"There will be a lot of dead bodies in the final" - Tadej Pogacar's thoughts on the eve of Strade Bianche
Cycling
Strade Bianche will take place this Saturday afternoon and with the number 1 is Tadej Pogacar of UAE Team Emirates - XRG, the defending champion. His partner Urska Zigart is having the number 1 bib in the women's race, and both attented the race presentation this Friday afternoon where the World Champion shared his thoughts ahead of a brutal day of racing.
"Nothing lasts. One day I will lose more races than I win. It should indeed be a great race for us. My condition is good, so I am ready. I am really looking forward to riding that great race tomorrow," Pogacar said in the race presentation.
Last year he attacked with over 80 kilometers to go to take a convincing stage win, and many expect a similar outcome this year after what he achieved in 2024. "I don't know. Last year it was quite early. The Strade Bianche is a long and tough race. There will be a lot of dead bodies in the final."
At this point, despite some rivals having great form and this often being a chaotic race, no-one realistically expected the World Champion to be matched. But he does not want to think that way and doesn't put himself in the 'unbeatable' position. "Every race I've done so far has been important. And I've lost a lot of them. Nothing lasts. Not even winning a lot. I know that one day I'll lose more races than I win."
Backing him up will be Isaac del Toro (second at the Clásica Jaén Paraiso Interior) and Tim Wellens who should play a key support role when the action gets heated. The Belgian was also asked on the podium what he will be doing during the race and his answer was quite simple.
"What is my role? To drop Tadej off in the most relaxed position possible on the gravel sections. When everyone starts to get tired, Tadej will attack. I understand that most riders are afraid of Tadej. Everyone knows that he is the best rider and that it is obvious that he will win. But you still have to do it," he concluded.
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1️⃣ Partners in life, partners in crime 💞#StradeBianche @CA_Ita LaPresse pic.twitter.com/JdBGoZk1p3
— Strade Bianche (@StradeBianche) March 7, 2025
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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parisbound0008-11-2026 - there needs to be space in life for pointless comments!Ketterechts08-11-2026
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