Strade Bianche 2026, March 7, one-day race

[Extinction]

It's of course hard to compare such different riders, but until they drop a few levels, Pogacar and MVP are the top 2 until the end of PR, since 2023 (even if both improved a lot after) they've been the only true aliens in this period. After PR MVP is basically gone and this discussion will become more relevant.

So how much bigger is Tadej, when he keeps going after PR into the GTs, the Worlds, Lombardia, and he attacks from 100 km out

 

[Extinction]

Thats all Im saying.

I don't think we'll see Pog-like feats for decades, but, if we do, it's all been for naught anyway.

 

[Revelation]

So how much bigger is Tadej, when he keeps going after PR into the GTs, the Worlds, Lombardia, and he attacks from 100 km out

He's a bigger alien overall of course, but over the last 3-4 years MVP has leveled up to a point he can produce the best CX level ever while nosebreathing (yeah it's CX, but I still value being a clear GOAT of another discipline) and then go on to beat Pogacar 6-2 in those monuments. He absolutely is an alien of similar caliber to Pogacar in this period, something no one else is in anything since 2024, if we're excluding TT.

 

[Sciatic]

Ea

Wait and see.

What else would we do?

 

[noob]

Is this when I say; "so glad I didn't watch it"

 

[KZD]

Another record for Pogačar as he goes on to win his 4th Strade Bianche and once again, solo. He looks definitely ready for the monuments still to come.

Another incredible performance from Seixas to finish second in a big race like Strade at 19. Not only he has a bright future, he is already one of the best in the world at the very least in hilly one day races. Too bad we couldn't watch him dropping Del Toro at the end.

Del Toro with another solid performance, I expected him to take second at the end against Seixas but its still a big result for him.

Gregoire with a very good fourth place showing his class in this terrain and Vermeersch with a brilliant fifth place, a very good signing for Red Bull this season.

Expected a bit more from Van Aert and Pidcock, even though the latter had a few mechanical troubles.

 

[Berniece]

Didn’t see anything today of the race today, but happy to see Seixas finish second. Pogacar only took 1min, was he holding back or not that impressive as usual?

 

[Danskebjerge]

You've got to respect the guy who made a poll about who was going to be second.

I sometimes think about the times when Valverde, Sagan and Alaphilippe were dominant. It turned out they weren't at all - compared to this Slovenian rider.

 

[canina82]

Didn’t see anything today of the race today, but happy to see Seixas finish second. Pogacar only took 1min, was he holding back or not that impressive as usual?

He was holding back.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

He was holding back.

100%

After his attack, he was on a warm-down from there on

 

[James M]

Didn’t see anything today of the race today, but happy to see Seixas finish second. Pogacar only took 1min, was he holding back or not that impressive as usual?

Pogacar was not impressive, 80 km solo in fact a very underwhelming performance, didnt just maintain the gap either. He was so gassed at the top of the ramp up piazza del campo, to tired to celebrate and just gasping for air its all over.

 

[Rob5091]

So the Pogster does it again and in a record average speed. Not that that matters exactly but worth bearing in mind as the racing gets faster and faster.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Didn’t see anything today of the race today, but happy to see Seixas finish second. Pogacar only took 1min, was he holding back or not that impressive as usual?

Pogi eased up by about 20 seconds at the very end. Other than that he was in control but Seixas was likely the strongest rival during Pogacar's 4-year reign. The Messiah was super-good.

 

[snipeheem]

Pogačar is doing clearly worse than the last two years but it doesn‘t matter. Looks good for Van der Poel though.

Worse?

https://twitter.com/x/status/2030331067610046888

View: https://x.com/VelonCC/status/2030331067610046888

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Worse?

https://twitter.com/x/status/2030331067610046888

View: https://x.com/VelonCC/status/2030331067610046888

He must be very large then, otherwise he should have won by five minutes.

 

[Cookster15]

Another dominant ride from Pogi - no surprise.

But I think we have to lift our expectations of 19 year old Paul Seixas. He has been pulling out these rides since last year's European champs.

 

[Tim Cahill]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2030317936464834837

 

[Cookster15]

He must be very large then, otherwise he should have won by five minutes.

Probably just means Pogacar was holding back today - as suggested by others.

 

[Cookster15]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2030317936464834837

Seixas's quote translated for non French speakers:

It's tough, really tough (being in Pogacar's slipstream). It really hurts my legs. I had a small gap, Del Toro blocked everyone. He wouldn't let me pass; when I overtook him, he'd get back in front and brake.

 

[snipeheem]

Pogi was almost 1 min faster on Sante Marie than last year

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Probably just means Pogacar was holding back today - as suggested by others.

And because of that he did 40 watts more than the years before.

 

[Salvarani]

And because of that he did 40 watts more than the years before.

Somehow he was worse though

Something not adding up here

 

[canina82]

And because of that he did 40 watts more than the years before.

He looks bulkier for sure. But he wasn't by any means less stellar than other years. It's clear he could have won with 30" more

 

[snipeheem]

And because of that he did 40 watts more than the years before.

Yea he was worse , he just beat his record on santa Marie by 50 seconds

 

[Krzysztof_O]

And because of that he did 40 watts more than the years before.

I don't know if you can believe these kind of estimates for 80 km distance. They can have big errors and they don't even know Pogacar's current mass and conditions.