Is Pogačar giving away his Strade Bianche tactic again? ‘I’ll wait for Del Toro to make the move’

It will be only the second time that Pogačar begins his season at Strade Bianche. History suggests that should not be a problem: in 2024 he struck immediately and impressed with a solo of more than 80 kilometres. He is once again the clear man to beat. Speaking ahead of the race to Cycling Pro Net, Pogačar said he feels very good and is excited to start his season here.

Winning Strade Bianche four times is something no rider has ever managed. On Saturday, Pogačar can stand alone at the top, with Fabian Cancellara also on three victories. Does starting as the overwhelming favourite add any extra pressure? Not really, according to the Slovenian. He said it is no secret that he expects to perform in every race he enters, especially Strade Bianche, and that the team and the fans expect the same. Pressure at the start line is nothing new to him; now he just hopes the legs will do the talking.

This year’s course will be different. The race is shorter and includes less gravel, something the world champion is not particularly happy about. Pogačar said that last year’s route, with more gravel sectors, suited him much better. In his view, the course has now gone back to being more like it was two years ago. He also repeated that he has never really liked the finishing circuit featuring Colle Pinzuto and Le Tolfe, even if last year’s extra gravel improved it.

The organisers made those changes in part to keep the race more competitive and avoid handing the win to Pogačar in advance. But the UAE leader is not convinced. He said that every year he does the recon, reaches that circuit and thinks, “My God, this is so boring.” At the same time, he accepted that it is part of the race and something the riders simply have to deal with.

Two years ago, Pogačar won in memorable fashion after openly suggesting beforehand that his decisive move would come on Monte Sante Marie. That is exactly how it played out. This time, he again appeared to reveal something about his tactic, although with a smile. Rather than hinting at another very long solo, he joked: “I’ll wait for Del Toro to make the move.”

Joking or not, the reality is that Del Toro gives UAE Team Emirates–XRG a major tactical advantage. That matters for Pogačar too. He said the team atmosphere is very good and that everyone shares one goal: to win. For him, it does not matter who gets the result, as long as it is a UAE rider. He added that he is particularly looking forward to racing alongside Del Toro, because the two do not line up together very often, and that it could be a very good day for the team. Del Toro arrives in Tuscany with real form after winning the UAE Tour, while UAE had already presented him as one of their key options for Strade Bianche.

So what can be expected from the young Mexican, who finished second on last year’s gravel stage into Siena at the Giro d’Italia? Pogačar’s answer was characteristically playful: he said Del Toro would be “a pure bull,” just as his surname suggests, and predicted that his team-mate would have very good legs.