Tinkoff-Saxo was in the mix at Saturday’s Strade Bianche, where the team rode actively to support team captain Peter Sagan’s chances in the Italian “modern classic”. Sagan eventually lost ground in the finale after a long stint at the front, while Roman Kreuziger was the first from the team to cross the line in Siena in 11th place - a minute behind race winner Zdenek Stybar.
 
Team Manager Bjarne Riis acknowledges that Tinkoff-Saxo had eyed a top result but that the race still proved valuable.
 
“I think we rode a good race and that we pulled off our initial strategy quite well. We started the race aiming for a notable result and Sagan was also in a good position going into the last part of the race. In the finale he lost some power and didn’t have what it took to fight for the win. He has to peak at the Classics, so we knew it was a possibility that he would lack the last percentages today”, says Bjarne Riis and adds:
 
“No doubt that it was a tough race and that it was ridden with a high intensity. The team kept Peter in a good position throughout the race and they stuck to the strategy. However, Peter attacked too early with 50k to go and he took a lot of responsibility at the front of the group - and therefore also a lot of wind. It would perhaps have been more secure, if he had waited”.

The 200k race including 45 kilometers of famous, Tuscan, gravel roads took the riders from San Gimignano to Siena and made for another edition of hard racing. Peter Sagan attacked on a gravel section with 50km to go and was accompanied by a select group of favorites. The Slovak champion was, however, not able to sustain the effort in the absolute finale and finished 31st in Siena. Bjarne Riis reckons that the difficulty of the route and the intensity of the race made for valuable preparation ahead of the cobbled classics in late March and April.
 
“While it would have been better tactically for Peter, if he had waited, it provided him with the opportunity to test his shape and to give his legs a proper beating. The most important is that he’s peaking at the Classics, but he’ll also get several chances at Tirreno-Adriatico”, comments Bjarne Riis, who underlines that the team now looks ahead to the Italian stage race starting Wednesday and Paris-Nice beginning this Sunday.
 
Zdenek Stybar (Etixx-Quickstep) won the race ahead of Greg van Avermaet (BMC) and Alejandro Valverde (Movistar), while Roman Kreuziger was the best-placed Tinkoff-Saxo rider in 11th place.