Strade Bianche

L'Eroica Strade Bianche ("Heroic race of the white roads") was created in 1997 as a granfondo (recreational bike race) for vintage bikes only, on the white gravel roads around Siena,[http://www.dailypeloton.com/displayarticle.asp?pk=12323 2nd Edition Monte Paschi Eroica at the Daily Peloton - Pro Cycling News] Retrieved on 2008-03-24. an event that is still held on the day after the professional race.{{cite web|title=Siena start for Strade Bianche in 2016|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/siena-start-for-strade-bianche-in-2016/|website=Cycling News|access-date=6 February 2016}} The concept was to recreate cycling's so-called "heroic era" from the first half of the 20th century, when most bike races were ridden on dirt or unpaved roads.{{cite web |last1=Wilcockson |first1=John |title=Strade Bianche: A true classic |url=https://pelotonmagazine.com/racing/strade-bianche/ |website=pelotonmagazine.com |access-date=12 March 2019}}

File:Arrivo eroica.JPG won the 2008 Monte Paschi Eroica in a two-man sprint with Alessandro Ballan in Siena.]]

In 2007, a professional race was spun off the event, inaugurally called Monte Paschi Eroica, won by Russian Alexandr Kolobnev. The race was held on 9 October; it started in Gaiole in Chianti and finished in Siena. Organizer RCS asked local cycling icons Fiorenzo Magni and Paolo Bettini to promote the maiden event.{{cite web|title=Bettini "padrino" della Monte Paschi Eroica|url=http://www.gazzetta.it/montepaschieroica/2007/news10.shtml|website=Gazzetta dello Sport|access-date=29 November 2015|language=it|date=2 October 2007}} Monte dei Paschi, the world's oldest still-existing bank with its headquarters in Siena, served as the race's title sponsor for the first four years.

In 2008 it moved to early March on the calendar, closer to the heart of the spring classics season.[http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/mar08/eroica08/ Second Edition of Monte Paschi Eroica - Eroica's status grows with new springtime date] Retrieved on 2008-03-24. Swiss Fabian Cancellara won the second edition. In 2009, organizers changed the name of the race to Strade Bianche – Eroica Toscana and in 2010 to Strade Bianche. The race was also lengthened {{convert|9|km|abbr=on}} and one more gravel sector was added, taking the total unsealed sections to {{cvt|57|km}}.[http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/mar09/eroica09/ 3rd Montepaschi Strade Bianche - Eroica Toscana - 1.1] Retrieved on 2010-03-07.

In 2014, the start of the race moved to the hilly town of San Gimignano.{{cite web|last1=Farrand|first1=Stephen|title=Strade Bianche Preview: Sagan, Cancellara, Wiggins and Valverde to clash on the dirt roads of Tuscany|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/strade-bianche-2014/preview/|publisher=CyclingNews|access-date=23 November 2015}} In 2015, its name officially changed to Strade Bianche – Eroica Pro after the creation of a women's version, and UCI upgraded the event to a 1.HC race of the UCI Europe Tour, the highest rating for a non-World Tour single-day cycling event. Since 2016, Siena has hosted both the start and finish of the Strade Bianche. Due to the nature of the race and its place on the calendar, the field is usually made up of riders taking part in Tirreno–Adriatico and Milan–San Remo.

File:Strade Bianche 2014 (13504915215).jpg, won by Michał Kwiatkowski.]]

Although a young event, the race gained the status of an "instant classic", garnering much media attention and soon becoming a desirable entry in classics riders' palmares. Among the winners of the first ten editions feature Fabian Cancellara, Philippe Gilbert and Michał Kwiatkowski on a very international roll of honour. Moreno Moser became the first Italian winner of the Strade Bianche in the 2013 race. Classics specialist Cancellara won the tenth edition in 2016, becoming the first three-time winner of the race and earning a gravel sector named after him.

