Tadej Pogacar will not defend his Strade Bianche title as the Slovenian is fully focused on Paris-Nice.
Cycling enthusiasts have been eagerly awaiting a battle between Tadej Pogacar, Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert and Julian Alaphilippe in Strade Bianche as Pogacar initially wanted to combine the Italian classic with Paris-Nice, but the two-time Tour winner has now come to the conclusion that he has to cut back on his race program.
Strade Bianche will be held on 4 March, while Paris-Nice will start a day later.
“The next race on the schedule is Paris-Nice. If I want to be good there, I also have to practice a few days in advance for the team time trial,” Pogacar said. “I only ride tough and important races. I want to be good at the Tour of Flanders and Milan-Sanremo. After that, all arrows are aimed at the Tour.”
Last year, the 24-year-old won Strade Bianche in a impressive way. Pogacar attacked on the Monte Sainte Marie sector with over 50 kilometers to go. It turned out to be the start of a long and successful solo ride to the Piazza del Campo in Siena.
