You may wonder why an article about the Strade Bianche cycling race is featured on the website of vintagefiets, which nevertheless deals with steel racing bicycles and revives stories from the old box. Precisely because the Strade Bianche is an epic race as they used to be ridden.
The scenario really has everything to make it an authentic heroic competition: the unpaved gravel roads (hence the name Strade Bianche), a hand-to-hand battle with the strongest usually winning and a beautiful backdrop.
The Chianti Senese region
The “strade bianche” are located in the Chianti Senese region between Gaiole in Chianti and Montalcino. A beautiful region characterized by numerous vineyards and olive groves through which these gravel roads meander.
The region is of course anything but flat: gradients of around 12% with a peak of 18% have to be overcome. Add to that the fact that you don't drive on asphalt, then you can imagine that a serious condition is required.
The Strade Bianche for professionals since 2007
The competition for professionals is fairly recent and was organized for the 1st time in 2007. Initially this competition was called Montepaschi Strade Bianche, named after the main sponsor: the bank Montepaschi di Siena.
The start was then given in Gaiole in Chianti and the finish was in the historic center of Siena, on the Piazza del Campo. The latter has also become the permanent starting point for several years.
The Strade Bianche has become a true classic due to its unique beautiful decor and is gaining popularity every year. Not a single top rider who will let this race pass and not want to see his name on the honor roll.
Below you will find the list of all winners
- 2007: Aleksandr Kolebnov
- 2008: Fabian Cancellara
- 2009: Thomas Lovkvist
- 2010: Maksim Iglinskij
- 2011: Philippe Gilbert
- 2012: Fabian Cancellara
- 2013: Moreno Moser
- 2014: Michal Kwiatkowski
- 2015: Zdenek Stybar
- 2016: Fabian Cancellara
- 2017: Michal Kwiatkowski
- 2018: Tiesj Benoot
- 2019: Julian Alaphilippe
- 2020: Wout van Aert
- 2021: Mathieu Van der Poel
- 2022: Tadej Pogacar
- 2023: Thomas Pidcock
- 2024: Tadej Pogacar
Sports director Dirk Dewolf of the former Belgian cycling team Omega Pharma – Lotto was already very impressed by the first editions of the race and even nicknamed it the hell of the South, by analogy with Paris Roubaix, the hell of the North.
De Strade Bianche heeft gewoonlijk plaats de eerste zaterdag van Maart, was oorspronkelijk 184 km lang met een totale afstand van 63 km over strade bianche verdeeld over 11 zones (zie hieronder) maar sedert 2024 is deze 214 km lang.en zijn er 2 nieuwe stroken bijgekomen: strada del castagno en Montechiara. Verder is er op het einde een lus waarbij de Colle Pinzuto en Le Tolfe 2 keer worden aangedaan.
De reden daarvoor is om van deze prachtige wedstrijd het 6de Monument te maken waar de Strade Bianche zeker recht op heeft.
De zones (settori sterrati) zijn ingedeeld volgens moeilijkheidsgraad (van 1 tot 5 sterren) en sedert enkele jaren is het begin van iedere zone aangeduid met een steen waarop de naam, het aantal sterren en de lengte staat aangeduid.
De moeilijkste sector is sector 8 met de beklimming van de Monte Sante Marie met stijgingspercentages tot maar liefst 18%. De zone waar Tadej Pogacar al 2 keer zijn aanval inzette om solo aan te komen aan de meet. De 1ste keer in 2022 met een solo van meer dan 50 km en de 2de keer in 2024 met een solo van maar liefst meer dan 80 km. Een prestatie die we dan ook Merckxiaans mogen noemen.
Strade Bianche for women
Following the men's competition, since 2015 there is also a women's competition. The course is slightly shorter, at 136 km and has only 8 sectors for a total of 31.6 km sterrato.
Below is the list of winners
- 2015: Megan Guarnier
- 2016: Lizzie Armitstead
- 2017: Elisa Longo Borghini
- 2018: Anna van der Breggen
- 2019: Annemiek Van Vleuten
- 2020: Annemiek Van Vleuten
- 2021: Chantal Vandenbroek – Blaak
- 2022: Lotte Kopecky
- 2023: Demi Vollering
- 2024: Lotte Kopecky
More information about the competition for men and women can be found on the following link > Strade Bianche Credit Agricole
Gran Fondo Strade Bianche
Since 2016, sports enthusiasts can also enjoy the course during the Gran Fondo Strade Bianche, which takes place on the Sunday after the race.
You can choose between the Medio Fondo of 78 km with 21 km of sterrati and the Gran Fondo of 138.5 km with 41.8 km of sterrati. The starting place is the Fort Fortezza Medicea. The height difference you cover is 1350 m at the Medio Fondo and 2000 m at the Gran Fondo.
The Trail of the Gran Fondo Strade Bianche
If you don't feel like participating in this event, but you still want to complete the course at your own pace and at any time of the year, you can download the route in your cycling computer with GPS.
More information with download to the course, height differences, GPX and KML files can be found on the official website of the Gran Fondo Strade Bianche > www.gfstradebianche.it
Looking for a hotel or holiday home nearby? Then take a look at this link > Holiday houses and hotels close to Siena
The vintage cycling event Eroica
The strade Bianche actually originated from the vintage cycling event Eroica in which the participants ride on steel bikes and dress up in vintage cycling outfits. A real feast for the eyes and in which I participated once. More will follow in the future.
One of the supplies during the Eroica
Posing for the photo after the finish during the Eroica
The Eroica was first organized in 1997 by a group of friends who had a passion for pre-war cycling. In a few years time, the event has grown into an international event and since several investors have joined the organization, there are editions in various countries, including the Netherlands.
More information about the competition for cyclists can be found on the following link > The cycling Event Eroica in Gaiole in Chianti
