One of the most cherished and spectacular races on the calendar, Strade Bianche ignites contagious passion and anticipation among fans and teams alike. It’s a race that can be felt in the air, pulsing through veins, and mirrored in the eyes of everyone in Siena, Italy. The iconic white roads, and the battles they bear witness to, are simply entrancing.

For CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto, the connection to Strade Bianche runs deep, largely driven by Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney’s long-running affinity with the race. Her well-documented relationship with the event has seen her finish in the top 10 nine times in ten starts, including four podium finishes.

“I remember coming to Tuscany, to Siena, for the first time in 2014. At that time, I did L’Eroica with Rabobank, my first introduction to Strade’s roads and the whole area. We had so much fun – it was extremely difficult but beautiful, and we just enjoyed the whole day. That was also the day when they announced that they were organising Strade Bianche for women, and I remember sitting at the announcement when they were showing the course. I just instantly fell in love because I love the steep gravel roads, the beauty, and how the race will always be hard – whether you win it or not, there’s always a massive sense of satisfaction that comes at the end. I think those memories from when I was super young, dreaming of winning the race, have somehow stuck with me for all these years. The motivation is always there because anytime I lose, I want it even more for some reason.”

This year, Kasia returns to Strade Bianche with formidable allies in Antonia Niedermaier, Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig, Agnieszka Skalniak-Sójka, Soraya Paladin, and Alice Towers.

Adding to the buzz, Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig is a seasoned contender in her own right, boasting a flawless record of seven top-10 finishes in seven appearances, including a podium in 2023. After three weeks of training following her season debut at Setmana Ciclista Valenciana, Cecilie is eager for one of her favourite races.

“Valencia was a great experience! I felt good out there and it was fantastic to get that first race of the season under my belt, especially with a new team. The vibe was great, and the energy from the girls made it even better.”

“Missing out on Strade last year was tough, so I’m beyond excited to be racing it again this time around. We have such a strong lineup and I can’t wait for us to put our mark on the race. I’m really looking forward to it!”

THE COURSE

The 2024 edition introduced a fresh challenge in the final hour of racing, adding two new sectors to the 137 kilometre course, increasing the total unpaved distance to 40km. This included a circuit that forced riders to tackle the infamous Colle Pinzuto and Le Tolfe sectors twice, heightening the intensity – a challenge that will return this year.

For 2025, the gravel tally has been raised once again. Now, 50km of Strade Bianche’s iconic roads are spread across 13 sectors in a nearly identical 136km course. This is achieved by a detour onto the Serravalle sector (9.3km, three-star difficulty), which is nestled between the gentler La Piana (6.4km) and the five-star-rated San Martino in Grania (9.5 km). The latter, one of the race’s most demanding sectors, makes this back-to-back combination a gruelling mid-race test.

This will be Kasia’s 11th start at Strade Bianche, and she shares her thoughts on this year’s course alterations:

“I got to Siena on Sunday and rode the first part of the race, doing about 90km for recon, including the new gravel section. There’s very little recovery between the new sector and the next, so this change will definitely impact the race. Everyone will want to stay in the front and of course that’s impossible – there’s going to be be a huge washing machine effect, and you’ll definitely need a bit of luck not to puncture or crash. Some gravel sections also look quite loose and ‘weirdly’ fresh. I think that the race will be harder, but the extra gravel section will somehow make it easier before the following 9km gravel section which is normally the opening of the race. Because we won’t enter it from a big road anymore, but instead from small gravel roads, I do believe that it’s better for us as a team.”

What remains unchanged is the spiked, brightly coloured race profile – a jagged landscape of relentless climbs and descents. Some are paved and others are strewn with gravel, but all carry the potential to shape the race. The punishing roads eventually lead to the iconic final kilometre up the mercilessly steep Santa Caterina climb, before the race crowns its champion in Siena’s Piazza del Campo. With such a parcours, victory can only go to one of the very best.

THE DAY AFTER

On Sunday, March 9, Agnieszka Skalniak-Sójka and Antonia Niedermaier will already be back on a start line, joined by four fresh teammates for 107 kilometres of Trofeo Oro in Euro.

From the WorldTeam, Ricarda Bauernfeind returns to racing after a long recovery from injury since last competing at the Vuelta España Femenina. Justyna Czapla will also take the start, alongside Jule Märkl and Joëlle Messemer from CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto Generation, making it an almost entirely German squad for the day.

The course, set in Cinquale de Montignoso on the Tuscan coast, features five flat, fast circuits before two larger laps that reach into the hills near the sea. The double ascent of the Fortezza climb (4.8 km at 4.7%) will be a decisive factor will be critical in deciding whether the race is fought out by capable climbers, or resilient sprinters who can claw their way back.

HOW TO FOLLOW

Strade Bianche | UCI 1.WWT | Saturday, March 8 | 136.1km | 2679m elevation | Start 9:45 CET – fastest finish 13:45 CET.

Live coverage begins at 10:30 CET across several international channels and streaming services, including TNT, Discovery+, FloBikes (North America) and SBS (Australia). Follow live updates on X via #StradeBianche and #StradeBiancheDonne, and through CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto’s social channels.

Trofeo Oro in Euro | UCI 1.1 | Sunday, March 9 | 106.8 km | 812m elevation | Start 13:30 CET – fastest finish 16:28 CET.

Live coverage information will likely be available through the Monignoso Ciclismo Facebook page, with the race typically streamed on YouTube. Updates will also be available on #TrofeoOroinEuro, and through CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto’s social channels.