Alberto Bettiol: "Tadej Pogacar is both the beauty and the ugliness of modern-day cycling"

On the 8th of March, the peloton arrives at probably its biggest race of the 2025 season so far, Strade Bianche. Given the race's growing importance in the sport, it's no surprise to see two-time winner Tadej Pogacar return to Tuscany, where the UAE Team Emirates - XRG leader starts as heavy pre-race favourite. For Italian national champion Alberto Bettiol, Pogacar's presence at the start line gives mixed emotions.

"Pogacar is both the 'bello e il brutto' [beauty and the ugliness] of modern-day cycling," the XDS Astana Team leader explains in quotes collected by Cycling News ahead of this Saturday's showdown on the white Tuscan roads. "He makes cycling beautiful to watch because he's as good as Eddy Merckx and is smashing all the records. The 'ugly' side of racing against Pogacar is that you line up for a race knowing that it's almost impossible to beat him."

Whilst that last comment of Bettiol there could be seen as the Italian throwing in the towel already, the 31-year-old insists that there are simply no riders capable of matching the world champion, should he arrive with his best legs. "I honestly don't think there's anyone on the Strade Bianche start list who can even try to stay with him," Bettiol admits bluntly. "I'd have loved to see Mathieu van der Poel take him on when he's at his best but he's only just started racing and is logically focused on the cobbled Classics, when he has more chance of beating Pogacar."

"We have to be realistic, there's nothing we can do. Pogacar can race without calculating his effort. Van der Poel can too, but us humans have got to think carefully about every effort we make in a race," Bettiol continues. "I hope Pogacar attacks early on Saturday, after UAE hurt everyone on the San Martino in Grania sector with 100km to race. He can clear off, do his thing, and things fall into place."

That is similar to what happened in 2024, where Pogacar soloed for over 80km to take a stunning Strade Bianche victory. "That's safer for him, he can avoid any crashes and pace his effort. If he gains a minute, he can have the team car with him in case he punctures. For the rest of us it'll then be fast and furious behind as we race for second place. I like our chances for a place on the podium alongside Pogacar," Bettiol concludes. "That's still a result anyone and everyone should be proud of. Being beaten by Pogacar is not a dishonour, it's a 'success' to remember and cherish when we are old and retired and talk to our kids about our career and we understand just how good Pogacar was during his career."