Titleholder Michal Kwiatkowski is not at the start. He will be participating in Paris-Nice.
Peter Sagan
The man who is to bring classics success to Team Tinkoff-Saxo. In the 2014 edition, he was bested by Kwiatkowski, but a few weeks later he took revenge in the 3rd stage of the Tirreno at a similar arrival.
Alejandro Valverde
If you think of Strade Bianche as Liège–Bastogne–Liège plus gravel-sections, Valverde is definitely a man to watch. He is a two-time winner in Liège–Bastogne–Liège and was on the podium five times. Last year he finished third in Strade Bianche.
Sep Vanmarcke
The 26-year old Fleming approaches his best years. 2013 saw him finish second in Paris-Roubaix and last year he was fourth, while he was third in Flanders. Winning a classic is high on his 2015 bucket list. Strong in last week’s Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, but punctured out at crucial moments.
Fabian Cancellara
Two-time winner of the Strade Bianche. Cancellara is not as strong as he used to be, but still a power to be reckoned with. Experience with his class and routine he’s still contender in this kind of classics. No lack of experience whatsoever with eight stage-wins in the Tour de France en he is triple winner of Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders.
Lars Boom
As multiple World Champion cyclo-cross, Boom fancies the gravel-sections and as a former winner of the Eneco Tour he is not afraid of short steep climbs. Further arguing in favour of the cobble-stage winner in the 2014 Tour, is the fact Astana recruited him as their man for the spring classics.
Other riders to watch: Simon Gerrans, Roman Kreuziger, Greg Van Avermaet, Damiano Cunego, Vincenzo Nibali and Zdeněk Štybar.