Strade Bianche 2022
Latest News from the Race
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5 conclusions from Strade Bianche Women 2022
Kopecky shows Van Vleuten is not invincible -
Eddy Merckx: Tadej Pogacar is a Campionissimo
The greatest of all time praises young Slovenian after his Strade Bianche victory -
The most spectacular shots from Strade Bianche - Mega Gallery
The images that tell the story of the women's and men's racing on the white gravel roads of the Tuscan hills
Tadej Pogacar wins Strade Bianche with 50km solo attack
Strade Bianche Men - How it happened
Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) exploded from a leading group of favourites with 50 kilometres to go and won Strade Bianche on Saturday, riding alone on the narrow streets of Siena to Piazza del Campo.
Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) pushed ahead of Kasper Asgreen (QuickStep-AlphaVinyl) on the final ascent to secure second place, 37 seconds behind Pogačar. Asgreen rolled in another nine seconds later for third.
The 184km race proved to be epic in many ways, with strong winds blowing over dozens of riders with 100km remaining, including tossing Julian Alaphilippe (QuickStep-AlphaVinyl) and his bike into the air, with a massive pileup behind.
Pogačar hit the front on the long Monte Sante Marie sector and used a descent on the white gravel to open, then extend, his lead.
Strade Bianche news and features
- Bradley Wiggins on Tadej Pogacar: He is f*cking incredible
- Valverde and Asgreen fight for Strade Bianche podium places alongside Pogacar
- Pogacar on 50km Strade Bianche solo: Someone has to be the first someday, no?
- Alaphilippe somersaults as wind causes spectacular crash at Strade Bianche
- Quinn Simmons: I went all-in for the win at Strade Bianche
- Strade Bianche peloton dial in equipment and strategy during final recon rides
- Schmid: I understand complaints about gravel in Grand Tours
- Grand Tour stars spoiling Strade Bianche for Classics riders
- 'Not fit' Tom Dumoulin to miss Strade Bianche
- Pidcock ruled out of Strade Bianche with stomach virus
- Tadej Pogacar: I would love to win Strade Bianche
- Tim Wellens ready to crush gravel in Strade Bianche
- Strade Bianche men 2022 - Preview
- 10 riders to watch at the men's Strade Bianche 2022
- The secrets of Strade Bianche
- Michael Matthews confirmed for Strade Bianche debut
- Strade Bianche 2021 - Mega Gallery
- Analysis: Mathieu van der Poel's 1,300-watt Strade Bianche-winning power data
Route for Strade Bianche 2022
The 2022 edition of Strade Bianche will follow a familiar format, starting and finishing in Siena, with the usual array of gravel roads in between.
There are once again 11 sectors of the eponymous 'strade bianche', totalling 63km of gravel.
The first four sectors come early in the race before the paved Montalcino climb softens the legs ahead of two much longer sectors around the half-way mark. From there, the race heads to two more long and even-more gruelling sectors at San Martino and Ponte del Garbo, the latter being 11.5km long and hilly.
The race will have opened up by then in the final 50km and the big plays for victory will then unfold on three sectors that are much shorter but much steeper. From the end of the final sector, there's a run-in of 11km to Siena, but there's a sting in the tail in the form of the vicious haul up Via Santa Caterina and the drop down into the Piazza del Campo.
Teams for Strade Bianche 2022
- AG2R Citroen Team
- Alpecin-Fenix
- Bahrain Victorious
- Bardiani-CSF-Faizane
- Bora-Hansgrohe
- Cofidis
- Drone Hopper-Androni Giocattoli
- EF Education-EasyPost
- Eolo-Kometa
- Groupama-FDJ
- Ineos Grenadiers
- Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux
- Israel-Premier Tech
- Jumbo-Visma
- Lotto Soudal
- Movistar Team
- QuickStep-AlphaVinyl
- Team Arkéa-Samsic
- BikeExchange-Jayco
- Team DSM
- Trek-Segafredo
- UAE Team Emirates
Cyclingnews predicts
Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers)
With neither of the past two winners - Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert - on the start line, the 2022 Strade Bianche is an open affair. 2019 winner Julian Alaphilippe is the world champion and always a contender, while 2018 winner Tiesj Benoot (Jumbo-Visma) has caught our eye with flying performances at Opening Weekend. However, it's Pidcock who stands out. He made his debut at the race last year and immediately placed fifth, going on to enjoy a stellar first Classics campaign. He made a couple of errors at Opening Weekend and perhaps didn't showcase his full strength, but he has described Strade Bianche as his first major objective of 2022. He'll be fully focused, he has the off-road skills in abundance, he has the strength, he has the climbing advantage of being lightweight, and he now has a year's experience. He is destined to win this race at some point in his career and there's every chance it will happen on Saturday.
Tech spotlight
To cope with the gravel roads, expects significant modifications for most bikes at Strade Bianche.
Riders will typically run wider tyres than they would on the road, with 28mm tyres being the minimum you're likely to see on Saturday. That will in turn allow for lower pressures to be used, reducing the risk of punctures and improving grip on the stoney gravel. 7 bar is a good ballpark pressure figure for front and rear, while the tyres themselves - with most opting for tubular - will have more tread than smooth road tyres.
Strade Bianche history
Strade Bianche is one of the youngest one-day Classics, having only been created in 2007. In a short space of time, it has risen to become one of the biggest, most iconic, and most anticipated races of the spring, if not the year.
