Everything is ready in Siena for one of the most eagerly awaited events of the year: in fact, on Saturday 4 March, the Strade Bianche is taking place, a category 4 World Tour race which will award important points from a Fantacycling perspective.

As always, the 184 km route is characterized by the classic eleven sectors of dirt road (63 km) which will determine the usual selection up to the arrival in Piazza del Campo . The eleven kilometers of Lucignano d'Arbo are decisive, the 9.5 of San Martino in Grania, of which 5.6 will be uphill, the 11.5 km with climbs of up to 18% of Monte Sante Marie and, 23 kilometers from conclusion, the stretch of Monteaperti (800 meters with a maximum gradient of 13%).

The last two sectors, those of Colle Pinzuto twenty from the finish and Le Tolfe just over 10 km from the finish, could decide the fate of the race won, in 2022, by Tadej Pogacar. Before the arrival, the last terrible wall of Via Santa Caterina, 400 meters with an average gradient of 12.4%.

Given the absence of Pogacar himself and Wout Van Aert, the number one favorite is Mathieu Van der Poel , winner of the race in 2021, who however will have to deal with a large number of runners who will try to isolate him and put him in difficulty. This is the case of Jumbo Visma which will field Tiesj Benoot as captain, recent winner of the Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, and Attila Valter as second striker.

The Soudal Quick Step will bet everything, or almost everything, on Julian Alaphilippe , who won in Siena in 2019. With the Frenchman, who appeared in good shape in the last home races, there will also be Andrea Bagioli and Mauri Vansevenant, athletes capable of expressing good quality even on particularly steep climbs.

Interesting trio also at Ineos Grenadiers, with Thomas Pidcock, Carlos Rodriguez and Magnus Sheffield expected to play a leading role.

For the rest, we would like to name, among the possible protagonists and candidates for a place in your team, Pello Bilbao of Bahrain Victorious, Alexey Lutsenko of Astana, the duo Sergio Higuita and Aleksandr Vlasov of Bora-hansgrohe, Alberto Bettiol of Ef Education Easy Post, Rui Costa and Lorenzo Rota of Intermarché Circus Wanty, Valentin Madouas and Romain Gregoire of Groupama Fdj, Simon Clarke of Israel Premier Tech, Warren Barguil of Team Arkea Samsic, Alessandro Covi and Tim Wellens of Uae Emirates and Quinn Simmons of Trek Segafredo.

For an in-depth analysis of all the teams and riders at the start, you can watch our live stream on Youtube and Twitch channels.

Photo Sprint Cycling

PATH and FAVORITES STRADE BIANCHE 2023 - Opponents wanted for Van Der Poel - YouTube