Bruised and bloodied Tadej Pogacar wins Strade Bianche

SIENA, Italy (AP) — Bruised and bloodied, Tadej Pogacar still managed to solo to victory on Saturday.

The defending champion recovered from a heavy crash to become only the second cyclist to win the Strade Bianche three times.

The Slovenian — who also became the first to win the race back-to-back — remarkably had time to sit up on the approach to the line, raise his arms above his head and point both index fingers at the sky as he beamed broadly.

“I enjoyed it until I crossed the finish line, now the adrenaline has worn off, I’m starting to feel a lot of pain," Pogacar said.

“So not the best way to win a race but a win is a win, and let’s hope it’s nothing worse than it looks and all should be fine.”

Pogacar, who also won in 2022, finished 1 minute, 24 seconds ahead of Britain's Tom Pidcock and 2:12 ahead of Tim Wellens of Belgium.

This year’s Strade Bianche was one of the toughest yet as for the first time in 19 editions there were more than 80 kilometers (50 miles) of the white, gravel roads that give the race its name. There were 16 gravel sectors, totaling 81.7 kilometers, on the 213-kilometer (132-mile) route through Tuscany.

Although he was heavy favorite before the race, Pogacar’s chances didn’t look so good when he fell with just under 50 kilometers remaining.

The three-time Tour de France champion was at the head of a leading trio going downhill and he slid out on a corner, sending him flying across the road and tumbling head over heels into a ditch.

Pogacar was swiftly back on his bicycle but covered in scrapes on his left leg and arm, with his skinsuit torn up, and about 30 seconds down on Pidcock.

“I went too fast, I guess," Pogacar said when asked how the crash happened. "I know this road very well, I’ve rode it like already now 20 times for sure in my life, but sometimes you misjudge and I don’t know, I just slipped.

“For a moment, I didn’t know if I was okay, and the bike was not working, so I had to change the bike. I was a bit worried because when you crash, the body takes a lot from you. But I still had enough to finish it off."

Pogacar managed to quickly pass Connor Swift — who had been the other rider in the trio — and, when the gap fell to 15 seconds, Pidcock opted to wait for Pogacar to continue their duel heading into the final 45 kilometers.

Pogacar attacked on the penultimate sector, with 18 kilometers remaining, and left Pidcock in his — white — dust.

“I came pretty close. I mean Tadej crashed, it’s unfortunate, but let’s be honest it gave me a bit more of an opportunity,” Pidcock said. “But he was still too strong in the last attack of his. I’m happy but at the same time disappointed.

“Of course I waited … He made a mistake and this is not how you take advantage in a race. It was also a long way to go. So I also don’t want to ride that far on my own.”

AP cycling: https://apnews.com/hub/cycling

Riders in action during the 19th edition of the Strade Blanche, a 213 km one day race from Siena to Siena, Tuscany, Italy, Saturday March 8, 2025. (Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse via AP)

Cyclists in action during the 11th edition of the Strade Blanche Women Elite, a 136 km one day race from Siena to Siena, Tuscany, Italy, Saturday March 8, 2025. (Marco Alpozzi/LaPresse via AP)

Tadej Pogačar riding for the UAE Team Emirates during the 19th edition of the Strade Bianche (White Roads) a 213 km one day race from Siena, Italy, Saturday March 8, 2025. (Massimo Paolone/LaPresse via AP)

Tadej Pogačar riding for the UAE Team Emirates celebrates winning 19th edition of the Strade Bianche (White Roads) a 213 km one day race from Siena, Italy, Saturday March 8, 2025. (Marco AlpozziLaPresse via AP)

Tadej Pogačar riding for the UAE Team Emirates during the 19th edition of the Strade Bianche (White Roads) a 213 km one day race from Siena, Italy, Saturday March 8, 2025. ( Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse via AP)

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers are opening the practice window for star linebacker Fred Warner with the hope that he could return if the team reaches the NFC title game.

Warner has been out since breaking and dislocating his right ankle in a loss at Tampa Bay on Oct. 12, with coach Kyle Shanahan initially describing it as a season-ending injury.

But Warner has been rehabbing since then and even was able to run on a side field last week during practice. Now he will be back officially at practice as the 49ers prepare to play Seattle in the divisional round on Saturday night and could return if San Francisco wins.

“We’re not doing much so he’ll walk through out there with us today and things like that, but hoping he can be ready for next week,” Shanahan said Tuesday.

Warner's presence on the practice field even for a walkthrough provided an emotional lift for the 49ers.

“For someone who really set the standard here, I would do anything to play with him again this year,” defensive tackle Kalia Davis said. “We want him back out there.”

Eric Kendricks is currently manning Warner's spot at middle linebacker after backup Tatum Bethune got hurt but wasn't ready to talk about what Warner's possible return would do for the team.

“We’re aren’t going to talk about next week, right? We’ve got Seattle,” Kendricks said. “We’ve got to beat Seattle. Let’s pump our brakes. We have to beat Seattle this week. .. This is what meaningful football is all about.”

The 49ers have made it this far despite losing their top two defensive players to injuries early in the season, with defensive end Nick Bosa going down with a season-ending knee injury in Week 3 and Warner getting hurt in Week 6.

Warner has been pushing to make a return and if he can, that would provide a needed boost. But Shanahan said the final decision will be in the hands of the team doctors.

“If he feels good and tells me he’s good, I’m probably going to think he is and trust him to get out there,” Shanahan said. “But you can't always think with your heart and emotionally. So you ask doctors where he’s at, all the things that these guys have to pass, just protocols that we have in with just sprinting and jumping and things like that. He’s got to hit all those before we feel it’s safe.”

But Shanahan added that as soon as the doctors clear Warner, "obviously it’ll be zero decision on my part.”

Warner had been a first-team All-Pro three straight seasons from 2022-24 and made the squad in 2020. His 947 career tackles are the second most for the team, behind Patrick Willis’ 950, as far as records go back to 2000.

Warner had missed only one game in his eight-year career before this injury, sitting out in 2021 with a hamstring injury. He played most of last season with a broken bone in his ankle and still earned All-Pro honors.

Warner signed a three-year extension worth $63 million in the offseason, keeping him under contract with the team through the 2029 season.

In other injury news, safety Ji'Ayir Brown (hamstring) and Luke Gifford (quadriceps) all would have been unable to practice had the team held a session. Receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee), linebacker Dee Winters (ankle), guard Dominick Puni (ankle) and defensive lineman Keion White (groin, hamstring) all would have been limited.

Shanahan also said tight end George Kittle is set to have surgery on his ruptured Achilles tendon on Wednesday. Kittle went on injured reserve Tuesday and tight end Brayden Willis was signed from the practice squad.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

FILE - San Francisco 49ers middle linebacker Fred Warner is carted off the field during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tampa, Fla., Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken, File)

FILE - San Francisco 49ers middle linebacker Fred Warner (54) runs to the locker room after pregame warm-ups before an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Oct 12, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Peter Joneleit, File)