late bike change. Swift, on the other hand, did not make it back.

Five kilometres later, Pogačar was back, but stayed on the Brit's rear wheel for the time being. Nevertheless, the lead over the chasers remained fairly constant. They also split 35 kilometres before the finish. Wellens, who was able to rest for a long time because of his captain at the front, Healy, Bilbao and Adria broke away from the rest and collected Swift, then did their thing.

The situation remained unchanged with 20 kilometres to go. Pogačar mainly stayed on Pidcock's rear wheel and the gap to the first chasers remained at one minute. In the penultimate sector - Colle Pinzuto - Pogačar then went on the offensive. On the climb, the defending champion suddenly stepped up the pace, broke away and left a resigned Pidock behind.

Pogačar drives victory safely home

Among the chasers, Pogačar's team-mate Wellens also took advantage of the point at which Pogačar attacked to get rid of his rivals. However, the Belgian was already more than a minute and a half behind his captain at this point.

In the last sector - Le Tolfe - twelve kilometres before the end, Pogačar was a little more cautious. He didn't go full throttle on all the other descents either. Nevertheless, his lead grew to one minute. This did not change significantly until the finish. However, Wellens was also unable to close the gap to Pidcock, who thus prevented the UAE one-two victory. However, there was nothing left for the Belgian at the back. Healy also finished solo in fourth place - three and a half minutes behind.

Adria, who as Red Bull's best pro and stand-in captain for the sick Maxim Van Gils was long on his way to a top 5 result, had to pay tribute to his efforts in the final kilometres. He finished a good five minutes behind in tenth place.