Strade Bianche Men LIVE – Tadej Pogačar attacks 80km from the finish in search of record-breaking fourth victory

Pogačar is now onto the net gravel section. This one is particularly special to him, as it’s been named in his honour following his exploits at previous editions of Strade Bianche.

They definitely aren’t going to catch Pogačar riding like this. Their deficit is up to 1:25.

2026-03-07T14:26:28.367Z

The riders in this newly-grown chase group are now attacking each other rather than join together to chase.

2026-03-07T14:25:07.270Z

Christen, Bilbao, Lapeira, Gianni Vermeersch, Simmons, Valgren and Clément Braz Afonso are the riders from the second chase group who have now joined the first chase group.

2026-03-07T14:24:11.521Z

The second chase group has caught the first. So we now have a big grop of about 15 all together behind Pogačar.

Pogacar’s back on the gravel after a short period of repite, this time the more modest, 2-star section Monteaperti.

2026-03-07T14:19:04.724Z

The main chase now has seven riders in it, but could yet be joined by the second chase group, which is only 20 seconds behind.

2026-03-07T14:17:33.124Z

Healy has gone clear with Andreas Kron out of the second chase group, and are about to join the Seixas group.

2026-03-07T14:16:32.400Z

Here was Pogačar being set up for what looks like it might be a race-winning attack on the Monte Sane Marie.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Despite the coming together, the chase group is going backwards they’re now 1:15 behind Pogačar, and only 15 seconds ahead of the Van Aert/Healy chase group.

2026-03-07T14:13:42.144Z

Healy is also in that group, and is attacking it.

2026-03-07T14:12:23.110Z

The Van Aert chase group has gotten smaller, with himself and about 7 other riders going clear – among them are Valgren, Simmons, Bilbao, Lapeira and Jan Christen.

2026-03-07T14:11:01.675Z

A familiar sight – Pogačar leading the race in his rainbow stripes.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-03-07T14:09:31.662Z

Del Toro, meanwhile, is just sitting at the back of this group, resting up while his teammate leads the race.

2026-03-07T14:08:31.059Z

Can the chasers work together to bring Pogačar back? Right now it’s advantage Pog as his lead grows to 1:00, but there is a lot of firepower in this group if Seixas, Pidcock, Jorgenson and Grégoire are all willing to go hard in this chase.

2026-03-07T14:06:34.823Z

Seixas and Del Toro have been joined by the three chasers.

2026-03-07T14:05:40.557Z

Paul Seixas is sitting up and waiting for the chasing trio to join. A wise move – persisting alone would have been the mistake of over-zealous youth.

2026-03-07T14:04:55.078Z

The all-important moment Pogačar went clear from the others.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-03-07T14:03:20.219Z

The trio can see Seixas and Del Toro. Can their presence add some impetus to the chase?

2026-03-07T14:02:43.913Z

Behind them is a chase group being led by Van Aert, a whole minute behind the Pidcock/Jorgenson/Grégoire group.

So the situation on the road is that Pogačar leads the race, Seixas and Del Toro behind at 30 seconds, and Jorgenson, Grégoire and Pidcock next on the road at 45 seconds.

2026-03-07T14:00:25.803Z

The chasing trio of Jorgenson, Grégoire and Pidcock are a further 20 seconds behind them. Might it be more useful for Seixas for them to join him, so he can have some assistance in the chase?

2026-03-07T13:59:25.749Z

The gap’s now being reported as 28 seconds. In which case Seixas might not be out of contention just yet.

2026-03-07T13:58:08.907Z

Pogačar has finished Monte Sante Marie, and his lead over Seixas and Del Toro is getting bigger – it’s now up to 45 seconds.

2026-03-07T13:57:14.339Z

UAE leading the peloton, before Pogačar’s devastating attack.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-03-07T13:55:41.011Z

Seixas isn’t giving up the ghost, and is about 20 seconds behind Pogačar. But with Del Toro say on his wheel, things are very difficult for him.

2026-03-07T13:51:52.049Z

Del Toro has now caught up to Seixas. UAE Team Emriates are in a perfect situation.

2026-03-07T13:49:54.345Z

Pogačar’s gap over Seixas is growing…

2026-03-07T13:48:59.168Z

Del Toro is third on the road, and behind him Jorgenson, followed closely by Pidcock and Grégoire.

2026-03-07T13:48:22.237Z

Pogačar accelerates again, and he’s dropped Seixas!

2026-03-07T13:47:51.732Z

And here comes Seixas – he’s ridden his way back onto Pogacar’s wheel!

