Strade Bianche

Not many changes are evident in the route of a Strade Bianche as beautiful and mystical as usual. The eleven gravel ‘white roads’ around Siena and the spectacular finish, one of the most legendary in our sport, at the Piazza del Campo will again be the perfect scenery to open the month of March, the outright start to the classics season.

The ‘sterrato’ sectors could be divided into three groups: the first four ‘tratti’ act as sort of a warm-up as the breakaway builds; the long passages through Lucignano d’Arbia / Pieve a Salti (sett. 5/6, 76km in, almost 20 in length) and San Martino in Grania (sett. 7; 111km) should create an early selection; and the decisive phase, which starts with the Monte Sante Marie (sett. 8; 130km), should see its ramps reducing the field of contenders really much.

The last three sectors –Vico d’Arbia (-23km), Colle Pinzuto (-19km) and Le Tolfe (-13km)– should see a quite restricted group contesting the race, should, as it’s already normal in this ‘new cycling’ we all enjoy so much, the favourites try it from afar.