SIENA: Slovenia`s Tadej Pogacar won the Strade Bianche on Saturday for the third time in his career, after recovering from a fall 501cm from the finish.

Pogacar topped the podium by 1min 24sec ahead of secondplaced Briton Tom Pidcocl(, with Belgium`s Tim Wellens a further 48sec adrift.

After victory in the Tuscan one-day race in 2022 and 2024, 26-year-old Pogacar now equals Swiss rider Fabian Cancellara`s record of three victories in the Strade Bianche.

`Pretty good race today. The race was super fast. It was a really strong breakaway and ourguys did super amazing work in the front,` said Pogacar who completed the 213-km race in 5hrs 13mins and 58secs. `We just went fast and it was a really hard race.

After falling off his bike at a corner on a descent, Pogacar displayed several cuts to his body with blood notably visible on his left shoulder.

`I enjoyed it until I crossed the finish line. Now Pm in adrenaline wear-off and I start to feel a lot of pain,` he said. `Not the best way to win a race, but a win is a win. Let`s hope it`s nothing worse than it looks and all should be fine.`-AFP