Pogacar Beats Pidcock in Strade Epic Despite Crash

Date: 09 March 2025 - 22:12

News ID: ۱۳۷۷۲۸

PARIS (AFP) - 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 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.
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 25 seconds.
Pidcock came home second in Siena, Italy, while Belgium’s Tim Wellens completed the podium, two minutes and 11 seconds after his team-mate Pogacar.
The three-time Tour de France winner becomes the first reigning world champion to win the modern classic, the first rider to win it back-to-back, and ties Switzerland’s Fabian Cancellara for most wins (three).