The fall does not prevent Pogachar's triumph strade bianche; Skujin's high 12th place / day

Strade Bianche The route 2025 is mostly similar to the 2024 track, with one significant change – one new gravel sector came. 175 cyclists made a distance of 213 kilometers long, including 82 kilometers along the gravel.

A total of 16 sectors were made. The finish was already in the traditional rise of Via Santa Catherine with 16% steepness. The key places could certainly include the Monte Sante Marie sector, which is the longest and most technically complex. This is where Taday Pogačar made the attack. The following highly steep elevations – Colle Pinzuto and Le Tefle « should also be highlighted.

The main favorite this year was the world champion Taday Pogačar, who won last year in this race, taking a solo draw 81 kilometers before the finish. Our Tom Skujiņš, who won second place last year, was also mentioned in the favorites, overtaking the Belgian talent Maxim van Gil. Tom Pidkok, Slovenian Matthew Mochorich and others should also highlight the great start of the season. Also mentioned the other Latvian in this classic – Christ Neiland, who last year demonstrated a very active performance and finished in 16th place in the 175 competition.

As usual in such a classic, there was no shortage of turns, including falls, tires and others. Therefore, too, there was no too much freedom. Six riders were involved, including Britain's champion Conor Swift from the Ineos Grenadiers team. The leading group gave the lead more than five minutes.

Peleton was controlled by Uae Team Emirates riders, who held his leader Pogacar in the wind. Already after the first six sectors, the group, due to the high pace, several falls and technical adversity, had become significantly less numerical. Tom Skujiņš was in the second big group at the time, but with his favorites, he was the most experienced rider of his team, Bauke Mollema. Unfortunately, our Christ Neiland suffered a very unpleasant fall in the middle of the race. The Kuldiga man was forced to quit from a further fight. Meanwhile, in the lead group of Tom Skujiņš, the leading group was able to be an experienced Dutchman Bauke Mollema.

The first serious turns took place in the 11 -kilometer Monte Sante Marie sector, where Pogachar's teammates fueled. Already, the small peleton split into fine parts. 78 kilometers before the finish was attacked by Tom Pidkok.

Pogachar reacted immediately, and the two quickly reached and escaped the day's rider.

Pogachar continued to test the pidkock's capabilities by several acceleration. On the first of these, the Briton followed well. While the two reduced the speed slightly, the best rider of the day came – Conor Swift. 50 kilometers before the finish asphalt pavement, as the first of the trio, the rear wheel of the Pogachar bike slipped. Slovenian suffered an impressive fall in the meadow. Despite the abrasions, the Tadsey quickly returned and, when he replaced the bike, quickly reached Swift and soon the pidwood, which, when he saw the approaching competitor, reduced the pace.

After remaining again, Pogachar and Pidkok kept a stable one -minute lead over the closest followers. In the fight for the victory, the steep rise of the Colle Pinzuto sector, where Pogachar accelerated and held a very high pace, which was not at the end of the pidkok. Tadey went to his 39th solo victory in his professional career. Meanwhile, another Uae Team Emirates rider challenged British Pidkok, Tim Velens, who came out of the group of followers.

Pogachar entered the city of Siena in proud loneliness, with the legendary rise of Via Santa Catherine. He became the first top world champion to triumph in this prestigious classic. On the track, the two -time Strade Bianche champion spent exactly 5 hours and 13 minutes. In addition, this was the fastest Strade Bianche cycling ever.

Emil Liepiņš teammate Tom Pidkok was able to safely secure second place (+2: 22), but Tim Velens (+3: 23) rose on the third step of the podium, followed by Skujiņš's lead in last year's World Cup.

Tom Skujins, who started this season slower than the previous one, as he was seriously ill in December, this time was initially one of the Lidl – Trek team assistants. However, the situation and his own performance allowed Tom to fight to a very high 12th place. The Carnikavian in the end was the fastest among the riders of his unit. At the finish spurt, Skujin overtook a great day for Swift and David Formolo, a well -known Italian cyclist. Tom was separated from Pogachar for 5 minutes and 33 seconds.

Already on Monday, Skujin and Neiland are scheduled to launch a week -long Tirreno -Adriatico cycling, which will take place right in Italy.