Pogacar needs these 2 Belgian domestiques in Strade Bianche to beat his "strong rivals"

Defending champion Tadej Pogacar now knows which riders will be supporting him in Strade Bianche on Saturday. The UAE Team Emirates-XRG leader will have a strong team around him in and around Siena, fully committed to delivering their star rider to the crucial moments in the iconic Italian gravel race.

Pogacar has already won Strade Bianche twice in his career. In 2022, he held off Alejandro Valverde and Kasper Asgreen on the old course, while last year, he dominated the race with a devastating attack on Monte Sante Marie, riding a long solo to the finish. By the time he reached the Piazza del Campo, he had a 2-minute 44-second lead over Toms Skujins (Lidl-Trek) in second place.

The UAE leader makes no secret of his love for the race. "I have great memories of this event. My track record here is pretty good, and I hope to compete again in the key moments on Saturday." Pogacar has competed in Strade Bianche five times, with results including 30th in 2019, 13th in 2020, and 7th in 2021—before going on to win in 2022 and 2023.

Read more below the photo!

Pogacar can rely on strong Belgian domestiques in Strade Bianche

Pogacar heads to Siena with strong credentials, having already secured two stage wins and the overall title at the UAE Tour. However, he remains cautious about his chances. "There will be strong rivals at the start of Strade Bianche. The field is always of a high level, but that makes it exciting for both us and the fans."

"I’ve started the season well at the UAE Tour, and the team is also on a great streak with many victories. We want to continue that momentum in the upcoming race," Pogacar concluded. In Italy, he will be supported by Domen Novak, Filippo Baroncini, Isaac Del Toro, Felix Grossschartner, Florian Vermeersch, and Tim Wellens.

Vermeersch and Wellens both raced during the openingwWeekend, where UAE Team Emirates-XRG failed to secure strong results. However, Vermeersch has proven his gravel skills, finishing runner-up at the Gravel World Championships in both 2022 and 2023. Meanwhile, Wellens has an impressive record at Strade Bianche, never finishing worse than 13th place in six appearances.

Selection UAE Emirates-XRG Strade Bianche 2025

Tadej Pogacar
Domen Novak
Filippo Baroncini
Isaac del Toro
Felix Grossschartner
Florian Vermeersch
Tim Wellens

Read also

Pogacar's racing style is heavily criticized, meanwhile he fuels Roubaix rumors: "Big chance in the near future"

Stuyven explains what makes Mathieu van der Poel so different: "That doesn't apply to riders of my caliber"

Pogacar is unfazed by UAE Teammates’ attack on Vingegaard: "I get the questions"

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Get every week the latest news about CYCLING in your inbox!

Subscribe