Strade Bianche 2026, March 7, one-day race

[Berniece]

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.

[content deleted] Pogacar didn't wait for Del Toro, it was Del Toro that went hard on Mur de Kigali and was first on the top. They kept working together and Del Toro played a similar role as Sivakov the year before, helping Pogacar get a larger gap on the opposition, until Del Toro was empty.

 

[AmRacer]

[Deleted content] Pogacar didn't wait for Del Toro, it was Del Toro that went hard on Mur de Kigali and was first on the top. They kept working together and Del Toro played a similar role as Sivakov the year before, helping Pogacar get a larger gap on the opposition, until Del Toro was empty.

[Content deleted]
When Pogi and Toro had worked together for a while, Toro got tired and Pogi waited for him until Toro couldn't hang on

 

[Lorzenz08]

Glad its March and the big races are finally here. Hoping no serious crashes. Of course hard to bet against Pog who will be 100% motivated to set a standalone record for most wins at this race.

Hilarious OP btw - leaving out the obvious fav ..... a sign of the times. My $0.02:

Pog ***** (5 stars)
Del Toro *** (3 stars)
Pidders *** (3 stars)

Wildcards:
Seixas
Wout

As others have suggested, we are still finding out what Seixas is capable of. He is so young with no data to rely upon. Can he ride dirt?

I really have no clue about WvA's form but would be nice to see the old Wout back.

I think Seixas will be absolutely magistral, I'm not worried about if he can ride dirt or not.

In my opinion, the only question about Seixas is what his margin of progression is. If he is close to his ceiling he will be a great rider no matter what. If he is not, he will be among the GOATs

 

[Cycling111]

In the final laps they road together, Pogacar waited for Del Toro. You only have to look at the lap times. Those last laps with Del Toro were Pogacar's slowest. Once he dropped Del Toro, Pogacar did faster laps.

After that, there was still excessive hype surrounding Del Toro for Lombardy. They were going to arrive together. When it became clear during the WC that it wasn't going to be like that

 

[jotafap]

In the final laps they road together, Pogacar waited for Del Toro. You only have to look at the lap times. Those last laps with Del Toro were Pogacar's slowest. Once he dropped Del Toro, Pogacar did faster laps.

After that, there was still excessive hype surrounding Del Toro for Lombardy. They were going to arrive together, and Pogacar could have given it to him.

This, and also Del Toro did not ride until he was empty, like it was said before. He was having stomach problems, if I’m not mistaken, and they were waiting to see if he would improve before being dropped.

 

[cafe_rider]

[Content deleted]
When Pogi and Toro had worked together for a while, Toro got tired and Pogi waited for him until Toro couldn't hang on

Absolutely - Ayuso blew on the Muur and de Toro went hard on the Muur and that blew him up soon after. Pogacar was not even trying to drop IDT on Kimihurura but did so anyway and then dropped back to HIS pace to keep him there until he cried "No mas" on Kigali Golf. Strade only 200km compared to the 270km of a Worlds course so likely IDT a year older can tolerate more but that remains to be seen

 

[James M]

Curious if these teams/guys have learned by now and growned some balls. Should do everything they can to send their best riders into the break as early as possible and all of em should have that as a prio.

Anything to flip the script otherwise youre just riding to your own demise on the mercy of someone else and will lose.

 

[Berniece]

Curious if these teams/guys have learned by now and growned some balls. Should do everything they can to send their best riders into the break as early as possible and all of em should have that as a prio.

Anything to flip the script otherwise youre just riding to your own demise on the mercy of someone else and will lose.

UAE will just close that up, right?

 

[James M]

UAE will just close that up, right?

Yeah but at least try to force them off the script. Group of 10 with 100km to go higher probability someone else win if something should happen, but it needs to be a collective effort from all the other team captains.

It obv wont happen cause teams and riders have their own interests, but its hilarious to watch them let the same script play out for the 100th time and expect a different outcome. Like they accepted riding for second a long time ago

 

[canina82]

Curious if these teams/guys have learned by now and growned some balls. Should do everything they can to send their best riders into the break as early as possible and all of em should have that as a prio.

Anything to flip the script otherwise youre just riding to your own demise on the mercy of someone else and will lose.

No chance against UAE. That should be the tactic in WCs against Pogacar. For example Montreal, I hope every single nation including Belgium (please Belgium, don't think Remco is on par with Pogacar) should attack Slovenia right after the first hill.
It's just impossible to do it against this UAE in SB. They only need to control 130 km with Veermersch, Novak, Christen, Felix, Vermaerke and they still have Del Toro who would be a leader in any other team.

 

[cafe_rider]

UAE will just close that up, right?

Indeed - the peleton knows Novak, Vermaerke, Großschartner (at least) will ride all out from first 80km. You are going to need some break to pull 3 minutes out from those three.

 

[James M]

No chance against UAE. That should be the tactic in WCs against Pogacar. For example Montreal, I hope every single nation including Belgium (please Belgium, don't think Remco is on par with Pogacar) should attack Slovenia right after the first hill.
It's just impossible to do it against this UAE in SB. They only need to control 130 km with Veermersch, Novak, Christen, Felix, Vermaerke and they still have Del Toro who would be a leader in any other team.

I dont disagree, and I dont think they’d stand a chance no matter what for those reasons either but thats not the point.

