Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates XRG) attacked on the Monte Sante Marie gravel with 79 km remaining and soloed to a record fourth Strade Bianche title on Saturday, his third consecutive victory and first race day of 2026.
null Results
Siena • Mar 7 • 202.6km
| Pos | Rider | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 | Tadej POGAČAR | UADUAE TEAM EMIRATES XRG | 4:45:15 |
| 🥈 | Paul SEIXAS | DCTDECATHLON CMA CGM TEAM | +1:00 |
| 🥉 | Isaac DEL TORO ROMERO | UADUAE TEAM EMIRATES XRG | +1:09 |
| 4 | Romain GREGOIRE | GFCGROUPAMA-FDJ UNITED | +2:04 |
| 5 | Gianni VERMEERSCH | RBHRED BULL - BORA - HANSGROHE | +2:04 |
| 6 | Jan CHRISTEN | UADUAE TEAM EMIRATES XRG | +2:07 |
| 7 | Thomas PIDCOCK | PINPINARELLO-Q36.5 PRO CYCLING TEAM | +2:14 |
| 8 | Matteo JORGENSON | TVLTEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE | +2:20 |
| 9 | Andreas Lorentz KRON | UXMUNO-X MOBILITY | +3:46 |
| 10 | Wout VAN AERT | TVLTEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE | +3:46 |
| 11 | Jordan LABROSSE | DCTDECATHLON CMA CGM TEAM | +3:46 |
| 12 | Ben HEALY | EFEEF EDUCATION - EASYPOST | +3:52 |
| 13 | Michael VALGREN | EFEEF EDUCATION - EASYPOST | +4:10 |
| 14 | Paul LAPEIRA | DCTDECATHLON CMA CGM TEAM | +5:01 |
| 15 | Mauri VANSEVENANT | SOUSOUDAL QUICK-STEP | +5:21 |
| 16 | Andrea VENDRAME | JAYTEAM JAYCO ALULA | +6:57 |
| 17 | Clément BRAZ AFONSO | GFCGROUPAMA-FDJ UNITED | +6:59 |
| 18 | Pello BILBAO LOPEZ DE ARMENTIA | TBVBAHRAIN VICTORIOUS | +7:01 |
| 19 | Filippo ZANA | SOUSOUDAL QUICK-STEP | +7:02 |
| 20 | Julian ALAPHILIPPE | TUDTUDOR PRO CYCLING TEAM | +7:05 |
| 21 | Diego PESCADOR CASTRO | MOVMOVISTAR TEAM | +8:39 |
| 22 | Clement VENTURINI | UNIUNIBET ROSE ROCKETS | +9:29 |
| 23 | Tobias Halland JOHANNESSEN | UXMUNO-X MOBILITY | +9:32 |
| 24 | Matej MOHORIC | TBVBAHRAIN VICTORIOUS | +9:39 |
| 25 | Adrien BOICHIS | RBHRED BULL - BORA - HANSGROHE | +9:49 |
| 26 | Edward PLANCKAERT | APTALPECIN-PREMIER TECH | +9:49 |
| 27 | Afonso EULÁLIO | TBVBAHRAIN VICTORIOUS | +9:55 |
| 28 | Gianmarco GAROFOLI | SOUSOUDAL QUICK-STEP | +9:55 |
| 29 | Pierre GAUTHERAT | DCTDECATHLON CMA CGM TEAM | +9:55 |
| 30 | Simone GUALDI | LOILOTTO INTERMARCHÉ | +9:55 |
| 31 | Axel LAURANCE | IGDINEOS GRENADIERS | +9:55 |
| 32 | Matteo SOBRERO | LTKLIDL-TREK | +9:55 |
| 33 | Pau MIQUEL DELGADO | TBVBAHRAIN VICTORIOUS | +9:55 |
| 34 | Guillermo Thomas SILVA COUSSAN | XATXDS ASTANA TEAM | +10:01 |
| 35 | Fredrik DVERSNES | UXMUNO-X MOBILITY | +10:03 |
| 36 | Junior LECERF | SOUSOUDAL QUICK-STEP | +10:03 |
| 37 | Bjoern KOERDT | TPPTEAM PICNIC POSTNL | +10:03 |
| 38 | Mark Jamie DONOVAN | PINPINARELLO-Q36.5 PRO CYCLING TEAM | +10:03 |
| 39 | Richard Antonio CARAPAZ MONTENEGRO | EFEEF EDUCATION - EASYPOST | +10:03 |
| 40 | Antoine L'HOTE | DCTDECATHLON CMA CGM TEAM | +10:03 |
| 41 | Pau MARTI SORIANO | NSNNSN CYCLING TEAM | +10:03 |
| 42 | Valentin MADOUAS | GFCGROUPAMA-FDJ UNITED | +10:03 |
| 43 | Marco SCHRETTL | XATXDS ASTANA TEAM | +10:03 |
| 44 | Wouter POELS | UNIUNIBET ROSE ROCKETS | +10:03 |
| 45 | Simone VELASCO | XATXDS ASTANA TEAM | +10:03 |
| 46 | Brent VAN MOER | PINPINARELLO-Q36.5 PRO CYCLING TEAM | +10:03 |
| 47 | Lander LOOCKX | UNIUNIBET ROSE ROCKETS | +10:03 |
| 48 | Filippo TURCONI | BARBARDIANI CSF 7 SABER | +10:11 |
| 49 | Kévin GENIETS | GFCGROUPAMA-FDJ UNITED | +10:15 |
| 50 | Francesco BUSATTO | APTALPECIN-PREMIER TECH | +10:17 |
| 51 | Florian VERMEERSCH | UADUAE TEAM EMIRATES XRG | +10:28 |
| 52 | Felix GROSSSCHARTNER | UADUAE TEAM EMIRATES XRG | +10:28 |
| 53 | Jack HAIG | IGDINEOS GRENADIERS | +10:28 |
