Pogacar puts his name on a sector of the Strade Bianche

The Strade Bianche continues to build its own history, and this Thursday it paid tribute to one of the riders who has most marked the race in recent years. The dirt sector of Colle Pinzuto has been officially dedicated to Tadej Pogacar, a three-time winner of the Italian event.

Tadej Pogacar now has his own sector in Strade Bianche: Colle Pinzuto will bear his name

The ceremony took place on the ascent itself, where a commemorative stone was unveiled that will permanently bear the name of the Slovenian champion. Pogacar was present at the ceremony alongside Fabian Cancellara, another of the great names associated with the history of Strade Bianche and the first cyclist to receive this type of recognition.

This gravel sector, one of the most emblematic of the Strade Bianche route, is now linked to the figure of Poga?ar, who won the race in 2022, 2024, and 2025. His performances in these editions have solidified the UAE Team Emirates rider as one of the modern dominators of the event.

During the ceremony, the stone commemorating his legacy in the race was inaugurated, following the model already applied previously with Fabian Cancellara, winner of the 2008, 2012, and 2016 editions.

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The Slovenian was particularly moved by the recognition in a race he considers one of his favorites on the calendar. “It is an honor for me to become part of the history of this race, which has always been one of my favorites. Winning it three times has been the reward for many sacrifices, and I hope to be a protagonist again on Saturday, which will also be my season debut.”

“When I was a teenager, I watched Fabian make a difference on these roads. Being associated with him in this ceremony makes me feel very proud.”

Cancellara, who already had a dedicated sector in Strade Bianche, praised the quick connection between Poga?ar and the Tuscan classic. “Tadej Pogacar is a generational talent, strong on any terrain and competitive throughout the season. It is impressive how quickly he has become a reference for this race.”

Cancellara also pointed out how the event has evolved since his time as a rider. “The race has changed a lot since I was racing. Now the differences start to show more than 100 kilometers from the finish. It would have been fantastic to face a champion like him.”

The tribute is part of the program leading up to Strade Bianche 2026. The event's calendar will continue on Friday with the official team presentation at the Fortezza Medicea in Siena, before the men's and women's UCI WorldTour races that will take place on Saturday. On Sunday, the traditional Gran Fondo Strade Bianche will be held, bringing together about 8,500 cyclists on the dirt roads of Tuscany.