Paris (AFP)

Impressive in the final, the Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel won in the first major cycling event of the season, the Strade Bianche, ahead of the Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe and the Colombian Egan Bernal, Saturday in Siena (Italy).

Van der Poel (Alpecin) let loose his breakaway companions in the wall of via Santa Caterina (12.4%), a few hundred meters from the finish, to win this spectacular race for the first time ever. his career.

"I really wanted to win it. I felt really strong. We had decided to collaborate with Alaphilippe. Then I attacked on the last climb and it smiled on me," said van der Poel (26 years) on arrival, under the Tuscan sun.

"This race is one of the hardest to win because there are so many good riders, including excellent climbers like Pogacar and Bernal," continued the winner of the day, who will stay in Italy to compete in Tirreno. -Adriatico from March 10 to 16, before Milan-Sanremo on Saturday March 20.

Everything was played on the pedal in the winding alleys of Siena, at the end of the 184 kilometers traveled around the medieval Tuscan town, and van der Poel was the strongest on Saturday.

The Dutchman had already placed a powerful attack in the "Tolfe" (passages at 18%) about fifteen kilometers from the finish, which only Alaphilippe and Bernal had been able to follow.

Then when he accelerated into Siena, no one could hang on.

He thus obtained his second victory of the season, after the first stage of the UAE Tour, confirming his very good start to the season on the road, after a fruitful winter in cyclo-cross (ten successes including the world title).

The French world champion Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck), second, also seems to be in good shape already as the spring classics approach.

"I fought but in the last climb Mathieu was clearly the strongest," admitted Alaphilippe.

Behind, the Colombian Egan Bernal (Ineos), former winner of the Tour de France (2019), fits among the top classics and takes a promising third place.

"It's a little surprise for me to make the top 3 because I'm not a specialist in one-day races," said Bernal.

"To be on the podium with Mathieu and the world champion is a great honor for me. It gives me confidence and motivation for the future".

Big disappointment on the other hand for the Belgian Wout Van Aert (Jumbo), title holder.

Dropped, he finished fourth at 51 seconds, for the first time off the podium in four appearances.

© 2021 AFP