Pogačar made his move with about 80km to go, but hasn’t quite blown everyone away just yet.

2026-03-07T13:46:51.041Z

Seixas is leading the chase, he’s living up to the hype!

2026-03-07T13:46:34.871Z

Seixas, Jorgenson and Del Toro are a few seconds behind Pog.

Here he goes, Pogacar accelerates and is gaining a gap.

2026-03-07T13:45:34.996Z

Pidcock is on his wheel, but the others are being distenced.

2026-03-07T13:45:18.175Z

Pogacar moves to the front on a downhill part of the gravel sector.

2026-03-07T13:44:14.075Z

About 10 riders are clear in a lead group – Pogacar, Del Toro, Pidcock, Gregoire, Seixas, Jorgenson, Lapeira and Labrosse are all there, being led by Jan Christen of UAE.

2026-03-07T13:43:16.377Z

There are splits opening up, Healy one of the riders caught behind.

2026-03-07T13:42:57.481Z

Pidcock is still up there – his mechanical was a slipped chain rather than puncture, thankfully.

2026-03-07T13:42:26.960Z

As is Jorgenson, but his teammate Van Aert is further adrift.

2026-03-07T13:42:00.516Z

Del Toro and Paul Seixas are right behind Pogačar in the peloton, which remains large.

Terrible news for Pidcock, who has had a mechanical at just the worst moment.

2026-03-07T13:40:19.481Z

The break has been caught.

2026-03-07T13:40:06.909Z

Florian Vermeersch leads, Pogacar on his wheel.

Here we go then, the riders swing onto the Monte Sante Marie!

2026-03-07T13:38:04.804Z

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-03-07T13:36:46.809Z

UAE Team Emirates-XRG lead the peloton as they approach the next section, Monte Sante Marie. If history is an indication, this could be where their man Tadej Pogačar first lays the hammer down.

2026-03-07T13:30:53.008Z

The break’s lead is collapsing, now down to a mere 20 seconds. The catch could be imminent.

2026-03-07T13:29:10.080Z

The peloton’s bigger than 40 riders again – it seems some are catching back on now that they’re back on the tarmac.

2026-03-07T13:27:26.724Z

The break up the road, now only 40 seconds ahead.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-03-07T13:24:31.282Z

The peloton has broken up on this gravel section. It’s been reduced to about 40 riders.

2026-03-07T13:23:39.643Z

Matej Mohorič is an outside bet for victory today, having shown something of a return to form early season, and as a master on the gravel as proven by his victory at the World Championships three years ago.

They’re onto the gravel now. This one’s 9.4km, is mostly uphill, and has been given the maximum five star rating. We can expect carnage!

1:30 is the gap now, as they’re about to enter the gravel.

2026-03-07T13:09:24.909Z

We’re nearing the San Martino in Grania gravel section. Things are getting tense!

2026-03-07T13:08:20.393Z

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Taking advantage of a relative lull in proceedings, the break have grown their lead back up to 1:20.

2026-03-07T13:01:59.430Z

The much-hyped Paul Seixas has negotiated all of the day’s gravel sections so far, despite his lack of experience here. He’s tried to play down expectations, but many – not least the French public – are anticipating much from him today.

The break is maintaining its lead on this gravel section, remaining 50 seconds ahead of the peloton.

2026-03-07T12:48:52.448Z

A crash on the gravel, with three riders down – George Bennett, Markus Hoelgaard and Aaron Dockx.

2026-03-07T12:47:58.555Z

The riders are out of the frying pan that was Lucignano d’Asso, and into the fire of the fifth gravel sector, which is 8km with a vicious uphill towards the end.

2026-03-07T12:39:16.856Z

The peloton, still being led by UAE Team Emirates-XRG.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

The break’s lead is down to 50 seconds, as they continue to ride this gravel sector.

2026-03-07T12:33:47.969Z

Though he’ll be riding in service of his teammate Tadej Pogačar, Isaac del Toro has a chance to get a strong result for himself too today. The Mexican is on electrifying form already this year, taking overall victory at the UAE Tour, and, having excelled at the gravel stage of last year’s Giro d’Italia, looks well-suited to Strade Bianche.

They’re back on the gravel for the fourth section, and this one’s a hard one – at 12km it’s one of the longest of the day, and has been rated four stars out of five.

2026-03-07T12:25:50.198Z

UAE Team Emirates XRG leading the peloton.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

The gap has come down, to 1:25, as the riders prepare for the next gravel section. It could all be about to kick off again.

