2025 Strade Bianche Race Preview: The Italian ‘Basic’ Strade Bianche, brings again reminiscences of cycle racing from the previous when the roads had been tough and unsurfaced, when gravel was the norm. The race from and to Siena has over 80 kilometres of sterrati with climbs and mud earlier than the end within the Piazza del Campo. A contemporary tackle a nostalgic race. We take a look at the route and the favourites for Saturday.
Highlights from 2024 Strade Bianche
The final 10 Strade Bianche Winners:
2024: Tadej Pogačar
2023: Tom Pidcock
2022: Tadej Pogačar
2021: Mathieu van der Poel
2020: Wout van Aert
2019: Julian Alaphilippe
2018: Tiesj Benoot
2017: Michal Kwiatkowski
2016: Fabian Cancellara
2015: Zdenek Stybar
The Story of Strade Bianche by Velon
2025 Strade Bianche Parcours:
The route of the 2025 Strade Bianche is a bit bit tougher. A brand new gravel part has been added to the route, so there at the moment are sixteen strips of tough roads. The brand new part is 9.3 kilometres lengthy, so now there’s a now a complete of 81.7 kilometres of gravel.
The end continues to be in Siena
The beginning and end are nonetheless in Siena. The primary six gravel sections are the identical as final yr. The primary, Vidritta, comes after 14 kilometres, it’s almost 4 and a half kilometres lengthy and barely downhill. Every sector of sterrati is totally different, some sections are comparatively quick, others are kilometres lengthy. Some virtually flat, different sectors are steep and leg sapping. The enchantment of Strade Bianche is that it’s unimaginable to foretell the place the race will kick off. Beforehand the primary actual break up has come on the 11.9 kilometre Lucignano d’Asso, which just about instantly transitions into the 8 kilometre Ponte d’Arbia, however that’s nonetheless 120 kilometres from the end.
2025 Strade Bianche profile
After that first choice, the riders hit the brand new three star part of Serravalle. Powerful, however nothing in comparison with the subsequent little bit of gravel: San Martino in Grania and Monte Sante Marie. Each are lengthy and uphill and each have 5 stars. After the 11.5 kilometre Monte Sante Marie, often known as the Settore Fabian Cancellara, but in addition the place Tadej Pogačar made the distinction final yr, there are greater than 20 kilometres of ‘correct’ street. The longest sections at the moment are over, however the finale just isn’t simple. Fifty-three kilometres from the end is the Monteaperti part of 600 metres. That is adopted by the Strade di Colle Pinzuto (2.4km) and Le Tolfe (1.1km). Up till 2023, the race went to Siena after that final sector, however since final yr, an additional loop was added. This begins virtually instantly after Le Tolfe with the Strada del Castagno (1.3km). Fourteen kilometres later, is the Montechiaro (3.3km). The route repeats the Strade di Colle Pinzuto and Le Tolfe once more as the ultimate climbs. These climbs have ramps of over 10% in locations. After the final part of Le Tolfe, there are 10 kilometres of undulating roads to Siena.
2025 Strade Bianche map
The end within the Piazza del Campo in Siena, is the setting for the Palio, the well-known horse race. Within the Nobile Contrada dell’Oca, there’s a very nasty climb. The riders move beneath the thirteenth century Porta di Fontebranda and the street begins to climb, however when the cobbles of the Through Santa Caterina begin, it will get actually steep. The utmost gradient is 16%. On the prime, there’s nonetheless a half kilometre to the end. The tough final nook is on the border between the districts of Civetta, Leocorno and Torre and the race winner is often the primary to look spherical that bend.
Mud or mud?
Sterrati:
- Settore Sterrato 1: Vidritta (4.4 kilometres) – *
- Settore Sterrato 2: Bagnaia (4.8 kilometres) – ***
- Settore Sterrato 3: Radi (4.4 kilometres) – **
- Settore Sterrato 4: La Piana (6.4 kilometres) – **
- Settore Sterrato 5: Lucignano d’Asso (11.9 kilometres) – ****
- Settore Sterrato 6: Pieve a Santi (8 kilometres) – ****
- Settore Sterrato 7: Serravalle (9.3 kilometres) – ***
- Settore Sterrato 8: San Martino in Grania (9.4 kilometres) – *****
- Settore Sterrato 9: Monte Sante Marie (11.5 kilometres) – *****
- Settore Sterrato 10: Monteaperti (0.6 kilometres) – **
- Settore Sterrato 11: Colle Pinzuto (2.4 kilometres) – ****
- Settore Sterrato 12: Le Tolfe (1.1 kilometres) – ****
- Settore Sterrato 13: Strada del Castagno (0.7 kilometres) – **
- Settore Sterrato 14: Montechiaro (3.3 kilometres) – **
- Settore Sterrato 15: Colle Pinzuto (2.4 kilometres) – ****
- Settore Sterrato 16: Le Tolfe (1.1 kilometres) – ****
Complete gravel: 81.7 kilometres.
Basic
Favourites:
Tadej Pogačar was dominant final yr in Strade Bianche. The Slovenian attacked with 81 kilometres to go, constructed up an enormous lead and crossed the end line, as recent as a daisy, and that was his first race of the season. This yr, he might be in Tuscany with a stage race beneath his belt. The World champion rode and gained the UAE Tour in February and took each mountain levels for good measure. On paper, Pogačar ought to win his third Strade Bianche on Saturday, to equal Fabian Cancellara. However, very like Paris-Roubaix, the gravel race brings different issues: Punctures and mechanical issues when a staff automobile may not be at hand. There are additionally some robust challengers on the start-list who gained’t hand the win on a plate to the Slovenian.