The race was born as an offshoot of the Eroica event, in which amateur riders took on some of Tuscany's historic gravel roads on vintage bikes.
The first edition was held in October 2007 and won by Alexandr Kolobnev but it then changed to a March date in 2008, which it still occupies.
Fabian Cancellara is the race's most successful rider with three victories - 2008, 2012, 2016 - and has a sector of gravel named in his honour. Michal Kwiatkowski is the only other repeat winner - 2014 and 2017.
# | Rider Name (Country) Team |
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2021 | Mathieu van der Poel (Ned) Alpecin-Fenix |
2020 | Wout van Aert (Bel) Jumbo-Visma |
2019 | Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Deceuninck-Quickstep |
2018 | Tiesj Benoot (Bel) Lotto Soudal |
2017 | Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Team Sky |
2016 | Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Trek-Segafredo |
2015 | Zdenek Štybar (Cze) Etixx–Quick-Step |
2014 | Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Omega Pharma–Quick-Step |
2013 | Moreno Moser (Ita) Cannondale |
2012 | Fabian Cancellara (Sui) RadioShack–Nissan |
2011 | Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Omega Pharma–Lotto |
2010 | Maxim Iglinsky (Kaz) Astana |
2009 | Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Team Columbia–High Road |
2008 | Fabian Cancellara (Sui) Team CSC |
2007 | Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus) Team CSC |
Strade Bianche facts and figures
Most wins: 3 (Fabian Cancellara - 2008, 2012, 2016)
Fastest edition: 2011 - 40.08km/h, won by Philippe Gilbert
Elevation gain: 3000 metres
Youngest winner: Moreno Moser, 22, in 2013
Oldest winner: Fabian Cancellara, 34, in 2016
Most appearances: Giovanni Visconti - 13 starts, 11 finishes
Most wins per nation: Switzerland 3 (Cancellara 2008, 2012, 2016). Belgium 3 (Gilbert 2011, Benoot 2018, Van Aert 2020).
Biggest winning margin: 42 seconds - Cancellara in 2012
Races
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Strade Bianche 20225 March 2022 | Siena | WorldTour
Latest Content on the Race
Pogacar on 50km Strade Bianche solo: Someone has to be the first someday, no?
By Daniel Ostanek published
News Slovenian says he was unsure about victory all the way to the final climb to Piazza del Campo in Siena
10 riders to watch at the men's Strade Bianche 2022
By Stephen Farrand last updated
Analysis Van Aert and Van der Poel's absence leaves space for new contenders
Strade Bianche men 2022 - Race Preview
By Stephen Farrand last updated
Preview Pogačar and Alaphilippe look to conquer the dirt roads of this modern Classic
Longo Borghini and Simmons lead Strade Bianche charge for Trek-Segafredo
By Daniel Ostanek published
News 'As the level gets higher each year, you for sure have to be a good climber to be there' says American
Grand Tour stars spoiling Strade Bianche for Classics riders
By Stephen Farrand published
News 'It is becoming increasingly difficult to compete against the climbers' says Van Avermaet
Infirmary report: Sick Sagan will start Tirreno-Adriatico
By Cyclingnews published
News Declercq back training, Bettiol, Chapman, Banks absent due to COVID-19
Schmid: I understand complaints about gravel in Grand Tours
By Daniel Ostanek published
News Giro gravel stage winner supports Julian Alaphilippe at Strade Bianche
'Not fit' Tom Dumoulin to miss Strade Bianche
By Daniel Ostanek last updated
News Wielerflits reports positive COVID-19 test as Kämna, Bardet also miss Saturday's race
Top News on the Race
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Valverde and Asgreen fight for Strade Bianche podium places alongside Pogacar
'It was impossible for me to follow Pogacar, he was just so strong' says veteran Spaniard in final ride -
Quinn Simmons: I went all-in for the win at Strade Bianche
20-year-old has 'no excuses' after placing seventh in Siena -
Pogacar on 50km Strade Bianche solo: Someone has to be the first someday, no?
Slovenian says he was unsure about victory all the way to the final climb to Piazza del Campo in Siena
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Alaphilippe somersaults as wind causes spectacular crash at Strade Bianche
Matthews, Benoot, Mohoric and Campenaerts abandon following mass crash at 100km to go -
Longo Borghini and Simmons lead Strade Bianche charge for Trek-Segafredo
'As the level gets higher each year, you for sure have to be a good climber to be there' says American -
Grand Tour stars spoiling Strade Bianche for Classics riders
'It is becoming increasingly difficult to compete against the climbers' says Van Avermaet
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Infirmary report: Sick Sagan will start Tirreno-Adriatico
Declercq back training, Bettiol, Chapman, Banks absent due to COVID-19 -
Schmid: I understand complaints about gravel in Grand Tours
Giro gravel stage winner supports Julian Alaphilippe at Strade Bianche -
Strade Bianche peloton dial in equipment and strategy during final recon rides
Thursday and Friday reconnaissance rides could prove key to victory on Saturday
Related Features
-
5 conclusions from Strade Bianche Women 2022
Kopecky shows Van Vleuten is not invincible -
The most spectacular shots from Strade Bianche - Mega Gallery
The images that tell the story of the women's and men's racing on the white gravel roads of the Tuscan hills -
The secrets of Strade Bianche - where the attacks will come
Understanding the gravel roads and the final steep climb up to the finish in Siena -
10 riders to watch at the men's Strade Bianche 2022
Van Aert and Van der Poel's absence leaves space for new contenders