2026-03-07T12:21:12.100Z

The riders present in the break demonstrates how, although a one-day classic known for its road surfaces, Strade Bianche is these days a climber-friendly race. Jack Haig and Patrick Konrad are both riders better known for their exploits in the mountains and stage race GC battles than as classics men.

2026-03-07T12:18:13.093Z

The nature of the race and the chaos of the gravel means there are plenty of incidents that go unreported. Here’s Quinn Simmons being held up by an incident earlier. Each rider will have their own individual stories with ups and downs, and we’ll only learn the full picture in the race’ aftermath.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-03-07T12:15:15.377Z

The riders have crested the Montalcino climb, which is a rare obstacle in this race in that it is a climb, but over a tarmacked road.

2026-03-07T12:13:20.966Z

Back to looking at some of today’s favourites.

As well as Tadej Pogačar and Tom Pidcock, Wout van Aert is another former winner taking part today. It’s been a long time since his triumph here in 2020, and changes in the route to make it more difficult, in addition to a decline in his form, has made him a less likely winner. But you can’t write off a man of his quality, even if the Belgian himself is unsure how well he can challenge.

We’re in a holding pattern for now while they climb the Montalcino, the break leading the race by just under 2 minutes, and the peloton not chasing hard just yet.

2026-03-07T12:03:22.007Z

The gap’s up to 1:50, as UAE take to the front and start riding tempo. This will likely be the pattern for the coming kilometres, before we reach the fourth gravel sector of the day.

2026-03-07T11:51:37.995Z

There are nine riders in this breakaway group:

Tibor Del Grosso (Alpecin-Premier Tech)

Patrick Konrad (Lidl-Trek)

Jack Haig (Ineos Grenadiers)

Tim Rex (Visma-Lease a Bike)

Martin Marcellusi (Bardiani CSF 7 Saber)

Davide Toneatti (XDS Astana)

Anders Foldager (Jayco-AlUla)

Adrien Boichis (Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe)

Samuele Zoccarato (MBH Bank CSB Telecom Fort)

2026-03-07T11:47:59.122Z

That group has over a minute on the peloton. It seems we have our break of the day!

2026-03-07T11:46:08.984Z

A group of about ten has gone clear, and it’s got some impressive names in it, including young talent Tibor Del Grosso.

2026-03-07T11:45:07.807Z

While we wait for a break to form, let’s have a look at some of the favourites, the men most likely to take the race to Tadej Pogačar today.

The only other man in the last four years to have won here aside from the Slovenian is Tom Pidcock, who was also second behind him last year. Pidcock says the aim is still to win, however hard that might be against such an opponent.

A small group briefly got a gap, but 30km into the stage and we still don’t have a breakaway formed.

2026-03-07T11:36:31.273Z

Another abandoned to report – Luca Paletti of the Bardiani team.

2026-03-07T11:33:56.248Z

The riders at the front of the peloton, engaged in the battle to form the day’s break.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

They’re onto the third sector, which has been rated two stars out of five.

2026-03-07T11:28:55.417Z

A first glimpse of the peloton up close on the road today. The weather is dry, which will make for a duty race over the white gravel roads.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Still no breakaway, as the riders make their way to the third sector.

2026-03-07T11:22:41.267Z

Unfortunately, we already have news of abandonments – Albert Withen Philipsen, Kim Heiduk and Robbe Dhondt are all out of the race. It’s unclear if they were involved in a crash.

2026-03-07T11:21:09.200Z

The peloton is through the second gravel sector, but still remains together with no break having gone clear yet.

2026-03-07T11:17:25.899Z

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Now comes the second gravel sector of the day, Bagnaia – and unlike the first, this one is also uphill. The riders really are thrown into the thick of things right from the off at this race.

Still no break has been formed, as the riders take on the famous white gravel roads for the first time today.

Time for the first gravel sector of the day! There are a total of fourteen of these spread out across the day, amounting to 64 of the race’s 201km.

2026-03-07T11:03:48.227Z

None of the fallers seem badly hurt, and all are back riding again.

2026-03-07T11:01:46.843Z

There’s been a crash already, and we’re not even onto the gravel roads yet. About half a dozen riders have gone down.

2026-03-07T11:00:15.349Z

Pogačar at the start, with some of the peloton’s national champions – most notably Quinn Simmons in his American champion’s jersey.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

And they’re off! The 2026 Strade Bianche is officially underway.

2026-03-07T10:55:17.223Z

Early predictions of it being a mild, dry day have come into fruition, and so the peloton are set to take on the infamous gravel roads in their dry form, rather than the wet mud that has been the case in some recent editions.