Strade Bianche 2022: Pogacar solos to impeccable triumph

image: Cor VosTadej Pogacar attacks with 50 kilometres to go and solos to a commanding victory. Alejandro Valverde and Kasper Asgreen round out the podium. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results Strade Bianche 2022

1. Tadej Pogacar (slo)
2. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 0.37
3. Kasper Asgreen (den) + 0.46
4. Attila Valter (hun) + 1.07
5. Pello Bilbao (spa) + 1.09
6. Jhonathan Narváez (col) s.t.
7. Quinn Simmons (usa) + 1.21
8. Tim Wellens (bel) + 1.25
9. Simone Petilli (ita) + 1.35
10. Sergio Higuita (col) + 1.53

Race report
Taco van der Hoorn, Lilian Calmejane, Davide Martinelli, Marco Brenner, Leon Heinschke, Edoardo Zardini and Simone Bevilacqua join forces in the first phase of the race. Sergio Garcia and Samuele Zoccarato rejoin them and the nine carve out a lead of 5 minutes.

A big crash with 100 kilometres to go disrupts the race. Alaphilippe, Carapaz and Valverde are forced to chase, while Benoot and Mohoric abandon. Some 25 kilometres later the peloton regroups, while the remains of the lead group – Zocaratto, Van der Hoorn, Brenner and Calmejane – are caught with 50 kilometres remaining. Which is on the longest sterrato of the day. Moments later Tadej Pogacar opts for a long range attack.

The Tour de France winner reenters the tarmac 35 seconds before the first chaser, Carlos Rodriguez. The main group is 1 minute in arrears.

Pogacar’s lead grows steadily, while Rodriguez is reeled in.

Asgreen accelerates on the Vic d’Arbia sector. Wellens, Valverde, Narváez and Simmons join the Dane. The five reach the penultimate sterrato 1 minute behind Pogacar. Asgreen leaves his companions to try and bridges the gap solo.

Pogacar rides 1 minute ahead of Asgreen when he moves through Le Tolfe. Valverde joins the Dane, but the two never come close.

Pogacar wins the race in commanding style, while Valverde drops Asgreen on the steep climb into Siena to finish in second.

Other interesting reads: route and start list 2022 Strade Bianche.