Confident as test against Sagan looms in Tirreno-Adriatico.

Cancellara tried to bridge the gap to winner Moser during the final 20 km of the race but was friendless in the front group and closely followed by Moser’s teammate Peter Sagan.

His only solace was that the dirt roads and steep climbs of the Strade Bianche had confirmed that he is on his way to be at the peak of his powers once again this spring.

"The best team won today, there's no doubt about that," he acknowledged sportingly when discussing the events of the day with Cyclingnews.com. "Cannondale raced well together and took advantage of every moment. I tried to make a selection several times but Sagan and Valverde just isolated me. It was a hard, fast race, with the wind making it harder.”

Cancellara will skip Sunday's Roma Maxim race, instead preferring to recuperate for Tirreno-Adriatico, hoping the week-long Italian stage race will add the final touches to his form prior to the Classics that loom ahead.

"I'm satisfied with my performance because this was a hard race, harder than last year when I won. It was a good test of my condition and I'm happy with where I am now. I don't have the solution to how to beat Sagan at the moment but I'm getting close to where I want to be. There's still time to improve and there's still some margin for improvement. We'll see what happens in a few weeks’ time."