"Paul Seixas might be able to hold on to the back wheel of Tadej Pogacar..." - American Chris Horner unsurprised by Strade Bianche outcome

Strade Bianche provided what may be the first of many battles between Tadej Pogacar and Paul Seixas. The Frenchman is very highly regarded, and often termed the 'new Pogacar'. After the Italian classic this Saturday, many more will believe that the two may at some point in the near future be matched; and Chris Horner states that he was expecting such an outcome despite the race's difficulty.

The race was decided by an attack on Monte Sante Marie where the UAE Team Emirates - XRG block provided the perfect leadout for the World Champion; who built the winning gap on the descent and the most difficult part of the sterrato sector. Seixas was distanced in the downhill and came close to closing the gap going up the hill - but this was prevented by Pogacar who accelerated out of it. For the first day of competition, Pogacar showed the best level one could've expected.

"Tadej Pogacar from his interview is looking lean, possibly the leanest I've seen him," Horner said in a video shared in his Youtube channel. "I would love if he'd post up his kilos right now so we'd know if he's as light as he was starting the Tour de France last season or possibly even lighter". Into monument season, where above all he seeks triumphs at Milano-Sanremo and Paris-Roubaix, the World Champion has provided the perfect signs of a good winter's training.

After recently breaking the KOM at the climb to Cipressa, Pogacar had no problem whatsoever making a winning move at Strade Bianche and averaging 380 watts throughout his 80-kilometer long solo attack. It is an incredibly performance, but the second rider across the line, Paul Seixas, perhaps impressed just as much with a similar ride which was good enough to beat the likes of Isaac del Toro, Romain Grégoire and Tom Pidcock.

"I told you guys that there's a good chance that Paul Seixas might be able to hold on to the back wheel of Tadej Pogacar," Horner argued. "And then he has to race here Strade Bianche incredibly intelligently and for a 19-year-old that's difficult to do".