Tadej Pogacar already knows where he will attack: "But I’m waiting for Isaac Del Toro"

The recipe to win Strade Bianche has been the same the last three times for Tadej Pogačar. With an attack on Monte Sante Marie, the Slovenian struck gold three times. Although last year it wasn’t even the plan to attack there. While UAE Emirates XRG doesn’t reveal their cards, you can clearly read between the lines that this section is circled in red again.

Monte Sante Marie was also the place to be in the previous edition. Not planned, says teammate Florian Vermeersch to Het Nieuwsblad. "Monte Sante Marie is the most technical climb. It’s the toughest climb. And it’s the climb with the steepest sections,” says the Belgian, who was third last week in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. “All ideal for Tadej. Moreover, the two sections before it are really tough as well, which means the peloton is already quite fatigued. That way, Tadej can more easily make a difference.”

Is that the decisive moment again for the world champion? "I’m going to wait until Isaac Del Toro attacks this time,” jokes Pogačar. According to Vermeersch, everyone knows where the focal point of Strade Bianche lies. "Let’s just say we have a hook to hang our plan on," says the Belgian about a possible attack on Monte Sante Marie. “But that’s what makes Tadej so great. Just as easily, he throws that hook away. That makes him so unpredictable and such an amazing rider.”