Strade Bianche Men LIVE – Breakaway forms as Tadej Pogačar looks to make history on the gravel roads of Tuscany.

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.

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

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

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

(Image credit: Getty Images)

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

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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.

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

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(Image credit: Getty Images)

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

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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.

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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)

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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)

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

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

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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.

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

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(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.

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

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

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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.

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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.