Strade Bianche serves a fascinating mix of unpaved roads and unrelenting gradients. It doesn’t happen often that both strong climbers and Classics specialists are among the favourites in the same race, but the modern Classic in Tuscany is a rare exception.
It is safe to say Michal Kwiatkowski is the expert when it comes to winning the Strade Bianche. The Pole is the only rider in the peloton who won the race twice – Kwiatkowski did win the race in 2014 and 2017. Other still competing riders who were victorious in Siena are Tiesj Benoot (2018), Zdenek Stybar (2015), Moreno Moser (2013) and Philippe Gilbert (2011).
The Strade Bianche is famous for its dirt roads, often on sharp climbs, while the finale in Siena is a steep cobbled climb with ramps up to 16%. So the race really is a war of attrition and it is wearing any rider out. Moreover, last year’s race was played out on mud roads as it was raining incessantly in Tuscany. Benoot tracked down attackers Van Aert and Bardet inside the final 15 kilometres to go solo on the last mud road.
Favourites 2019 Strade Bianche
***** Zdenek Stybar, Tim Wellens
**** Greg Van Avermaet, Gianni Moscon, Alexey Lutsenko
*** Julian Alaphilippe, Wout van Aert, Jakob Fuglsang
** Tiesj Benoot, Bauke Mollema, Jakob Fuglsang, Alberto Bettiol
* Vincenzo Nibali, Geraint Thomas, Maximilian Schachmann
Strade Bianche Results
Strade Bianche Riders
Related articles Overview - Strade Bianche 2019 More articles Tour of the Alps 2021 Route stage 5: Idroland – Riva del Garda
Tour of the Alps 2021: Bilbao winst three-up spint, Yates cements lead
Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2021: The Route
Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2021: Riders
Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes 2021: The Route
Tour de Romandie 2021: The Route
Tour de Romandie 2021: Riders
Tour de Romandie 2021 Route prologue: Oron-la-Ville
Tour de Romandie 2021 Route stage 1: Aigle - Martigny
Tour de Romandie 2021 Route stage 2: La Neuveville - Saint-Imier
Tour de Romandie 2021 Route stage 3: Estavayer - Estavayer
Tour de Romandie 2021 Route stage 4: Sion - Thyon 2000
Giro 2021: The Route
Giro 2021: Riders
Giro 2021: GC Favourites
Giro 2021 Route stage 1: Turin - Turin
Giro 2021 Favourites stage 1: Ganna's dash for pink
Giro 2021 Route stage 2: Stupinigi – Novara
Giro 2021 Favourites stage 2: First fast finishers showdown
Giro 2021 Route stage 3: Biella – Canale
Giro 2021 Favourites stage 3: Strong sprinters or late attackers
Giro 2021 Route stage 4: Piacenza - Sestola
Giro 2021 Favourites stage 4: Bike handling in intriguing finale
Giro 2021 Route stage 5: Modena - Cattolica
Giro 2021 Favourites stage 5: Back to the fast men
Tour of the Alps 2021: Riders
Tour de France 2021: The Route
Tour de France 2021: Riders
Cycling Calendar 2021
Vuelta 2021: The Route