Its more from their view point about trying something with a willingness to risk everything, even if its suicidal. Sitting back and waiting for the inevitable is basically accepting and content with that youre only riding for a top placing

 

[canina82]

I dont disagree, and I dont think they’d stand a chance no matter what for those reasons either but thats not the point.

Its more from their view point about trying something with a willingness to risk everything, even if its suicidal. Sitting back and waiting for the inevitable is basically accepting and content with that youre only riding for a top placing

I get your point but it's just pointless and other teams know this (so why even try? I think this thought is very alive in their head IMO). This is why some fans call Pogacar's dominance boring and it's totally understandable. This is why I don't understand why other nations don't try something different with their leaders instead of waiting for Pogacar. Slovenia is weak and other teams should just go all in with 200 km to the finish. It's not like Pogacar can solo for 150 km. Against this UAE, it's just impossible, they have 3 or 4 domestiques who can rip the peloton in pieces without much troubles.

 

[James M]

Yeah its damned if you do, damned if you dont kinda scenario.

Anyway im intrigued to see how Seixas performs when hes thrown into the lions den here.

 

[Gratemans]

UAE will just close that up, right?

They might, but it's hardly ever been tried before (which baffles me). Seeing UAE aren't particularly impressive when it comes to tactics, they might completely botch it.
And even though Pog might bridge it on his own, I agree that it's at least worth trying for once.

 

[Brumdog66]

Everyone outside the front four in the market should be getting in the break

 

[Unchained]

If things could go the way I want.. A chaotic rider like Ben Healy will jump and try to bring out a decent gap, I would hope a level of respect for UAE and other favorites, they let him go away for a while.
I also hope a couple of teams are real, know before the start they have zero real chance and drill it, roll away at @8-10 minutes and are chased, don't even care if they are caught before @60-70% of the race is finished. I hope some teams get TV time by going way off the front. So many talented guys,
guys with little possibilities should go all out.. There are @30 guys on a no fly list, everyone else should try something bold..I really hope teams who are confused like EF, let Healy go free and put realistic hopes on Richard Carapaz, who could win, but don't make Healy work for him.
Have no idea about the sincerity of Tudor plan.. Alaphilppe has been running out of gas.
Tibor Del Grosso, 22 has some surprising depth, he can do races at @180-200k and he doesn't get baked, he has gravel skills, if that ends up being a factor..He is doing a Pog schedule and this looks like his 2026 debut.
Alberto Bettiol used to be a good bike racer.
UnoX or Bora wins the race, too much good so far for nothing..
So if nothing else happens, Polti should pound it and blow up @ half way through, but they should race Italian proud even if it's for nothing.

 

[Eagle_Alps]

. That should be the tactic in WCs against Pogacar. For example Montreal, I hope every single nation including Belgium (please Belgium, don't think Remco is on par with Pogacar) should attack Slovenia right after the first hill.

Won't work. A harder race will only work in Pogi's favor. It's what happened in Zürich.
Belgium & NL burned their teams for no reason and when Pogi went, only Van Baarle was left to help

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Can Simmons try some monster breakaway? He's hell of an endurance rider (diesel not turbo). Remember last Lombardy? (he was 4th) According to his own words under normal circumstances he wouldn't have had a chance to be 4th after Ganda climb and going into a long-lasting breakaway was an optimal tactic, not a suicide.

 

[canina82]

Can Simmons try some monster breakaway? He's hell of an endurance rider (diesel not turbo). Remember last Lombardy? (he was 4th) According to his own words under normal circumstances he wouldn't have had a chance to be 4th after Ganda climb and going into a long-lasting breakaway was an optimal tactic.

If UAE go hard, the break will never get more than 2'.

 

[cafe_rider]

If UAE go hard, the break will never get more than 2'.

The start of Monte Sante Marie is 120km. UAE will have Novak, Vermaerke and Vermeersch/Großschartner riding the whole time. Unless UAE get depleted by mechanicals or crashes hard to see any group staying 2 minutes ahead. If Simmons/ Mohoric/Carapaz/Hermans/Gianni Vermeersch/ Jorgenson get away in the first gravel climb after 20km, maybe but UAE is just not going to allow that.
Plus does it help Pidcock, Bilbao, Healy, Pellizzari for that to happen. as has been said above, it just makes the race far harder and we know who that favours.
What else to do though? It has to be multiple attacks, send the 2nd tier guys up the road, then send the first tier guys after that burns some of UAE resources, continual rolling attacks every climb, you just have to try and deplete UAE somehow but that relies on 6 teams collaborating!

​

 

[cafe_rider]

Can Simmons try some monster breakaway? He's hell of an endurance rider (diesel not turbo). Remember last Lombardy? (he was 4th) According to his own words under normal circumstances he wouldn't have had a chance to be 4th after Ganda climb and going into a long-lasting breakaway was an optimal tactic, not a suicide.

UAE also have the very viable tactic of Del Toro or Jan Christen going into breaks

 

[Strawberry_Jams]

even tadej can't be bothered with the last lap. the sooner they change it back to the original route the better...

 

[Mayomaniac]

The strongest of today vs the strongest of tomorrow?

 

[Ilmaestro99]

The strongest of today vs the strongest of tomorrow?

The strongest of tomorrow will win, as the race is tomorrow, not today.