What Strade Bianche is, in simple terms
Strade Bianche is a one-day professional road race held every March in Tuscany, Italy.
It sits early in the WorldTour calendar, but it rarely feels like a warm-up race. It is the ‘unofficial” start of the winter classics season.
The defining feature is the strade bianche, the white gravel roads that cut through vineyards, fields, and rolling hills around Siena in the beautiful Tuscany region. These sectors are not decorative. They often decide the race through drama.
From a rider’s point of view, it feels closer to a northern classic than a traditional Italian road race.
A short history of Strade Bianche
The Strade Bianche history is relatively recent compared to monuments like Roubaix or Flanders. It draws inspiration from the Eroica Gran Fondo that was created in 1997 as a Granfondo for vintage bikes.
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First edition: 2007, with the name of Monte Paschi Eroica
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Initially a semi-classic, later promoted to WorldTour status
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Rapidly gained prestige due to its demanding course and selective racing
What helped the race grow was consistency. The format barely changed in spirit: gravel sectors, constant changes of rhythm, and a hard finish. It is often described as a “modern classic,” which says more about how riders and fans treat it than about its official label.
Why the race is so selective
Strade Bianche is rarely decided by tactics alone. The course creates selection.
Key factors include:
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Gravel sectors: uneven surfaces, dust or mud depending on weather
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Short, steep climbs: often over 10 percent, repeated late in the race
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Positioning: entering gravel sectors at the back usually costs energy and risk of falls
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Final kilometers: the climb to Siena’s Piazza del Campo is short but steep
Unlike longer cobbled races, there is little flat recovery. Efforts stack up.
The course and the gravel sectors
The route changes slightly year to year, but the structure stays familiar.
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Start and finish traditionally in Siena
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Multiple gravel sectors spread across the race
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Hard sectors often appear in the second half, when fatigue is already high
For 2026, organizers announced a reduction in race distance and gravel sectors, following several editions dominated by long solo attacks. The idea is to keep the race selective without turning it into a one-man time trial. This scenario became the norm recently due to Tadej Pogacar dominance.
Strade Bianche and equipment choices
Even though this is a road race, Strade Bianche sits close to the gravel world.
Most teams race on:
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Road frames with wider tire clearance
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Tires typically between 28 and 32 mm, depending on conditions
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Lower pressures than standard road setups
This overlap is one reason why gravel bikes and all-road setups often come up in conversations about Strade Bianche. The race itself remains firmly road cycling, but it has influenced equipment trends well beyond the pro peloton.
Weather conditions play a significant role on race day. From dry and dusty to wet and slippery, riders need to be ready for both scenarios when hitting the Tuscany gravel.
Riders who suit Strade Bianche
Strade Bianche rewards a specific profile. In most cases, successful riders share:
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Strong sustained power for rolling terrain
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Ability to accelerate repeatedly on short climbs
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Good bike handling on loose surfaces
Pure sprinters rarely feature. Pure climbers can struggle on the flats and gravel.
Fabian Cancellara and Tadej Pogacar are tied with most wins, 3 each, and the Slovenian is looking to score his fourth win in 2026. At the time we write, Wout Van Aert, Thomas Pidcock and Julian Alaphilippe are the main contenders for a spot on the podium.
8. Conclusion
Strade Bianche has built its reputation quickly, but not by accident. Its history shows a race that knows what it wants to be: hard, selective, and different from standard road events.
Heading into 2026, Strade Bianche remains shaped by gravel, terrain, and rider strength rather than formulas. For fans, that makes it one of the most reliable indicators of form and intent early in the season.
