Pogacar beats Pidcock in Strade epic despite crash

Tadej Pogacar becomes the first rider to win Strade Bianche back-to-back

Battered and bruised world champion Tadej Pogacar recovered from a crash to beat Tom Pidcock and retain his Strade Bianche title with another famous victory.

Pogacar became the first male rider to win the prestigious one-day race back-to-back, while Demi Vollering won the women's race for the second time in three years.

Pogacar and Pidcock went clear with 78.5km of the race remaining, before the UAE Team Emirates rider went down at high speed on a corner with 50km to go in Italy.

The reigning Tour de France champion swiftly got back to his feet and caught back up to the Briton, the 2023 winner, who eased off once it was apparent Pogacar was continuing to race after the accident.

The 26-year-old Slovenian then made his move on the penultimate gravel sector, with 18.6km to go, and went clear to win by one minute and 24 seconds.

"I enjoyed it until I crossed the finish line," he said. "Now the adrenaline has started to wear off and I'm feeling a lot of pain.

"[It's] not the best way to win a race, but a win is a win. Let's hope it's nothing worse than it looks. All should be fine."

Pidcock came home second in Siena in Tuscany, while Belgium's Tim Wellens completed the podium, two minutes and 12 seconds after his team-mate Pogacar.

The three-time Tour de France winner completed the 213km race in five hours 13 minutes and 58 seconds to become the first reigning world champion to win the modern classic and tie Switzerland's Fabian Cancellara for most wins (three).

Pidcock continues promising start

Pidcock has made a promising start to life with his new team Q36.5, and he and Pogacar went clear fractionally later than when Pogacar launched his solo attack to win last year's race.

On a descent with 50km to go, Pogacar misjudged a corner and ended up sliding into a thorn bush, but he rose quickly, sporting what appeared to be superficial but painful injuries to his left shoulder and hip.

Ineos Grenadiers rider Connor Swift had battled gamely to hang on to the back of the lead pair after being caught by Pogacar and Pidcock.

But Pogacar soon caught Swift, who was delayed by the crash, and was closing on his compatriot Pidcock when the leader sportingly sat up.

That allowed Pogacar to get back with Pidcock 46km from the line and set up a thrilling finish, in which Pogacar attacked on the Colle Pinzuto climb.

He had a 30-second lead when he finished that sector, led by 50 heading into the final gravel sector, and by more than a minute with 10km to go.

On his crash, Pogacar added: "I went too fast I guess. I know this road very well. I've ridden it 20 times in my life but sometimes you misjudge.

"I slipped and it happens. I was a bit worried because a crash takes a lot out of you but I had enough to finish it off."

This is the fourth time Pidcock has raced the Strade Bianche and the 25-year-old has never finished outside the top five, with this his first World Tour podium with his new team.

Ireland's Ben Healy was fourth, 3:23 behind Pogacar, while Swift ultimately finished 13th.

Vollering denies Van der Breggen shock win

Demi Vollering claimed victory in the women's race, after outsprinting fellow Dutch rider Anna van der Breggen to win by 18 seconds.

Van der Breggen, 34, is making her World Tour comeback with SD Worx-Protime after three years away from competitive racing.

The former world and Olympic champion is Vollering's ex-team-mate, coach and mentor, and won the Strade Bianche in 2018.

She attacked into the final gravel sector and was caught by Vollering, Pauline Ferrand-Prevot and Juliette Labous on the climb.

The Dutch pair then battled it out during the closing stages of the 136km race before Vollering launched a decisive attack with 500 metres to go.

The FDJ–Suez rider, 28, becomes the third woman to win the race twice, despite suffering a puncture on the longest gravel sector.

"It's fun to race against Anna - it feels like when I started," said Vollering. "It's also a reminder for myself how much I have grown over the years."

Van der Breggen added: "I had no idea how long I could keep up. I did not expect to finish with Demi, so I'm really happy with how far I am physically."

Britain's Lizzie Deignan, the 2016 winner, was unable to finish after she punctured at the same time as her Lidl-Trek team car was involved in a crash.

"By the time I got any service I was well and truly out of the race," said the 36-year-old. "Nonetheless, I enjoyed my training ride in stunning scenery."