This weekend, the Strade Bianche is on the agenda. This Italian race is packed with endless gravel sections, rising dust, and steep climbs. Riders compete in this race for ultimate glory at the Piazza del Campo. Who can outshine defending champion Tadej Pogacar this year? Read all about it in this article.
Strade Bianche 2024
Last year, Tadej Pogacar delivered a stunning solo victory, marking the first major achievement of his incredible 2024 season. With around 80 kilometers to go, he broke away completely, leaving no one able to follow. At one point, he had a three-and-a-half-minute lead over the first chasers—an absolute masterpiece from the Slovenian rider.
In the women’s race, it took longer for a clear frontrunner to emerge. The first real selection happened on the final gravel sector, where five riders formed the elite breakaway. Katarzyna Niewiadoma launched the attack, while Demi Vollering and Lotte Kopecky took turns trying to break away. Kopecky won the battle, and only the Italian Elisa Longo Borghini managed to keep up. On the final climb, Kopecky launched a decisive attack, securing her second Strade Bianche victory as the reigning world champion. This year, however, she has chosen to take more rest and will skip the Strade Bianche.
Route 2025
The total route length has remained roughly the same, with 213 kilometers for the men and 136 kilometers for the women, but the organizers have opted for more gravel this year. One additional gravel sector has been added, increasing the total gravel distance to nearly 82 kilometers. The new sector is the Serravalle, a stretch of just over 9 kilometers. This means that halfway through the race, riders will face a challenging gravel section, with 38 kilometers of unpaved roads between kilometers 73 and 120.
The finale is identical for both the men and women: first, they must conquer the steep Colle Pinzuto – Le Tolfe duo, with gradients reaching up to 17%. After that, there are still 12 kilometers to the finish, leaving room for a solo rider to build a lead. The race ultimately concludes in Siena, where the winner crosses the line at the Piazza del Campo.
Men’s Favorites
The top favorite for this edition is once again Tadej Pogacar, the omnipresent rider who will be supported in Tuscany by Tim Wellens and Isaac Del Toro. As mentioned earlier, he built a massive lead last year, proving that this race suits him perfectly. Especially considering that last year’s edition was his first race of the season, whereas this year, he already has some racing in his legs. The world champion has already dominated the UAE Tour, winning both the mountain stages and the overall classification. Pogacar’s form is unquestionable.
So the question remains: can anyone surpass him? Of course, strong challengers are at the start. One to watch is Tom Pidcock. The British rider has often demonstrated his climbing abilities and can be extremely explosive at times. He already won the Strade Bianche in 2023.
Many former winners are absent, including Tiesj Benoot, Julian Alaphilippe, Wout van Aert, and Mathieu van der Poel, but Michal Kwiatkowski will be at the start. The Polish rider has won twice on the Piazza del Campo and recently proved in the Clasica Jean that, despite his age, he is far from done.
Women’s Favorites
Reigning champion Lotte Kopecky will not compete this time, as she is postponing the start of her season. However, her usual rivals will be there: Elisa Longo Borghini, Katarzyna Niewiadoma, and Demi Vollering. These three were also part of last year’s decisive move when Kopecky claimed victory, making them logical contenders for this year.
Other riders to watch include Olympic champion Kristen Faulkner, gravel champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, and rising stars like Fem van Empel and Puck Pieterse. Each of them has unique strengths that could prove crucial at certain moments in the race. The key factor will be who is in top form, as the Strade Bianche can be an unpredictable race due to mechanical issues or crashes. Let’s hope for a safe and exciting race!
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