In 2017, the Strade Bianche was included in the UCI World Tour, cycling's highest level of professional races.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/uci-expands-worldtour-to-37-events/ |title=UCI expands WorldTour to 37 events |access-date=2 October 2016 |work=Cycling News}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.uci.ch/pressreleases/the-uci-reveals-expanded-uci-worldtour-calendar-for-207/ |title=The UCI reveals expanded UCI WorldTour calendar for 2017 |access-date=2 October 2016 |work=UCI}} Michał Kwiatkowski claimed his second victory, becoming the second rider with more than one win.{{cite news|url=http://www.velonews.com/2017/03/news/kwiatkowski-solos-strade-bianche-win_431749|title=Kwiatkowski gives Sky Strade Bianche tonic|via=VeloNews|agency=Agence France-Presse|date=4 March 2017|access-date=4 March 2017}}

The 2018 event was raced in abysmal weather.{{cite web |last1=Bromhead |first1=Nat |title=2018 Strade Bianche: Mud, Rain, Sleet... And Epic Racing |url=http://www.bicyclingaustralia.com.au/news/2018-strade-bianche-mud-rain-sleet-and-epic-racing |website=bicyclingaustralia.com |access-date=8 March 2019 }} Low temperatures and heavy rainfall had made the gravel roads exceptionally muddy and decimated the peloton in the early stages of the race. Belgian Tiesj Benoot claimed his first professional victory, after he bridged a gap to the race leaders and left them behind on the penultimate gravel sector of Colle Pinzuto.{{cite web |last1=Fletcher |first1=Patrick |title=Strade Bianche: Benoot crushes the gravel in emphatic solo victory |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/strade-bianche-2018/results/ |website=cyclingnews.com |access-date=8 March 2019 }} Only 53 of 147 participants finished the race; 20 riders arrived outside of the time limit.{{cite web|title=12th Strade Bianche (1.UWT) |url=https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/strade-bianchi/2018 |website=ProCyclingStats |access-date=8 March 2019}} Second-place finisher Romain Bardet called the event a "Dante-esque contest".{{cite news|last1=Kezzouf |first1=Youmni |title=Romain Bardet s'amuse et impressionne sur les "Strade Bianche" italiens |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/cyclisme/article/2018/03/03/cyclisme-romain-bardet-s-amuse-et-impressionne-sur-les-strade-bianche-italiens_5265329_1616656.html |newspaper=Le Monde |access-date=12 March 2019 |language=fr}}

The 2020 event was postponed to August 1 from its usual March schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web |url=https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/strade-bianche-has-been-cancelled-450921 |title=Strade Bianche has been cancelled |publisher=Cycling Weekly |access-date=5 March 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/6-conclusions-from-the-mens-strade-bianche/ |title=6 conclusions from the men's Strade Bianche |publisher=Cyclingnews |date=3 August 2020 |access-date=26 August 2020}}

By the mid 2020s, media and riders discussed the possibility of the race being elevated to a "cycling monument" in future,{{Cite web |last=Cossins |first=Peter |date=2018-03-05 |title=Should Strade Bianche be cycling’s sixth Monument? |url=https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/comment/strade-bianche-cyclings-sixth-monument-371591 |access-date=2025-03-07 |website=cyclingweekly.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Neef |first=Matt De |date=2019-03-12 |title=Photo gallery: Strade Bianche, road cycling’s sixth Monument? |url=https://velo.outsideonline.com/road/road-racing/photo-gallery-strade-bianche-road-cyclings-sixth-monument/ |access-date=2025-03-07 |website=Velo |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Robinson |first=Joe |date=2021-03-08 |title=The day Strade Bianche finally became a Monument |url=https://www.cyclist.co.uk/in-depth/the-day-strade-bianche-finally-became-a-monument |access-date=2025-03-07 |website=Cyclist |language=en}} with Cycling News stating in 2025 that "there is no longer any debate that Strade Bianche is cycling's sixth Monument".{{Cite web |last=Farrand |first=Stephen |date=2025-03-09 |title=Strade Bianche was spectacular yet again, but here is how we think it can be even better |url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/strade-bianche-was-spectacular-yet-again-but-here-is-how-it-can-be-even-better-analysis/ |access-date=2025-03-11 |website=cyclingnews.com |language=en |quote=In just 19 years, Strade Bianche has become one of most loved races in the sport, with the women's race as important as the men's race. There is no longer any debate that Strade Bianche is cycling's sixth Monument.}}

