"Exactly the same corner and type of crash as Tadej Pogacar" - Michal Kwiatkowski hopes of another Strade Bianche win ended prematurely

Michal Kwiatkowski knows exactly what it takes to get the job done at Strade Bianche, having done so in 2014 and 2017. His attempts at making it a hat-trick in 2025 though, were sadly ended by a nasty crash, similar to the one that took down eventual race winner Tadej Pogacar.

Although cameras didn't catch the INEOS Grenadiers leader's tumble, according to the man himself in a post to his official Instagram story, the incident was, as mentioned, similar to the one that gave the world champion an almighty scare at around 50km to go. "Game over," writes the Pole, accompanied by a picture of what looks to be very sore road rash. "Exactly the same corner and type of crash as Tadej Pogacar. Not the battle I was hoping for."

For Pogacar, his front wheel slid out on a corner at speed, with the UAE Team Emirates - XRG leader ending up hitting the ground hard, sliding into the grass at the side of the road. That didn't prove race ending on his part though, as he managed to regroup and then drop Tom Pidcock at the front of the race en route to taking the third Strade Bianche title of his career.