Strade Bianche returned to its early March spot in 2021 after a Summer edition in 2020. The 2020 edition was moved due to the Covid lockdowns and presented a new challenge with much hotter conditions than normal. Only 2 years before that, a few days before the race saw the white roads white for another reason. Snow visited the route and created a muddy slop for the riders during their recon. Luckily for the actual race, it wasn’t as bad as it could’ve been.
Strade Bianche has fast become one of the favourite races of the pro peloton with the gravel roads distinguishing it from many other races. We are starting to see more gravel in women’s races but Strade Bianche really was quite a trendsetter in that regard.
With regards to the invitees for 2022’s race, it’s no surprise to see all of the Italian continental teams represented. Aside from the 3 mandatory invite teams, Plantur-Pura is the only non-Italian team to be invited. Their roster of mainly cyclocross specialists will be right at home on the loose gravel here.
Strade Bianche 2021
2021’s Strade Bianche saw a select group of a dozen riders get clear of the chasing pack. Lotte Kopecky was unfortunate to miss out after getting a puncture whilst initially being in the group too. SD Worx had the greatest numbers with 4 riders in the group. Chantal van den Broek-Blaak attacked and was able to get a gap with Elisa Longo Borghini. Blaak pinned Longo Borghini to the front, citing that she was marking the move for teammates behind. So it was inevitable on the final climb into Siena that Blaak was able to attack and go clear for the win.
Behind her, Longo Borghini just held off Anna van der Breggen who was in a battle with 2020 winner Annemiek van Vleuten for the final step on the podium.
Photo Credit: Luc Claessen/Getty Images
2022 Invited Teams
Women’s WorldTour
- Canyon SRAM
- EF Education-TIBCO-SVB
- FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope
- Human Powered Health
- Liv Racing Xstra
- Movistar Team Women
- Roland Cogeas Edelweiss
- Team BikeExchange-Jayco
- Team DSM
- Team Jumbo-Visma
- Team SD Worx
- Trek-Segafredo
- UAE Team ADQ
- Uno-X
Women’s Continental Teams
- Aromitalia Basso Bikes Vaiano
- BePink
- Born To Win G20 Ambedo
- Ceratizit-WNT
- Isolmant-Premac-Vittoria
- Parkhotel Valkenburg
- Plantur-Pura
- Servetto-Makhymo-Beltrami TSA
- Team Mendelspeck
- Top Girls Fassa Bortolo
- Valcar-Travel & Service
