Pogačar critical despite Strade Bianche win as he looks ahead to next big target

What was the issue again? At Friday’s team presentation, Pogačar — like several of his colleagues — had been openly critical of the altered Strade Bianche course. He said he had never been a fan of the second finishing loop featuring Colle Pinzuto and Le Tolfe, and also pointed out that gravel had now been removed from the opening phase of the race. In his view, that remains a questionable change, even if it is ultimately something the riders simply have to accept.

On that same course, it was once again Pogačar who blew the race apart on the toughest sector of the day, Monte Sante Marie. Paul Seixas of Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale put up a fight for a while, but in the end he had to give in. So once more, it was Pogačar who took his place in the winner’s press conference after Strade Bianche.

Tadej, what is it that you enjoy about those long solo rides?
“I don’t enjoy them, but it is the way they design the course. They add thirty unnecessary kilometres.

The hardest part of the race comes before that, so it is logical that I want to make the difference there. Then to do an extra loop afterwards... it is unnecessary, because now I ride 80 kilometres solo, whereas otherwise it would be 50.”

Do you hope — or mainly think — that the riders will actually be listened to?
“I don’t know. We can complain as much as we want, but in the end it is not up to us to design the route. It is still a very beautiful race.

If they want small groups at 80 kilometres from the finish, and then everyone arriving one by one in Siena, then they are doing a good job. And as the winner, I should not complain too much.”

You have said a few times that Milan-Sanremo is the hardest race for you to win. Is that because of the course?
“It is completely different from Strade Bianche, Omloop, Flanders or all the other races. Until we reach the coast, it is a very easy race. But from that point on, it becomes extremely nervous immediately.

It is constant left, right, through villages at high speed. Especially the run-in to the Cipressa is very dangerous, also because all the strong guys — classics riders, sprinters and riders like me — want to be at the front. That makes it a bit scary.”

“Once you get to the Cipressa, 100 per cent is not enough. You have to go 110 per cent to make a difference. The same applies on the Poggio, where you have to go even harder. We climb those ascents at around 40 kilometres per hour, so there is a clear advantage to sitting on a wheel.

And then you still have to descend into Sanremo. All in all, it is a very unusual race, but that is what makes it beautiful and interesting.”

You have now won your first race of the year. Does that feel different when you have not raced beforehand?
“There is definitely a difference. After a long winter you are still a bit in the dark, and that is always the case in your first race. But it was a really nice feeling to get started again.”

Did you feel Paul Seixas could really challenge you?
“Yes, actually I did. After the first steep section, I looked back and saw that he was not far behind me at all. Very close, actually. So then I knew I had to go all the way to the top, because with just a little extra strength he could have followed me and then we would have had to continue together.”

Then you still had two hours to ride alone. What goes through your mind in a moment like that?
“At first I thought: the new kid is really good. And I really had to keep pushing to open the gap. So I was also wondering where my teammates were, like Isaac del Toro, but when the team car came up to me I understood enough. From that moment on it was about eating, drinking and keeping the effort going all the way to Siena. And sometimes you also disappear into your own thoughts.”