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EFE · Road Competition · 03/06/2021
The Dutch cyclist Mathieu Van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix), four times world champion of cyclo-cross, was proclaimed in Siena `king of the white routes as the winner of the 15th edition of the Strade Bianche, after a fierce duel with the French Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick Step) and Colombian Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers), both passed near the finish line.
Van der Poel, 26, inscribed his name in the prestigious Tuscan event after a huge final lesson against the best rivals in the peloton. His start entering the slopes of Siena allowed him to arrive alone with six seconds ahead of Alaphilippe and twenty seconds ahead of Bernal.
The winner of the 2020 Tour of Flanders and the 2019 Amstel Gold Race achieved with a time of 4 hours, 40 minutes and 29 seconds in the 184 kilometers of route that included 64 of dirt tracks, one of his dream victories, achieved also against award-winning rivals in various disciplines, including Slovenian Tadej Pogacar and Belgian cyclocrs rival Wout Van Aert.
The first classified Spaniard, tenth, was Pello Bilbao (Bahrain-Victorious), forced to chase the favorites because he could not catch the good wheel at the key moment of the final escape. Ivn Garca Cortina and Alejandro Valverde entered positions 32 and 50 at 6 minutes and 39 seconds and 7 minutes and 4 seconds respectively.
The classic “ from the north to the south of Europe, as it is defined in Tuscany, began with a trial and error between anonymous and ended with the great favorites to the brawl. In between, and before the final moves, Madrid’s Gonzalo Serrano put the squad on guard by taking a group with Van Avermaet, Gorka Izagirre and Kasper Asgreen on the road.
Van Aert’s Jumbo Visma did not allow adventures that could be complicated, so the winner of the last edition put order with authority by appearing in the lead.
ALAPHILIPPE ATTACKS AND MAKES THE SELECTION WITH THE FAVORITES
Near sector 8 of sterrato, 52 from goal, Alaphilippe connected the attack machine with a whiplash that gave the strength of a few. It was the first serious warning. The Frenchman selected eight riders of enormous quality: with Van Aert, Van der Poel, Pogacar, Bernal, Pidcock, the 19-year-old American Simmons, and the Polish Gogl.
The luxury train opened a lead of around half a minute on the 11-kilometer dirt section with a marathon to go to the Siena finish line, 42 km. Behind a group with Pello Bilbao, Fuglsang, Mollema and other aspirants of the second echelon who did not catch the wheel of flight in time were forced to leave their souls unsuccessful to neutralize the rebellion.
When the difference was just nine seconds, Alaphilippe gritted his teeth again, now in high-risk mode taking advantage of a descent. The arcoris of the route did not want to give a meter as a gift, so he directed glances and words to his fellow travelers. You had to collaborate and not only he should pitch in.
Without Simmons, who pinched, the Magnificent Seven had a common goal: to gamble for victory in the vicinity of Renaissance Siena, without further intruders.
On section 9 of gravel, 23 from the finish line, Alaphilippe again took out the whip, insatiable. His lease showed the weakness of Van Aert and Pidcock, off the hook a few miles before re-linking with much sacrifice.
There were only great champions at the fore: the world on the road like the French, cyclocrs like Van der Poel and Van Aert and the last of the Tour, Pogacar and Bernal. Impossible higher level.
VAN DER POEL UNSTOPPABLE AND SIENA
In command they entered sector 11 of the gravel road, but Mathieu Van der Poel immediately attacked with virulence. Who could grab the wheel but Alaphilippe, attentive to a sung maneuver. Beautiful duel between two arcoris to which Bernal joined drawing strength from weakness.
Three phenomena 15 seconds ahead of 8 kilometers from Campo de Siena Square. Time for everyone to play their final card. The stage, Via Santa Caterina, entering the city, with a terrible kilometer with 16 percent decisive ramps
Past the portico that led to the slope, the battle began. Van der Poel launched the offensive without looking back. An unstoppable blow that allowed the Dutch to open a gap of 50 meters.
Enough. Bernal did not enter the fight, and Alaphilippe was out of gas. He tried to follow his rival, but Van der Poel was skyrocketing to glory. An unforgettable lesson for the king of mud, who also took the crown of dirt roads, the now famous `sterrato.
Classifications [Clasificaciones completas]
Classification of the Strade Bianche 2021:
1. Mathieu van der Poel (NED / Alpecin-Fenix) – 4:40:29
2. Julian Alaphilippe (FRA / Deceuninck-Quick Step) at 0:05
3. Egan Bernal (COL / Ineos) at 0:20
4. Wout Van Aert (BEL / Jumbo-Visma) at 0:51
5. Thomas Pidcock (GBR / Ineos) at 0:54
6. Michael Gogl (AUT / Continue-Assos) at 0:54
7. Tadej Pogacar (SLO / UAE Emirates) at 0:54
8. Simon Clarke (AUS / Qhubeka-Assos) at 2:25
9. Jakob Fuglsang (DEN / Astana-Premier Tech) at 2:25 am
10. PELLO BILBAO (ESP / Bahrein-Victorious) at 2:39
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