Team boss Matxin warns rivals of "an even better Pogacar": "We respect the competition, but..."

Last year, Tadej Pogacar rode 81 kilometers solo through Tuscany, en route to victory in Siena. The UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider masterfully dominated Strade Bianche, which ultimately marked the beginning of a remarkable season of dominance. And if team boss Joxean Fernandez Matxin is to be believed, there’s a strong chance of a repeat performance this Saturday.

Let’s rewind to March 2, last year. Pogacar kicked off his season in Italy, joking before the start that he would attack from Monte Sante Marie—a move he had already attempted back in 2022. The key difference? In 2022, Monte Sante Marie came just under 50 kilometers from the finish, while in 2024, it was more than 80 kilometers out. The result in both cases? A jaw-dropping solo attack that saw Pogacar twice etch his name into Strade Bianche history.

In an interview with Daniel Benson, Joxean Fernandez Matxin once again explains that Pogacar’s 80-kilometer solo attack last year was never the plan. "Believe me when I say that the idea was to attack with 51 kilometers to go, somewhere near Le Tolfe," the 54-year-old team boss recalled. "He saw that it was a much harder race than expected. When we noticed resistance on Monte Sante Marie, the situation became tricky. We only had Tim Wellens and Isaac Del Toro left, so Pogacar wasn’t necessarily thinking about going solo at that moment."

"He just wanted to thin out the competition," the Spaniard put Pogacar's acceleration on the Tuscan gravel roads into perspective. "A lot of contenders were already out of position with 81 kilometers to go. So, in my mind, the choice Pogacar made was the right one." Alone—both physically and in sheer dominance—"Pogi" powered toward Siena’s Piazza del Campo, crossing the finish line more than two and a half minutes ahead of runner-up Toms Skujins.

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Pogacar last year as winner of Strade Bianche

Another long solo for Pogacar at Strade Bianche? "It will depend on the competition"

With all eyes on Pogacar again this Saturday, the Slovenian has already proven he is in top form. The three-time Tour de France winner dominated the UAE Tour, claiming two stage victories and the overall title—solidifying his status as the absolute favorite at the start line in Siena. However, according to Matxin, another Pogacar masterclass isn’t a foregone conclusion. His success this time, he says, will still depend on a few key factors.

"It will also depend on the competition," Matxin remains cautious ahead of Strade Bianche, acknowledging that Pogacar's strategy will be influenced by the race dynamics. "We will make decisions based on who is still in the race and how it unfolds. Maybe it's better to decide the race in the finale, or maybe we need to go earlier. We create a plan in advance, but we will also study the competitors, the route, and the weather."

A quick glance at the Strade Bianche start list confirms that Pogacar won’t have an easy ride. "Maxim Van Gils, Marc Hirschi, Richard Carapaz, Diego Ulissi, Magnus Cort, David Gaudu, Mathias Vacek, Matej Mohoric, and many more contenders. That means there are a lot of riders we have to consider. We respect our competitors, but we have Tadej—and a super team."

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UAE on the beautiful gravel roads of Tuscany

Rivals beware: Matxin’s warning about Pogacar – "He’s even better"

If there were any lingering doubts about the world champion’s form, Matxin’s words should put them to rest. When asked how Pogacar compares to last year, the UAE Team Emirates boss delivered a worrying response for his competitors. "A little better," the Spaniard assured.

"He’s the best rider in the world, so he doesn’t improve by ten percent every year. Maybe it’s just one percent, but one percent of Tadej is a huge difference," Matxin explained. He kept the reasoning behind Pogacar’s form simple. "I don’t know the exact percentage, but he’s slightly better than last year. Not by much—but still better. And he’s training even more." For his already-warned rivals, this means only one thing: brace yourselves!

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