"Trying to follow Pogacar probably cost me a medal" - World Championships mistake well in mind for Quinn Simmons ahead of Strade Bianche

Quinn Simmons is a rider that loves the long races and loves Strade Bianche. He starts today as an interesting outsider, capable of fighting for the podium on his best day, but he knows that he's got to be cautious with his tactics not to repeat what describes as a fatal error at the World Championships.

"I didn't make it to the final loop last year, but based on the reconnaissance and what I've seen on TV, the course is better now," Simmons said in words to In de Leiderstrui. "There was some criticism that it's not necessarily good to make a race too hard, but if Strade Bianche wants to be a great classic, this is what we have to do". Several criticized the race's addition of another lap, making it even harder, but the American does not see it that way.

"The Monuments and the World Championships are always 260 kilometres or more, 213 kilometres is not very long. I always train very hard and long, so for me the distance is normally not the problem. It is mainly about reaching the final, that has often been the problem. If I reach the last 50 kilometres with the front riders, then I am confident," he adds. "It is more about the accelerations before the final, which I am afraid of.'

Read also

Patrick Lefevere brutal on tougher Strade Bianche route: "This has nothing to do with Strade Bianche for me anymore"

In 2022 and 2023 he was 7th and 12th respectively, and this year he teams up with an in-form Mathias Vacek and last year's runner-up Toms Skujins to aim for the podium. That is the realistic ambition, however he does not let go of the possibility of a surprise win.

"Hopefully the race for Monte Sante Marie will open for me and I will not have to try to follow, haha. If I do, I do not know if that will end well. Of course I start to win. I've said before that if you start with the ambition to be second, then there is no chance for you to win," he justifies.

Read also

LIVEBLOG Strade Bianche 2025 - Can Tadej Pogacar defend his title?

"Maybe I only have a one percent chance of winning, but then I go for that one percent, after I get off the bus. When I look at my power meter, then I am personally better than ever. That may still not be enough to follow, but I'm not going to say that it is impossible. Why else would I get up every morning and train in the cold and go on all those altitude training camps? Then racing and all that shit is no fun".

However he will be cautious trying to follow Tadej Pogacar, after having done that last year at the Zurich World Championships and later paying the price. "I tried to follow Pogacar at the World Championships and it almost earned me a return ticket to the bus. In the end I recovered from the effort and finished in a pretty good place. Trying to follow Pogacar probably cost me a medal, without that action I would be fighting for silver and bronze. But this is a sport, where only the first places are remembered," he concluded.

Read also

Winning Strade Bianche as the World Champion would be 'extra special' for Tadej Pogacar

"It will become even more predictable" - Criticism within the peloton for Strade Bianche route changes

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Unlock your ultimate cycling experience—subscribe today for access to the latest cycling news

Subscribe