| 54 | Kevin VERMAERKE | UADUAE TEAM EMIRATES XRG | +10:28 |
| 55 | Tim REX | TVLTEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE | +10:28 |
| 56 | James SHAW | EFEEF EDUCATION - EASYPOST | +10:28 |
| 57 | Brieuc ROLLAND | GFCGROUPAMA-FDJ UNITED | +10:28 |
| 58 | Davide TONEATTI | XATXDS ASTANA TEAM | +10:28 |
| 59 | Gregor MÜHLBERGER | DCTDECATHLON CMA CGM TEAM | +10:50 |
| 60 | Timo KIELICH | TVLTEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE | +10:53 |
| 61 | Noa ISIDORE | DCTDECATHLON CMA CGM TEAM | +11:18 |
| 62 | Anders Halland JOHANNESSEN | UXMUNO-X MOBILITY | +11:22 |
| 63 | Quinn SIMMONS | LTKLIDL-TREK | +12:02 |
| 64 | Liam SLOCK | LOILOTTO INTERMARCHÉ | +12:28 |
| 65 | Yannis VOISARD | TUDTUDOR PRO CYCLING TEAM | +12:35 |
| 66 | Samuele ZOCCARATO | MBHMBH BANK CSB TELECOM FORT | +12:42 |
| 67 | Mikkel HONORÉ | EFEEF EDUCATION - EASYPOST | +12:50 |
| 68 | Cedrik Bakke CHRISTOPHERSEN | UNIUNIBET ROSE ROCKETS | +12:52 |
| 69 | Clément CHAMPOUSSIN | XATXDS ASTANA TEAM | +12:56 |
| 70 | Attila VALTER | TBVBAHRAIN VICTORIOUS | +12:56 |
| 71 | Xandro MEURISSE | PINPINARELLO-Q36.5 PRO CYCLING TEAM | +12:56 |
| 72 | Diego Pablo SEVILLA LOPEZ | TEATEAM POLTI VISITMALTA | +12:56 |
| 73 | Emiel VERSTRYNGE | APTALPECIN-PREMIER TECH | +13:00 |
| 74 | Anders FOLDAGER | JAYTEAM JAYCO ALULA | +13:30 |
| 75 | Brandon Smith RIVERA VARGAS | IGDINEOS GRENADIERS | +14:17 |
| 76 | Tibor DEL GROSSO | APTALPECIN-PREMIER TECH | +14:42 |
| 77 | Mattia CATTANEO | RBHRED BULL - BORA - HANSGROHE | +14:42 |
| 78 | Filippo MAGLI | BARBARDIANI CSF 7 SABER | +14:42 |
| 79 | Giulio PELLIZZARI | RBHRED BULL - BORA - HANSGROHE | +14:44 |
| 80 | Martin MARCELLUSI | BARBARDIANI CSF 7 SABER | +14:44 |
| 81 | Patrick KONRAD | LTKLIDL-TREK | +14:54 |
| 82 | Pier-André CÔTÉ | NSNNSN CYCLING TEAM | +16:13 |
| 83 | Emil HERZOG | RBHRED BULL - BORA - HANSGROHE | +16:38 |
| 84 | Pepijn REINDERINK | SOUSOUDAL QUICK-STEP | +19:44 |
| 85 | Alexandre BALMER | SOLSOLUTION TECH NIPPO RALI | +19:59 |
| 86 | Reuben THOMPSON | LOILOTTO INTERMARCHÉ | +21:14 |
| 87 | Alex TOLIO | BARBARDIANI CSF 7 SABER | +21:14 |
| 88 | Márton DINA | MBHMBH BANK CSB TELECOM FORT | +21:14 |
| 89 | Marcin BUDZINSKI | MBHMBH BANK CSB TELECOM FORT | +21:14 |
| 90 | Andrea BAGIOLI | LTKLIDL-TREK | +21:14 |
| 91 | Filippo FIORELLI | TVLTEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE | +21:14 |
| 92 | Pietro MATTIO | TVLTEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE | +21:14 |
| 93 | Dario GIULIANO | TEATEAM POLTI VISITMALTA | +21:14 |
| 94 | Tijmen GRAAT | TVLTEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE | +21:14 |
| 95 | Pavel NOVÁK | MOVMOVISTAR TEAM | +21:14 |
| 96 | Nicholas SCHULTZ | NSNNSN CYCLING TEAM | +21:14 |
| 97 | Lorenzo GERMANI | GFCGROUPAMA-FDJ UNITED | +21:14 |
| 98 | Ben ZWIEHOFF | RBHRED BULL - BORA - HANSGROHE | +21:14 |
| 99 | Owen GELEIJN | UNIUNIBET ROSE ROCKETS | +21:14 |
| 100 | Lawrence WARBASSE | TUDTUDOR PRO CYCLING TEAM | +21:14 |
| 101 | Gonzalo SERRANO RODRIGUEZ | MOVMOVISTAR TEAM | +21:14 |
| 102 | Adrian BENITO GONZALEZ | TEATEAM POLTI VISITMALTA | +21:14 |
| 103 | Alberto BETTIOL | XATXDS ASTANA TEAM | +21:14 |
| 104 | Jacopo MOSCA | LTKLIDL-TREK | +21:14 |
| 105 | Connor SWIFT | IGDINEOS GRENADIERS | +21:14 |
| 106 | Sergio MERIS | UNIUNIBET ROSE ROCKETS | +21:14 |
| 107 | Anders SKAARSETH | UXMUNO-X MOBILITY | +21:14 |
| 108 | Mattia GAFFURI | TPPTEAM PICNIC POSTNL | +21:14 |
| 109 | Francisco MUÑOZ LLANA | TEATEAM POLTI VISITMALTA | +21:14 |
| 110 | Alessio MARTINELLI | BARBARDIANI CSF 7 SABER | +21:14 |
| 111 | Jelle JOHANNINK | UNIUNIBET ROSE ROCKETS | +21:14 |
