Tadej Pogacar is the number one favorite to win Strade Bianche, but he knows that Tom Pidcock is among his most dangerous opponents. The British rider is probably one of the most in-form athletes at the moment, with two stage wins and overall victory in the AlUla Tour and a stage win in the Ruta del Sol. Pidcock has gained a lot of confidence ahead of the upcoming classics and could be a protagonist both in today's race and in other Classics. This year, the British rider, who has moved from Ineos to the Q36.5 team, will focus on the Ardennes Classics, but first he must tackle Strade Bianche. Considering his results in recent years, fifth in 2021, winner in 2023, and fourth in 2024, we can say that this is a race that perfectly suits a rider like him.

This is confirmed by his long-time coach, Kurt Bogaert, who helped him develop as a cyclist in Belgium. "It's a race he really likes because it always leaves room for quite aggressive strategies, which suits Tom's temperament well - Bogaert explained. With 80 kilometers of gravel roads, 4,000 meters of positive elevation gain, and gradients that sometimes exceed 15 percent, Strade Bianche celebrates those with multiple qualities, such as handling, endurance, and explosiveness. All these are qualities that describe Tom very well."

Thanks to his results at Strade Bianche, Pidcock will likely be the main rival of favorite Tadej Pogacar. His extraordinary solo performance last year left many in awe, but Bogaert thinks this year won't be as easy for the Slovenian. "He probably won't have the same element of surprise as last year. The entire peloton now knows he's capable of attacking from far out. But Tom, when he won in 2023, also did so with a long-range attack."

Despite his focus being on the Ardennes Classics, Pidcock will certainly be racing for victory today. "The idea is to remain competitive until Liège-Bastogne-Liège with a balanced race calendar. Tom is undoubtedly one of the most versatile riders in the group, performs well in different situations, and could achieve an excellent result in the future at the Tour of Flanders. But instead of dispersing energy, we have made well-considered choices." After the races in Italy, with Strade Bianche, Tirreno-Adriatico, and Milan-San Remo, he will focus on the Ardennes Classics.