2020 Strade Bianche Race Preview
The details of this year's 2020 Strade Bianche are falling into place. Find the latest route profiles and maps below, followed by our strategic preview of the race.
The roads of Tuscany will once again play host to one of cycling's most spectacular one-day races, as the peloton descends on Siena for a edition of Strade Bianche that carries perhaps more emotional weight than any before it. After months of uncertainty caused by the global pandemic, professional cycling returns to action with this iconic race, making it the first major event of the delayed 2020 season.
The race takes its name from the unmistakable white gravel roads, the strade bianche, that cut through the stunning Tuscan landscape between Siena and the surrounding hills. These sectors of dusty, unpaved roads are the defining feature of the race and serve as the ultimate leveller, capable of reducing even the strongest riders to a desperate struggle for survival. In dry conditions the chalk-white dust creates an almost dreamlike visual spectacle, while in wet conditions the roads turn to a treacherous mud that can shred tyres and end races in an instant.
The route covers around 184 kilometres for the men's race, with the famous gravel sectors accounting for over 60 kilometres of the total distance. The final climb to the Piazza del Campo in the heart of Siena remains one of the most dramatic finishes in professional cycling, a steep and narrow cobbled ramp that winds through the ancient streets and deposits riders into the stunning medieval square.
Defending champion Egan Bernal will not be present to defend his title, turning attention toward a formidable cast of contenders. Mathieu van der Poel brings extraordinary form and raw power to the start line and must be considered among the strongest favourites given his ability to dominate on unpredictable terrain. His great rival Wout van Aert is similarly dangerous, a rider whose combination of climbing ability and one-day racing instincts makes him perfectly suited to a race like this.
Julian Alaphilippe remains a deeply compelling figure in any discussion of this race. The Frenchman's previous victories here have showcased his ability to attack with audacity on the gravel sectors and then sustain his effort all the way to the finish. Jakob Fuglsang represents the Astana team's genuine ambitions, while Greg Van Avermaet brings his considerable classics experience to bear on roads that reward both strength and tactical intelligence.
Among the Italian riders, Vincenzo Nibali will attract significant local attention, and his ability to read a race and descend with reckless confidence could make him a factor deep into the afternoon. Michał Kwiatkowski has shown repeatedly that he belongs among the elite on days like this, and his quiet consistency makes him dangerous precisely because he is so easy to overlook.
The weather will play a considerable role in shaping the narrative of the day. A dry race tends to favour the pure climbers and puncheurs who can dance up the gravel rises, while a wet race demands something closer to the mindset of a cobbled classic, rewarding those who are willing to suffer and take risks in dangerous conditions.
Whatever unfolds, the return of racing after such a long absence means that this particular edition of Strade Bianche will be remembered regardless of who crosses the finish line first. The sight of riders covered in white dust climbing into the Piazza del Campo will feel like a genuine moment of renewal, a reminder of what the sport is capable of offering when it is at its most elemental and beautiful.
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