Possible winner, however something can occur – High favorite Tadej Pogačar
Tom Pidcock needs to be a contender. He’s explosive, he can climbing and he has the bike dealing with abilities of a cyclocross World champions and an Olympic mountain biker. He gained Strade Bianche in 2023. Throughout the winter he left INEOS Grenadiers for Q36.5, which appears to have reinvigorated his street ambitions. Pidcock gained general and two levels of the AlUla Tour, adopted by a stage within the Ruta del Sol and a closing third general. We didn’t a lot of him within the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad final Saturday, however it was an odd race for a lot of riders.
Tom Pidcock must be up there
Pogačar and Pidcock usually are not the one Strade Bianche winners initially in Siena. Michał Kwiatkowski might be there once more and has been the victor twice within the Piazza del Campo: in 2014 and 2017. Kwiatkowski is now 34-years-old, however he can nonetheless win races. He not too long ago gained the Clásica Jaén, which can be a gravel race, the place he soloed to victory.
Marc Hirschi is at all times robust
Like Pogačar, Pidcock and Kwiatkowski, Marc Hirschi has additionally gained this yr. In his first race of the season, the 1969 Clàssica Comunitat Valenciana, he was the very best from a quick closing group. The Swiss rider has the shape, however he has by no means ridden nicely in Strade Bianche: 72nd in 2019, didn’t end in 2020 and 68th final yr. Though in 2024 he had experience for Pogačar. This yr he might be staff chief with Tudor.
Romain Grégoire gained final week, however it unusual circumstances
Romain Grégoire completed eighth within the 2023 Strade Bianche, in his first yr as an expert. He not too long ago completed fourth within the Volta ao Algarve and gained the Faun-Ardèche Basic, though a lot of the peloton went the fallacious means on the end. The 22-year-old might be hoping for a greater consequence this yr in Tuscany. Groupama-FDJ additionally has Valentin Madouas, second within the 2023, and David Gaudu, who gained a stage within the Tour of Oman this yr.
Kévin Vauquelin – A person to look at
One other Frenchman who began his season nicely is Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa-B&B Resorts). With the ultimate general victory within the Etoile de Bessèges, two stage wins, the factors and second within the KOM, he might be a contender, possibly not the winner, however a hight inserting. He completed twenty first in Strade Bianche final yr, however he did win the Tour de France stage to Bologna final yr.
Mohorič has beautiful moments
Bahrain Victorious has a number of choices. Pello Bilbao and Matej Mohorič know the gravel race nicely. Bilbao completed tenth in 2021, fifth in 2022 and seventh in 2023. Mohorič was fifth in 2023 and seventh in 2024. Collectively they may pull a trick on Pogačar. They’re each in good kind in the intervening time: Mohorič completed 2nd behind Mads Pedersen within the Tour de la Provence, whereas Bilbao completed third in each the Tour of Valencia and the UAE Tour. Within the opening weekend, Mohorič, very like Pidcock, was invisible.
Lennert Van Eetvelt has had unhealthy luck, but in addition has plenty of expertise
Lotto has Lennert Van Eetvelt. The 23-year-old Belgian completed eleventh in Strade Bianche final yr, after he helped teammate Maxim Van Gils make an assault. That turned out to be his final race for some time, as he had issues with a knee damage. He can now put that behind him. On the finish of 2024 he gained the Gree-Tour of Guangxi after which began this season with eleventh place within the UAE Tour. He most likely would have completed larger, however missed a vital echelon.
Toms Skujiņš – Can he transfer up in 2025?
Second final yr, Toms Skujiņš and Christian Scaroni are additionally males to be watched. The Latvian hasn’t carried out a lot to this point in 2025, however is a Classics-man. The Italian has had three wins already this yr and on Wednesday he was 2nd within the Trofeo Laigueglia and has had oyher podium locations, giving XDS-Astana some much-needed UCI factors. Can he step up and do the identical at WorldTour stage?
Strade Bianche first time for Mikel Landa
The others: Mikel Landa (Soudal Fast-Step) driving for the primary time, Davide Formolo (Movistar), Quinn Simmons & Mathias Vacek (Lidl-Trek), Rui Costa (EF Schooling-EasyPost), Alan Hatherly & Filippo Zana (Jayco AlUla), French champion Paul Lapeira (Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale) and the off-road specialists of Alpecin-Deceuninck: Emiel Verstrynge, Gianni Vermeersch and Quinten Hermans. Visma | Lease a Bike may have Attila Valter and Ben Tulett, each are on kind. Dylan Teuns (Cofidis) has already proven his kind within the early season.
Strade Bianche No.3 for Pogačar?
High Favorite: Tadej Pogačar.
Possible: Tom Pidcock.
Up There: Romain Grégoire, Pello Bilbao, Christian Scaroni.
Perhaps: Kévin Vauquelin, Michał Kwiatkowski, Lennert Van Eetvelt, Dylan Teuns.
* The beginning listing may change earlier than Saturday.
# Keep PEZ for the Strade Bianche Race Report on Saturday. #
Can Tom Pidcock repeat 2023?
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