Hirschi knows how to beat former teammate Pogacar on Saturday: "I think that's his biggest risk"

This winter, the Swiss rider moved from the WorldTour squad UAE Team Emirates to Tudor Pro Cycling Team, Fabian Cancellara’s team. A step down from the WorldTour to a ProTeam, but one he had no trouble explaining. "I have been in contact with other WorldTour teams, but I chose Tudor because they are giving me everything I need. I get freedom here; they work super professionally, the structure is like other WorldTour teams, and they work hard on innovation and aerodynamics. It was an easy decision for me," Hirschi told our website in early February.

That freedom will be on full display on Saturday at Strade Bianche. Hirschi has raced the Italian classic three times before — in 2019, 2020, and 2024. His best result came last year when he finished 68th. However, in all three editions, Hirschi primarily worked as a domestique for his team leader. This year, for the first time, he will be the team leader himself. "It feels super good," the Swiss rider told CyclingProNet. "I like this race. It’s one of the most beautiful races of the year. I’m very happy to be here."

Naturally, Hirschi was also asked about his thoughts on the course. Last year, the organizers introduced an additional loop, which sparked a lot of criticism. The course became longer — but, more importantly, much tougher. This year, the race will stick to that same format, with even more gravel and more elevation gain. "It’s a small difference with the added gravel sector. I think in the end you really have to be in position early. Also, if you have a flat tire, it’s very hard to come back. I think that in the final it changes nothing, but you just need to be in the front earlier," Hirschi explained.

Last year, Pogacar fully capitalized on the updated Strade Bianche course. He launched a solo attack from over 80 kilometers out and sealed the win in an astonishing performance. As a former teammate, Hirschi knows the Slovenian world champion well and acknowledges how difficult it will be to beat him. "He is super strong. For sure, you also need to have some luck. In this race, you can so easily have a flat tire or crash. So many things can happen. You never know what’s going to happen. That's probably the biggest risk for him."

Can Hirschi beat Pogacar in a one-on-one battle? "That will be difficult," the Swiss rider said with a smile, before explaining Strade Bianche’s race dynamics once again. "In the first part, it’s really important to stay out of trouble. There you can spend a lot of energy if you have some problems. Then in the end, it's a very long race." But he isn’t counting himself out completely. "If there's a lot of guys or groups form in the finale, it could become very tactical. Then, you need to believe, and anything can happen."

With Fabian Cancellara as team leader, Hirschi has one of the best mentors possible. The Swiss cycling legend won Strade Bianche three times in his career and passed along his wisdom to help Hirschi achieve the best possible result. "He told me to stay calm, ride your own race, and focus on the important things. Then, everything will be good," Hirschi said with a grounded approach.