Tadej Pogačar took his first win at Strade Bianche in 2022. Tom Pidcock prevailed in 2023 before Pogačar claimed a second win in 2024. In 2025, the pair found themselves at the front of the race when reigning World Champion Pogačar misjudged a corner and crashed. Pidcock slowed to wait for Pogačar, who would later ride away to a solo victory, becoming the second rider after Fabian Cancellara to win the race three times.{{Cite web |last=Puddicombe |first=Stephen |date=2025-03-08 |title=As it happened: Pogačar and Pidcock battle for men's Strade Bianche |url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/strade-bianche-2025/elite-men/live-report/ |access-date=2025-03-11 |website=cyclingnews.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2025-03-08 |title=Strade Bianche: Tadej Pogacar recovers from crash to beat Tom Pidcock for back-to-back win |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/articles/c4ge57xmj7eo |access-date=2025-03-08 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}

File:PiazzadelCampoSiena.jpg in Siena hosts the finish of the Strade Bianche.]]

The race starts and finishes in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Siena. The route is around {{convert|180-200|km|abbr=on}} in length over hilly terrain crossing the Crete Senesi in the central Tuscan province of Siena. The route is characterized by the presence of white gravel roads; unpaved country lanes winding through the hills and vineyards of the Chianti region. There are sectors of gravel in varying lengths and difficulty, with the 2025 edition of the race featuring {{Convert|81.7|km|mi}} of dirt roads.{{Cite web |last=Davidson |first=Robyn |date=2025-03-04 |title=Strade Bianche 2025 preview: Routes, favourites, how to watch and start lists |url=https://www.cyclist.co.uk/news/strade-bianche-all-you-need-to-know |access-date=2025-03-07 |website=Cyclist |language=en}} Additional gravel sectors have been added to the route over time, rising from {{convert|52|km|abbr=on}} of gravel in 2016 to over {{convert|80|km|abbr=on}} of gravel in 2025. The finish is on Siena's Piazza del Campo, after a steep and narrow climb on the roughly-paved Via Santa Caterina leading into the center of the medieval city.{{cite web|last1=Puddicombe|first1=Stephen|title=Strade Bianche 2015 preview|url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/strade-bianche-2015-preview-160985|website=Cycling Weekly|access-date=29 November 2015}}{{cite web|last1=Brown|first1=Gregor|title=Preview: Strade Bianche promises to be a strongman's race|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2015/03/news/preview-strade-bianche-promises-strongmans-race_362232|website=VeloNews|access-date=29 November 2015}}

The white gravel roads, characteristic of the Tuscan countryside, provide the unique character of the race. They are usually country lanes and farm tracks, called strade bianche or sterrati in Italian, twisting through the hills and vineyards of the Chianti region.{{cite web|last1=Hunter|first1=David|title=Strade Bianche 2015 Preview|url=http://www.ciclismointernacional.com/strade-bianche-2015-preview/|website=Ciclismo Internacional|access-date=29 November 2015}} The longest and most arduous sectors are the ones in Lucignano d'Asso ({{cvt|9.5|km|disp=comma}}) and Asciano ({{cvt|11|km|disp=comma}}).{{cite web|last1=Farrand|first1=Stephen|title=Strade Bianche Preview: Cancellara faces Sagan, Nibali, Stybar and Valverde|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/strade-bianche-2015-1-1/preview/|publisher=CyclingNews|access-date=23 November 2015}} Some of the dirt roads are flat; other sections include steep climbs and winding descents, testing riders' climbing abilities and bike handling skills. Positioning and route knowledge often prove vital. Additional gravel sectors have been added to the route over time, rising from {{convert|52|km|abbr=on}} of gravel in 2016 to {{convert|81.7|km|abbr=on}} of gravel in 2025.

