Jakob Fuglsang (Astana) stopped to cool down in Piazza del Campo after finishing fifth in Strade Bianche, regretting his lone attack on the terrible Monte Santa Maria dirt section with 50km to go, and the heat of racing in the Tuscan He entered the red zone under the scorching sun.

The attack was virtually accidental, and the Dane, who finished second to Julian Alaphilippe in 2019, decided to play his cards right, but at a high cost, dropping out of the lead pack with 9km to go.

"After a little attack, the heat made me explode. It was difficult to cool down and get my legs back. Fuglsang reflected on the race and how his faithful soignée poured water over his head before heading to the team bus in Astana.

"I think quarantine is so much better than here ......" he joked. 'No, of course not! It's certainly different from the races in March. I think the heat got to most of us today, and being our first race in four months, tensions were high.

Fuglsang admitted that Dečuninck-Quick Step had a hard and selective race from the 90km mark. He, and even the Belgian team, had to pay the price for their efforts in the final sector on the dirt road.

"Alaphilippe and Dettunink made the race difficult with their early attacks. But with the downhill run, I was only able to stay in fifth place."

Fuglsang raced faster than the televised bikes, angrily waving his hands in the air as he tried to find the best line through the dust cloud on the descent of Monte Santa Maria.

"I waved at the bikes because I couldn't see them and I don't think they could see me either.

"I was at the front, but it might have taken me a little while to attack. When Schachmann went, I went with him and dropped him, but they were moving back and there was nothing I could do."

Fuglsang was clearly disappointed, but promised to try again in 2021.

"It's a cool race. It's my favorite race and I would love to win it," he said, revealing that he was one of the favorites to win because of his mountain biking and climbing roots.

"A lot of guys saw me as one of the favorites to win. But next year I'm going to go back and try something new."