Cycling: Thomas Pidcock won Strade Bianche. The Briton broke away from the group of favorites with 50 kilometers to go and couldn't be caught anymore. In the women's race, Demi Vollering triumphed ahead of her teammate Lotte Kopecky.
Pidcock breaks away 50 kilometers from the finish
The 17th edition of Strade Bianche is coming up thomas pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers). The Briton prevailed after 184 kilometers, starting and finishing in Siena. With just 50 kilometers to go, Pidcock was able to break away from the group of favorites and initially catch up with the breakaway group. After he shook off his companions, he was henceforth on the road as a soloist. And although a strong chasing group formed behind him, he ultimately retained the upper hand. The Brit wins Strade Bianche for the first time and succeeds Tadej Pogacar (UAE), who did not compete this year. Second place went to the French on the picturesque Piazza del Campo in Siena Valentin Madouas (Groupama – FDJ) before Tiesj Benoot (Jumbo – Visma), who was victorious here in 2018.
Bettiol opens the battle of the favorites
Before the favorites got into action, three breakaways shaped the course of the race. Alessandro de Marchi (Jayco – AlUla), Sven Bystrom (Intermarché – Circus – Wanty) and Ivan Romeo (Movistar) were at times more than five minutes ahead of the peloton. Opened about 50 kilometers from the finish Alberto Bettiol (EF Education – EasyPost) the battle of the favorites. Andrea Bagioli (Soudal – Quick Step) and thomas pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers) could follow the Italian. The last-named Brit went one step further in the descent and pulled away as a soloist. Parallel closed Attila Valter (Jumbo – Visma) to Bettiol and Bagioli, while in the peloton big names – such as Peter Sagan (TotalEnergies) and Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal – Quick-Step) – could no longer follow.
Mathieu van der Poel is distanced
After its collection was Alberto Bettiol (EF Education – EasyPost) involved in a fall that also Magnus Sheffield (Ineos Grenadiers) caught. Also Tim Wellens (UAE) was unlucky. The Belgian was considered one of the favorites, but suffered a technical defect at the wrong moment. Meanwhile could thomas pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers) from his companions. A chasing group formed behind him without Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin . Deceuninck). Matej Mohoric (Bahrain-Victorious), Valentin Madouas (Groupama – FDJ), Rui Costa (Intermarché – Circus – Wanty), Tiesj Benoot (Jumbo – Visma) and Attila Valter (Jumbo – Visma) hunted down the leading soloist.
@tompidcock #StradeBianche @CA_Ita pic.twitter.com/Rckh8pbXzZ
— Strade Bianche (@StradeBianche) March 4, 2023
Team internal duel between Vollering & Kopecky
The ninth edition of the Strade Bianche Donne in Siena ended even before the men's race. After 136 kilometers, the spectators got to see an internal team duel. Demi Vollering (SD Worx) and Lotte Kopeky (SD Worx) were able to manage the previously hurried climb on the final climb Kristen Faulkner (Jayco – AlUla) catch up and overtake. They then decided on the winner themselves in the sprint. Demi Vollering was able to narrowly prevail against the defending champion thanks to her perfectly timed tiger jump. Best German was Liana Lippert (Movistar) in eighth place. Her teammates and the co-favourite Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar) was a little disappointing fifth.
Incredible sprint for the line between Demi Vollering and Lotte Kopecky!
Teammates fighting all the way to the photo finish #StradeBianche | @teamsdworx pic.twitter.com/ywfJ3Evawg
- Eurosport (@eurosport) March 4, 2023