Strade Bianche 2026, March 7, one-day race

[Extinction]

I don't like supporting against someone, but it's my genuine hope Pogacar does not win Strade, San Remo and Roubaix this year. I think that would be good for cycling. alas... it will not be.

Nah, at this point he should win MSR and Roubaix just to see the goat hype train go berzerk.

 

[Berniece]

Yes, you are right. I think he will have no problems on the dirt. Good catch. Another reason to keep an eye on this guy.

I think he’s going to podium and I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets dropped last

 

[AmRacer]

Nah, at this point he should win MSR and Roubaix just to see the goat hype train go berzerk.

If he wins both of them, he will have a five monuments season.

 

[Extinction]

If he wins both of them, he will have a five monuments season.

Yea, but he has to beat MVDP. Even had he not crashed last year in Roubaix, they would have most likely gone together into the velodrome and I would not have bet against the Dutchman. Pog probably needs to have a perfect race and MVDP an incident to win.

 

[canina82]

I don't like supporting against someone, but it's my genuine hope Pogacar does not win Strade, San Remo and Roubaix this year. I think that would be good for cycling. alas... it will not be.

Unless it's Remco. He is allowed to win all the time.

 

[Gigs_98]

The utter hilarity of Simon Yates with 0 votes.

Unfortunately I misread the question back then and thought this was about who would get 2nd. Being the cycling expert that I am I therefore did not vote for Yates.

 

[KoopaCycling]

Unless it's Remco. He is allowed to win all the time.

Okay.

 

[Alien Performance]

After MVDP decided to ride last weekend this is the first race of the year I'm actually hyped for thanks to Seixas

 

[Red Rick]

Unfortunately I misread the question back then and thought this was about who would get 2nd. Being the cycling expert that I am I therefore did not vote for Yates.

But the real question is if you were watching Finestre live?

Probably a stupid question, all the data from the Giro indicated Gigs was attending a coma.

 

[KZD]

Very good field here. Hopefully we will have a battle like last year.

Pogačar should still be able to win solo but I see Pidcock and Seixas capable of give them some sort of fight. Del Toro is my pick for second, as he might not have to work and then ride on the wheel of Seixas and Pidcock before beating them in the end.

Curious to see Albert Philipsen and Del Grosso, I expect them to fight for the top10.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Best of the rest?

Who will finish highest in the Tour de France 2014 besides the two top favorites Contador and Froome?

forum.cyclingnews.com

Tour de France - 2023 Tour de France: Best of the Rest?

Who other than Vingegaard and Pogačar will finish highest in GC in this year's Tour de France?

forum.cyclingnews.com

Giro d'Italia - 2024 Giro d'Italia pre-race poll: Best of the Rest?

Please also mention in the thread who else you think will finish on the podium.

forum.cyclingnews.com

Strade Bianche 2025: Best of the Rest?

Who will finish 2nd (or be the great upset and unexpectedly win the race)?

forum.cyclingnews.com

Giro d'Italia - Il Giro d'Italia 2025: Best of the Rest? Pre-race poll.

forum.cyclingnews.com

Nice to look back and see that I voted wrong in every single poll

 

[Oldman]

Yes, you are right. I think he will have no problems on the dirt. Good catch. Another reason to keep an eye on this guy.

This is different than "used to do CX", though. The current WC of CX is not doing it because he's trained for other races and knows what it takes to be competitive, especially when you're a race favorite. I'd love for delToro and Seixas to throw down and stir the race. Not knowing what you have to do this race will reveal who guesses correctly. IMO Pidcock and Pogacar, barring wrecks/mechanicals; will be in the race critical position with very few companions. And they both are coming to win it confidently, I'd guess.

 

[Brumdog66]

Nice to look back and see that I voted wrong in every single poll

Who was the credible opposition to Nibali in 2014?

 

[Pippo_San]

Too soon for Seixas.
Top 10 for him.

I'm going for a mano a mano Tadej and Torito

 

[AmRacer]

1: TP
2: TP
3: any random rider

 

[Berniece]

Too soon for Seixas.
Top 10 for him.

I'm going for a mano a mano Tadej and Torito

Why is it too soon? He was 3rd at UEC RR, 7th at Lombardia, and now he seems to be in better form

 

[HashRouge]

It's really such a shame del Toro is on UAE. Imagine this race with him on another team. It would be seriously exciting!

 

[canina82]

It's really such a shame del Toro is on UAE. Imagine this race with him on another team. It would be seriously exciting!

Exciting for 2nd place right?

 

[AmRacer]

Exciting for 2nd place right?

TP should fix it easily, I hope

 

[tobydawq]

Why is Vacek not riding this? Did they forget his insane ride on the Giro gravel stage?

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

1: TP
2: TP
3: any random rider

Edward "Ted" Planckaert for 3rd, surely?

 

[Cycling111]

Some comments remind of Lombardy preview and what would have happened if Del Toro arrived with Pogacar.

Del Toro didn't work or launched Pogacar in Lombardy, but he couldn't even keep up with him.

An attempt was made to create a narrative that Del Toro couldn't win in Lombardy because of Pogacar, but the reality is that he was never at a similar level in the race.
In the World Championships as well, it was Pogacar who waited for Del Toro for several kilometers to see if he would recover, presumably to help him reach the podium.
Pogacar benefited him in both races.

It's quite the opposite. Del Toro has a better chance of winning if Pogacar lets him than if he's his rival. In Lombardy, he was able to ride in rivals´wheel because he was Pogacar's teammate and therefore he wasted less energy than the rest.
I suppose the same thing will happen tomorrow; if Pogacar can attack without Del Toro working, Del Toro will just be following other riders without working.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Why is Vacek not riding this? Did they forget his insane ride on the Giro gravel stage?

Because Juan Ayuso is more important and they want to screw over your CQ team.

 

[Cycling111]

Because Juan Ayuso is more important and they want to screw over your CQ team.

If Vingegaard is in shape, I don't think Vacek's presence will change what might happen in Paris-Nice.

In any case, LIDL has a great team, so they can send Vacek to another race and ensure Ayuso continues to have strong support there.

 

[The bald fraud]

In my modest opinion, Florian Vermeersch should be allowed to wear the rainbow jersey tomorrow, as he is the gravel world champion and Strade Bianche is a race on gravel roads!

Anyway, Pogačar shall obliterate all other competitors. No gifts. This race is too prestigious and too important to set the tone for the whole season.