The white gravel roads of Tuscany officially belong to one man. Tadej Pogačar just did the unthinkable yet again. The World Champion completely dismantled the best riders on the planet. He did not just win Strade Bianche for a record fourth time. He turned the entire Italian Classic into a stunning one-man exhibition. 

He proved once again that the competition is simply no match for him. He launched a devastating attack on the Monte Sante Marie sector. He destroyed the field on his way to a record fourth victory on the Italian gravel.

An 80 kilometer solo attack is absolutely historic. While he rode in a league of his own, a thrilling battle unfolded behind him. Paul Seixas took a spectacular second place and Isaac Del Toro finished third.

Pogacar said, "I've probably said this in the past but chapeau to the team today. They've done an incredible job from the start, controlling the breakaway and setting up a great pace. It was beautiful to see all the guys from the team performing so well. I'm super happy to deliver the win. 

"I've seen Paul Seixas chasing really hard on the steepest part of the climb when I attacked on Monte Sante Marie. 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.' Then I saw the gap was enough and Isaac [Del Toro] and Jan [Christen] were there. It helped a lot to go alone. 

"It's a great start of the season. I'll take the rest of the year race by race and we'll see if it goes as well as last year".

How Tadej Pogacar Won Strade Bianche

The early breakaway of nine riders never stood a chance. Tibor del Grosso and Tim Rex tried their luck early on. The peloton kept them on a tight leash. They never gained more than a two minute advantage.

The pack swallowed them at the foot of the Monte Sante Marie with 85 kilometers to go. The UAE Team Emirates express train was already at full speed. Florian Vermeersch took control at the front. Jan Christen provided the final launchpad.

Then Pogačar unleashed his immense power.

Tom Pidcock tried to grab his wheel. A sudden shifting problem ruined the Brit's chances instantly. French prodigy Paul Seixas held on for a few agonizing meters. Then he finally cracked.

With exactly 79.8 kilometers remaining, Pogačar was completely alone.

Seixas dropped back to Del Toro. Behind them, Romain Grégoire and Pidcock caught up with Matteo Jorgenson. Everything eventually merged into a larger chase group with 50 kilometers to go. Wout van Aert managed to fight his way back into this second group.

The peace did not last long. Pidcock accelerated hard on the steep Le Tolfe sector. This split the chasers once more. Seixas, Christen, Del Toro, Pidcock, Jorgenson, Grégoire, and Gianni Vermeersch left Van Aert and the others behind.

The Fight For The Strade Bianche 2026 Podium

Pogačar could already smell the finish line in the Piazza del Campo.

Back in the chase group, Seixas launched another massive attack. Del Toro glued himself to the Frenchman's wheel. The Mexican rider acted as a perfect team watchdog. He sat in the draft and refused to take a turn at the front.

Christen tried to jump away from the group behind them to secure a full UAE Team Emirates podium. That move was quickly shut down.

Amazingly, Seixas still managed to deal with Del Toro on the final steep ramps into Siena to secure second place.

A Historic Celebration

Pogačar had so much time in the narrow streets of Siena that he casually shook hands with a Slovenian fan. He crossed the line in total isolation. It was a flawless victory.

Wout van Aert held on for a very respectable tenth place on his return to racing.

Strade Bianche 2026 - Top 10

1. Tadej Pogačar (SLO)

2. Paul Seixas (FRA)

3. Isaac del Toro (MEX)

4. Romain Grégoire (FRA)

5. Gianni Vermeersch (BEL)

6. Jan Christen (SUI)

7. Tom Pidcock (GBR)

8. Matteo Jorgenson (USA)

9. Andreas Kron (DEN)

10. Wout van Aert (BEL)

Swiss champion Elise Chabbey won the women's race in a thrilling finish.

Seven riders arrived together at Via Santa Caterina, the final climb up to the Piazza del Campo finish, before it was quickly reduced to a leading group of four.

Italian Elisa Longo Borghini led most of the way up the climb but Franziska Koch and Katarzyna Niewiadoma drew level with her and the three went into the penultimate corner shoulder-to-shoulder.

They almost touched as they ran wide, allowing Chabbey to dart down the inside to take the lead barely 100 meters from the line.

Pole Niewiadoma finished second with German Koch third.