Strade Bianche: Tadej Pogacar wins record fourth title with solo attack
Tadej Pogacar has secured a record-breaking fourth victory at Strade Bianche after launching a stunning solo attack with 78km remaining in Tuscany.
The world champion produced a dominant performance to open his 2026 season, distancing his rivals on the Monte Sante Marie gravel sector.
It marks a third consecutive win at the Italian classic for the Slovenian, who moves clear of Fabian Cancellara’s previous record of three titles.
A history-making solo break
Pogacar, sporting a new bleach-blonde hairstyle, repeated his tactics from 2024 by attacking from distance.
French teenager Paul Seixas was the only rider capable of initially following the surge, briefly clawing his way back to the 27-year-old’s wheel.
However, the UAE Team Emirates leader accelerated again to drop the 19-year-old and ride clear for a comfortable victory.
Unlike last year’s bloodied battle following a crash, this was a serene procession for the cycling superstar.
He had time to bow theatrically to the crowd in Siena’s Piazza del Campo before punching the air in delight.
‘Young bullets’ impress
Seixas held on to finish second, one minute behind the winner, dropping Pogacar’s teammate Isaac del Toro on the steep Via Santa Caterina climb.
Del Toro, the runner-up at last year’s Giro d’Italia, finished nine seconds further back to complete the podium.
It was a tactical masterclass from UAE Team Emirates-XRG, who placed three riders in the top six.
“Chapeau to the teammates today, everybody did an incredible job,” said Pogacar.
“Also the young bullets, Jan [Christen] and Isaac, what a job for them. It was an honour to ride with such a team today and to deliver the win, so I’m super happy.”
On the moment he broke away, Pogacar added: “I saw that [Seixas] was chasing really hard on the steepest part of the climb on Sainte Marie, but I said to myself I would go all out to the top and then see if he can bridge.
“Either he will come to my wheel or he will explode. In the end I saw it’s enough.”
Pidcock’s mechanical frustration
Tom Pidcock, the 2023 winner, endured a difficult day plagued by mechanical issues.
The British rider dropped his chain just as the decisive move was made on the Monte Sante Marie, preventing him from following the leaders.
Despite fighting back into the chasing group, the Ineos Grenadiers rider faded on the final climb to finish seventh, more than two minutes adrift.
