"Pogacar will probably win" - Johan Bruyneel sees little doubt on how Strade Bianche will play out

Strade Bianche is a race that over the past few years has become more and more adapted to the climbers, with the addition of more kilometers, more gravel and much more climbing. The race has become less explosive and more suited to a rider such as Tadej Pogacar and also Isaac del Toro; the two men Johan Bruyneel has pointed out as the headliners into this year's edition.

Last year at the Giro d'Italia, the peloton had a 'mini Strade Bianche', a crucial day for the GC fight as Juan Ayuso and Primoz Roglic both crashed; whilst Isaac del Toro had a breakthrough performance that saw him jump into the pink jersey but above all put a lot of time into all of his competition.

"Wout van Aert won that stage, but Del Toro was the driving force in that breakaway," Bruyneel said on The Move podcast. The Belgian pundit believes Del Toro is truly going to be a big factor in the Italian classic after seeing what he has already done before on the gravel, and also the explosive hilly classics which marked the end of his season.

"He's a huge talent and in excellent form. He may not have won that stage of the Giro d'Italia to Siena last year, but he did a fantastic job on the gravel there". Ever since May, Del Toro has only impressed further and further; and enters the race perhaps as favourite number two, teaming up with Pogacar and right off the back of a win at the UAE Tour. Whilst it can be interpreted as a bluff, Pogacar said in a pre-race interview that he will "wait for Del Toro to make the first move" - which in all reality could end up being a logic tactic.

Despite brilliant competition such as breakthrough youngster Paul Seixas, experienced Strade Bianche figure Tom Pidcock and also Wout van Aert himself; there there simply isn't much to look at when the defending champion's team is so strong. "UAE Emirates XRG will be the name of the game. And Pogacar will probably win," he stated.