File:L'Eroica (cicloturismo).jpg, south of Siena, pictured during the "Eroica" granfondo in 2008.]]

Race organizers were inspired by the two most famous northern classics, uniting the peculiarities of the Tour of Flanders with its bergs (short stretches of steep hills), and Paris–Roubaix with its gruelling cobblestone sections.{{cite web|last1=Aiesi|first1=Samuele|title=Strade Bianche: storia, curiosità, statistiche e pronostici|url=http://www.fantagazzetta.com/approfondimenti/strade-bianche-storia-curiosita-statistiche-e-pronostici-183484|website=Fantagazzetta|publisher=Redazione Scommesse Fantagazzetta|access-date=21 November 2015}} It has been called Italy's answer to Flanders' famous one-day races, as reflected by the promotional slogan of the 2015 edition: La Classica del Nord più a sud d'Europa (Europe's most southern Northern Classic).

Angelo Zomegnan, RCS events director, explained before the first edition in 2007: "Cycling needed something new and the riders need a motivation [...] This race is unique and special."{{cite web|last1=Brown|first1=Gregor|title=First Monte Paschi Eroica presented|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2007/sep07/sep11news2|website=Cycling News|access-date=30 November 2015}} Likewise, Italian sprinter Daniele Bennati was equally enthusiastic about the race, stating: "It was a sensation of turning back in time. I did not think paths like these, where you only see a tractor every now and then, still existed [...] It will be an important race that could become an important classic. I can already imagine the atmosphere of the arrival in the Piazza del Palio."

File:Strade bianche hommes 2018.png in central Tuscany. Gravel sectors are in green.]]

File:Cancellara in Gaiole (6807642682) (cropped).jpg (pictured at the 2012 edition) won the race in 2008, 2012 and 2016.]]

{{Cycling past winner start}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2007|name={{sortname|Alexandr|Kolobnev}}|nat=RUS|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|CSC|2007}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2008|name={{sortname|Fabian|Cancellara}}|nat=SUI|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|CSC|2008a}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2009|name={{sortname|Thomas|Löfkvist||Lofkvist, Thomas}}|nat=SWE|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|THR|2009a}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2010|name={{sortname|Maxim|Iglinsky}}|nat=KAZ|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|AST|2010}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2011|name={{sortname|Philippe|Gilbert||Gilbert, Philippe}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|OLO|2011}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2012|name={{sortname|Fabian|Cancellara}}|nat=SUI|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|RNT|2012}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2013|name={{sortname|Moreno|Moser}}|nat=ITA|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|CAN|2013}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2014|name={{sortname|Michał|Kwiatkowski}}|nat=POL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|OPQ|2014}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2015|name={{sortname|Zdeněk|Štybar}}|nat=CZE|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|EQS|2015}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2016|name={{sortname|Fabian|Cancellara}}|nat=SUI|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|TFR|2016}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2017|name={{sortname|Michał|Kwiatkowski}}|nat=POL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|SKY|2017}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2018|name={{sortname|Tiesj|Benoot}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|LTS|2018}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2019|name={{sortname|Julian|Alaphilippe}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|QST|2019}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2020|name={{sortname|Wout|Van Aert}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|TJV|2020}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2021|name={{sortname|Mathieu|van der Poel}}|nat=NED|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|AFC|2021}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2022|name={{sortname|Tadej|Pogačar}}|nat=SLO|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|UAD men|2022}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2023|name={{sortname|Tom|Pidcock}}|nat=UK|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|IGD|2023}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2024|name={{sortname|Tadej|Pogačar}}|nat=SLO|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|UAD men|2024}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2025|name={{sortname|Tadej|Pogačar}}|nat=SLO|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|UAD men|2025}}}}

