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Stage 1: Strade Bianche Pro Race
| Stage | 1 |
|---|---|
| Type | Road Stage |
| Date | Saturday 7 March 2026 |
| Route | Siena → Siena |
| Distance | 201 km |
Strade Bianche 2026
There is a moment each March when Tuscany shifts.
The light sharpens. The roads turn white. And the peloton rolls out from Siena into terrain that refuses to behave like the rest of the calendar.
Strade Bianche is not long by Monument standards. It does not need to be. What it offers is tension from the first gravel sector to the final rise into Piazza del Campo.
This is where early season form meets raw terrain.
The Route
The 2026 edition marks the 20th running of Strade Bianche. The men’s elite race covers approximately 201 kilometres, including around 64 kilometres of gravel across 14 sectors.
The route has been slightly reduced compared to recent editions, with two gravel sectors removed. The character of the race remains unchanged.
Rolling Tuscan hills.
Repeated accelerations.
Constant positioning battles before each sterrato sector.
There are no extended alpine climbs. The difficulty comes from rhythm. From terrain that never truly settles.
The Sterrato
The white gravel roads define this race.
Some sectors stretch long and exposed across ridgelines. Others twist through farmland and trees. In dry conditions the dust hangs in the air. If it rains, the surface shifts under every pedal stroke.
Power matters. So does precision.
The Finale in Siena
After the final gravel sectors, the race funnels back toward Siena.
The decisive move often forms before the city walls, but the race is rarely finished until the climb of Via Santa Caterina. It is steep, narrow and unforgiving.
From there, riders sweep into Piazza del Campo. A medieval amphitheatre of noise and history.
Few finishes in cycling feel as immediate as this one.
Women’s Race
The women’s Strade Bianche takes place on the same day and shares the same defining characteristics. Gravel sectors, rolling terrain and the same climb into Piazza del Campo.
It is part of the UCI Women’s WorldTour and stands as one of the most selective early season races on the calendar.
Race Facts
- One day UCI WorldTour race
- Start and finish in Siena, Italy
- Approximately 201 kilometres for the men’s race
- Approximately 64 kilometres of gravel sectors
- Finish in Piazza del Campo
Strade Bianche may be young compared to the sport’s oldest classics. It already feels permanent.
The white roads have a way of doing that.
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