| 112 | Artem SHMIDT | IGDINEOS GRENADIERS | +21:14 |
| 113 | Ben GRANGER | SOLSOLUTION TECH NIPPO RALI | +22:01 |
| 114 | Hannes WILKSCH | TUDTUDOR PRO CYCLING TEAM | +22:23 |
| 115 | Martin SVRČEK | SOUSOUDAL QUICK-STEP | +22:23 |
| 116 | Ådne HOLTER | UXMUNO-X MOBILITY | +22:26 |
| 117 | Bauke MOLLEMA | LTKLIDL-TREK | +22:46 |
Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM Team), 19, finished second at 1:00, while Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates XRG) completed the podium at 1:09.
UAE's plan was visible from 90 km out. Kevin Vermaerke lifted the pace on the San Martino in Grania sector, Felix Grossschartner continued the effort, and Florian Vermeersch led the remnants of the peloton onto Monte Sante Marie. The relay shredded the field before Pogačar had turned a pedal in anger. When he did, the race was already half-destroyed.
On the steepest ramps of the 11.5 km gravel climb, Pogačar accelerated and only Seixas attempted to follow. "I saw Paul Seixas chasing really hard on the steepest part," Pogačar said after the race finish. "I said to myself, go all out to the top, then I'll see either he'll come to my wheel or he'll explode." Seixas exploded. The gap held, then grew across 79 km of solo riding through dust, wind and the late climbs around Le Tolfe and Colle Pinzuto.
Pogačar's win was predictably dominant, and the question abounding social media wasn't what he might win next, but how many more races cycling fans are willing to watch where the Slovenian generational talent ride for an hour solo as the remaining peloton competes for second.
Seixas confirms spring credentials
Our pre-race preview flagged Seixas as an emerging talent who would struggle to match favourites on the steep final ramps. He did more than survive them, finishing 9 s ahead of Del Toro and over a minute clear of Romain Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ United) in fourth. For a teenager in his first Strade Bianche, second place at 1:00 behind the world champion, a result that alters the spring outlook for Decathlon.
Dry conditions, light winds and 16°C temperatures played into UAE's hands. Without rain to multiply puncture chaos, the race stayed orderly enough for a six-rider train to dictate tempo through every decisive sector. Pogačar's 79 km solo, on his season debut, was predictable in method and unusual in its execution. The field knew the move was coming. Nobody could prevent it.
The spring calendar now has its familiar problem: how to make Pogačar race on anyone else's terms. For Seixas, the question is different; he showed he can climb with the leaders on the gravel sectors.
How the other favourites fared
Gianni Vermeersch (Red Bull BORA-hansgrohe), 5th: Best Belgian on the day. Surprised himself, telling HLN: "Look at that top ten... I didn't expect to be in there." Credited his move to Red Bull BORA and a flawless winter. He noted his race average was 41.5 km/h even including the neutral rollout.
Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5), 7th: Suffered two dropped chains on the Sante Marie descent, disrupting his chase of Pogačar at the decisive moment.
Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike), 10th: Missed the decisive move on Monte Sante Marie. A satisfying result given the context, as illness led him to withdraw from Omloop Het Nieuwsblad a week earlier following a long recovery from an ankle fracture in January. Confirmed he'll ride Tirreno-Adriatico next and then Milan-Sanremo.
Cover image credit: RCS/Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse
