Kit Hinders
The term ?classic? conjures images of grandeur and prestige. Consider the famed Spring Classics, like Milan San Remo and Paris-Roubaix, fits the bill, right? Both these races combine 100 year resumes with well know, but impossibly difficult courses. Add A-list talent and you are in for one crazy day. Younger races struggle to consistently meet these staples and thus, remain dwarfs to their larger cousins. Strade Bianche is rewriting the script though. First run in 2007, the race has enjoyed incredible success and established itself as one of the premiere Spring races.
The course rolls through the hills of Tuscany towards Sienna via the famed gravel roads of Italy. The race is best known for the stunning vistas created as the peloton drives up a plume of billowing dust during their battle for supremacy.
The sectors vary in length from a few hundred meters to 16 kilometres, making positioning even more important for the proceedings. Bike handling skills will be essential to victory, but will not suffice alone. There is a healthy dose of climbing en route to Sienna, with a nasty 15% climb in Via Santa Caterina to contend with in the last kilometres.
Before riders get that far though, they have several tricky bits to navigate. Beginning in San Gimignano, the race should stay together until the climb to Montalcino, at 96 kilometres. From there though, selections will begin in earnest. Sector 7, in particular, will see some favorites fade. This sector runs from Ponte del Garbo all the way to Torre a Castello, 11.5 kilometres away. Any rider not present in the front group at this point, will not contest the win.
The bunch will be whittled down further by a succession of three fast gravel climbs beginning 28 kilometres from the finish line. Any soul brave enough to launch a solo attack must have the legs left to contend with an undulating finish. We could have a reduced bunch hit the foot of the final incline together, we could have a bunch sprint flying around the right hand corner into the courtyard, or, like last year, we could have a pair of teammates escape together. Just like the best Monuments of the year, this course has a personality of it’s own and keeps audiences glued to the screen.
The Contenders:
Past winner Fabian Cancellara (Trek Factory Racing) will headline the event. Peter Sagan (Cannondale) enters as the odds on favorite. Brad Wiggins, who is tuning up for Roubaix, will be there with recent Omloop winner, Ian Stannard. Our man Cadel Evans will fly the BMC colors. Nairo Quintana and the ever dangerous Alejandro Valverde, who has shown fine form this spring,will represent Movistar. Local talent will be present in Daniele Bennati (Tinkoff-Saxo) and Lampre duo Diego Ulissi and Filippo Pozzato. Omega Pharma brings their climbing aces, Rigoberto Uran and Michal Kwiatkowski, along with Cav and his sprint buddies, Mark Renshaw and Alessandro Petacchi. Former winner Thomas L?vkvist (IAM Cycling) will also be present.
Last year’s classics campaign could have been labeled a bit of a bore. The Cancellara versus Sagan saga droned on and on, you’d be forgiven if you forgot there were other riders. This year should be much different with the emergence of youth and reapplication of familiar faces. Far as picking a winner for Strade Bianchi? We’ll tap Diego Ulissi (Lampre). He packs a strong kick and has proved to be resilient enough to get over the climbs. Think we’re wrong? Tell us why in the comments below.
