Frenchman places 9th in first race of his Italian campaign
Strade Bianche continues its meteoric rise into the cadre of cycling's most popular one-day races with a WorldTour upgrade for 2017.
An excellent appetizer for Tirreno-Adriatico, Strade Bianche caters to a diverse array of riders thanks to its varied terrain. Known for the dirt and gravel "white roads" that give it its name, the race also tests riders with several short but difficult climbs. The ascent to the finish line in Siena, typically lined with cheering fans, has been the site of several spectacular finales in the event's brief history.
Fabian Cancellara outkicked 2015 champ Zdenek Stybar there last year to take the first victory of his farewell season. With Cancellara retired, the title is open for the taking in 2017. Stybar is among the many names likely to be hunting for the victory, with Peter Sagan, Greg Van Avermaet, Michal Kwiatkowski, Tim Wellens, and Fabio Aru and Rigoberto Urán among the many potential contenders in a race with nearly as much allure for the climbing specialists as the Classics heavyweights.
