Strade Bianche 2019: Alaphilippe bests Fuglsang in Siena

It is sunny and dry in Tuscany, so dust whirls freely on the white roads of the modern Classic. Alaphilippe outguns Fuglsang in the finale, while Van Aert finishes in third. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results Strade Bianche 2019

1. Julian Alaphilippe (fra)
2. Jakob Fuglsang (den) + 0.02
3. Wout Van Aert (bel) + 0.27
4. Zdenek Stybar (cze) + 1.00
5. Tiesj Benoot (bel) s.t.
6. Greg Van Avermaet (bel) + 1.01
7. Alexey Lutsenko (kaz) + 1.04
8. Simon Clarke (aus) + 1.08
9. Toms Skujins (lat) + 1.12
10. Tim Wellens (bel) + 1.21

Race report
Following a fast opening Leo Vincent, Nico Denz and Diego Rosa manage to jump clear after 30 kilometres, while Alexandre Geniez bridges across. The four widen their lead to 5 minutes, but inside the 70 kilometres Rosa is the last man standing at the front.

On sector 8, which is the longest gravel road, title defender Benoot, Stybar, Van Avermaet, Wellens, Alaphilippe, Fuglsang, Lutsenko, Van Aert, Bettiol, Clarke, Power, Seigle and Skujins accelerate in the peloton. They leave the sector almost 1 minute after the race leader and 30 seconds ahead of a group with Nibali and Thomas.

The group Benoot rejoins Rosa with 36 kilometres remaining, while Schachmann and Kuznetsov chase the front group down on sector 9. Fuglsang strikes with Van Aert and Alaphilippe on his wheel and they open up a gap of 30 seconds. Van Aert is dropped on the penultimate dust road.

Fuglsang speeds up at the Le Tolfe climb, but Alaphilippe sticks to his wheel and they crest the last sterrato hill together. Van Aert reaches the summit half a minute later.

Van Aert closes the gap just before the flamme rouge, but when it goes firmly uphill in the old city of Siena he is distanced again. Alaphilippe and Fuglsang battle it out with the Frenchman dropping the Dane after the steepest stretches of the Via Santa Catarina before entering the Piazza del Campo with a decisive lead.

Other interesting reads:
– route
– startlist 2019 Strade Bianche