Two-time Tour de France winner Tadej Pogačar has won the 16th edition of the Strade Bianche.
The professional cyclist from the UAE Team Emirates prevailed in the one-day race in front of the famous Piazza del Campo in Siena, ahead of the Spaniard Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) and the Dane Kasper Asgreen (Quick-Step).
Pogačar is the first Slovenian winner in the race across the white dirt roads of Tuscany.
When the breakaway group was formed 52 kilometers from the finish, the 23-year-old started a solo that none of his competitors could follow.
Last year's second place favorite Julian Alaphilippe (Quick-Step) was slowed down by a fall in the first half of the race.
German drivers had nothing to do with the outcome of the race.
Ben Zwiehoff (Bora-hansgrohe) was the best, more than eight minutes behind, in 43rd place.
Zwiehoff's teammate Lennard Kämna (Wedel), who made his comeback at the beginning of February after an almost nine-month break from racing, was absent due to a gastrointestinal infection.
The next cycling highlight is already on Sunday: The prestigious Paris-Nice long-distance race, which the German Maximilian Schachmann has won twice in a row, starts with the first stage in Mantes-la-Ville.
For defending champion Schachmann it is the season premiere after surviving corona disease.