Quinn Simmons (Trek-Segafredo) collapsed to the floor after running Strade Bianche, simultaneously feeling the pain of a hard race and the disappointment of defeat.

The 21-year-old American was the main contender for the 2023 Strade Bianche following impressive results in 2022 and 2021. Simmons played a sharp tactical game rather than an aggressive one. Unfortunately, the chase group behind eventual winner Tom Pidock (Ineos Grenadiers) exploded, and Simmons dropped out of the lead pack in the final 10 km.

"I was thinking about this race almost every day, and now I missed it again," Simmons told Cycling News in a disappointed tone.

Simmons has the Strade Bianche as a clear early season target and drove to Tuscany after last weekend's Juan Ardèche Classic and Juan Drome Classic to train specifically on the white gravel roads.

He previously told Cycling News that he stopped to eat local wine and pasta with his visiting father to be in the best shape for the race.

In a way, it worked. Valentin Maduas (Groupama-FDJ), Thijs Benoot (Jumbo Visma), Rui Costa (Intermarché Circus Wanty), Matej Mohoric (UAE Team Emirates), Attila Valter (Jumbo Visma).

"We were moving and attacking," said Simmons, repeating Mohoric's claim after the race that "there was no cohesion in the chase."

"There were two riders on the three teams. I was one, so I had to gamble a little bit."

After a solid start in 2022 and a stage win in 2023 with a power attack at La Vuelta a San Juan, Simmons was a marked man in the peloton for the rest of the day.

"I had everyone covering me all day," he said. 'Towards the end, on a steep uphill, I just felt like I didn't have it in me. And I chased them down a couple of times. And in the end, I couldn't catch up."

This is the third time this year that a Trek-Segafredo rider has remained in the Strade Bianche selection, but also the third time that the winning group lacked power.

"This is the third year in a row that I have been eliminated from the lead, I've been in the lead for three years in a row," he told Cycling News.

"But at least we're there and the team had a plan and we committed to it and everyone was perfect.

"In the end. There are no excuses. We just weren't good enough."