{{Cycling past winner end}}

• Riders who take three Strade Bianche titles have a sector of gravel road named after them.{{cite web|title=Strade Bianche Eroica Pro: storia, curiosità, statistiche e pronostici|url=http://www.fantagazzetta.com/approfondimenti/strade-bianche-eroica-pro-storia-curiosita-statistiche-e-pronostici-199964|website=fantagazzetta.com|access-date=5 March 2016|language=it}} Fabian Cancellara is the first rider with a stretch named in his honour: sector 8, an {{cvt|11.5|km}} sector in Monte Sante Marie.{{Cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/more-dirt-road-sectors-for-strade-bianche-in-2017/|title=More dirt road sectors for Strade Bianche in 2017 {{!}} Cyclingnews.com|work=Cyclingnews.com|access-date=2017-03-04}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/fabian-cancellaras-triple-strade-bianche-wins-honoured-special-milestone-317811|title=Fabian Cancellara's triple Strade Bianche wins honoured with special milestone – Cycling Weekly|date=2017-03-03|work=Cycling Weekly|access-date=2017-03-04}}{{cite web|last1=Windsor|first1=Richard|title=Fabian Cancellara to have stretch of Strade Bianche named after him if he wins this weekend|url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/fabian-cancellara-to-have-stretch-of-strade-bianche-named-after-him-if-he-wins-this-weekend-213901|website=Cycling Weekly|access-date=5 March 2016}}{{cite web|title=Cancellara etches his name in Strade Bianche history|url=http://www.sbs.com.au/cyclingcentral/article/2016/03/06/cancellara-etches-his-name-strade-bianche-history|publisher=sbs.com.au|access-date=8 March 2016}}
• The youngest winner was Moreno Moser in 2013 (22 years and 70 days).
• The oldest winner was Fabian Cancellara in 2016 (34 years and 353 days).
• Three riders – Alessandro Ballan, Peter Sagan and Greg Van Avermaet – finished second on two occasions. None of them have ever won the race.

{{Main|Strade Bianche Donne}}

A women's race, the Strade Bianche Donne, was inaugurated in 2015. Part of the UCI Women's World Tour, it is held on the same day as the men's race, on the same roads but at a shorter distance. The women's race is run over {{cvt|136|km}}, containing {{cvt|50|km}} of gravel roads spread over eight sectors.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-02-01 |title=Strade Bianche Women 2024 route |url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/strade-bianche-women-2024/map/ |access-date=2025-03-07 |website=cyclingnews.com |language=en}} American Megan Guarnier won the inaugural event in 2015,{{cite web|url=http://women.cyclingfever.com/stage.html?etappe_idd=MzI0NzU=|title=Strade Bianche 2015: San Gimignano - Siena|publisher=Cyclingfever|access-date=24 November 2015}} with Dutch rider's Annemiek van Vleuten, and Demi Vollering, and Belgian rider Lotte Kopecky having won two editions of the race.{{Cite web |last=Knöfler |first=Lukas |date=2020-08-01 |title=Annemiek van Vleuten continues winning streak with Strade Bianche victory |url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/strade-bianche-women-2020/elite-women/results/ |access-date=2023-03-05 |website=cyclingnews.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-01-31 |title=Strade Bianche Women winners |url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/strade-bianche-women-2024/race-history/ |access-date=2025-03-07 |website=cyclingnews.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Sturney |first=Rob |date=2025-03-08 |title=Strade Bianche Donne was a gripping battle between two Dutch ex-teammates |url=https://cyclingmagazine.ca/sections/news/strade-bianche-donne-was-a-gripping-battle-between-two-dutch-ex-teammates/ |access-date=2025-03-08 |website=Canadian Cycling Magazine |language=en-CA}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{commons category}}

• {{official website|http://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/StradeBianche/en/}}

{{Strade Bianche}}

{{Classic cycle races}}

{{UCI World Tour}}

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