Bruised and bloodied Tadej Pogacar wins Strade Bianche

In a remarkable display of resilience and grit, Tadej Pogacar, the defending champion, claimed victory at the Strade Bianche on Saturday, overcoming a heavy crash that left him bruised and bloodied.

With this win, Pogacar becomes only the second cyclist in history to secure three titles at the iconic race, further solidifying his status as one of the sport's elite competitors.

Pogacar's journey to the finish line was anything but easy. After a dramatic fall while leading a trio of cyclists downhill, the Slovenian champion quickly regained his composure and remounted his bike, despite suffering from scrapes and a torn skinsuit. He finished the grueling 213-kilometer (132-mile) course in a remarkable time of 5 hours, 31 minutes, 40 seconds—1 minute and 24 seconds ahead of Britain’s Tom Pidcock and 2 minutes and 12 seconds ahead of Belgium’s Tim Wellens.

“I enjoyed it until I crossed the finish line; now the adrenaline has worn off, and I’m starting to feel a lot of pain,” Pogacar remarked post-race. “So not the best way to win a race, but a win is a win. Let’s hope it’s nothing worse than it looks, and all should be fine.”

This year’s edition of the Strade Bianche was particularly grueling, featuring over 80 kilometers (50 miles) of the iconic white gravel roads that define the race. With a total of 16 gravel sectors, the course tested the limits of even the most seasoned cyclists, making Pogacar's victory all the more impressive.

Pogacar's crash occurred when he misjudged a corner, sending him tumbling across the road and into a ditch. Despite the setback, he managed to close the gap after switching bikes and quickly overtook Connor Swift, who had been in the leading trio with him. When the gap to Pidcock fell to 15 seconds, the British cyclist opted to wait for Pogacar, setting the stage for an exhilarating final showdown.

“I came pretty close. I mean, Tadej crashed; it’s unfortunate, but let’s be honest, it gave me a bit more of an opportunity,” Pidcock said. “But he was still too strong in the last attack of his. I’m happy but at the same time disappointed.”

Pogacar launched a decisive attack on the penultimate gravel sector, leaving Pidcock in his wake and sealing his victory with a triumphant display of strength. As he approached the finish line, Pogacar raised his arms in celebration, pointing both index fingers skyward in a moment of pure joy.

The Strade Bianche continues to captivate cycling fans worldwide, and Pogacar's latest triumph adds another thrilling chapter to its storied history. As he looks ahead to future competitions, the cycling community eagerly awaits what the three-time Tour de France champion will accomplish next.

VIDEO: 2025 Strade Bianche Mens Highlights

2025 Strade Bianche Mens Top 10

01  Pogacar Tadej UAE Team Emirates-XRG 05:13:58
02  Pidcock Tom Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team + 01:24
03  Wellens Tim UAE Team Emirates-XRG + 02:12
04  Healy Ben EF Education-EasyPost + 03:23
05  Bilbao Pello Bahrain Victorious + 04:20
06  Cort Magnus Uno-X Mobility + 04:26
07  Vermeersch Gianni Alpecin-Deceuninck + 04:29
08  Valgren Michael EF Education-EasyPost + 04:37
09  Van Eetvelt Lennert Lotto + 04:47
10  Adrià Roger Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe + 05:06