Strade Bianche 2017: Favourites

Strade Bianche is a fascinating mix of unpaved roads and short steep climbs. It doesn't happen often that both strong climbers and (Flamish) classic specialists are among the favourites in the same race, but in the modern Classic in Toscany it is an obvious fact. Cyclingstage.com brings you the major contenders in the 2017 Strade Banche. (Slideshow route/profile)

Fabian Cancellara, Zdenek Stybar and Gianluca Brambilla were on the podium last year. Cancellara is now retired, a perfect chance for former World Champion cyclo-cross Stybar to take his throne. Strade Bianche is his favourite race. In 2015 the Czech turned out on top.

Those who were in good shape in last week’s Flemish Classics are the ones to be reckoned with. So we can expect Van Avermaet, Vanmarcke, Stuyven, and Sagan. The World Champion took Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, while the Olympic Champion was the victor in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. The other riders finished on the podium. Sagan was exceptional in both races, winning ‘Kuurne’ after finishing second in the ‘Omloop’.

Tom Dumoulin could be a serious dark horse. The time trialist raced to third place in the Abu Dhabi Tour after a strong performance in the Queen Stage.

Favourites Strade Biance 2017

*** Greg Van Avermaet, Michal Kwiatkowski, Peter Sagan, Zdenek Stybar
** Sep Vanmarcke, Jasper Stuyven, Tiesj Benoot, Tim Wellens
* Tom Dumoulin, Moreno Moser, Vincenzo Nibali, Gianluca Brambilla, Bob Jungels