The 2025 editions of both Strade Bianche races are set to deliver another thrilling edition, with major names lining up on the iconic white gravel roads of Tuscany. The women’s race features a fascinating mix of returning legends, rising stars, and seasoned contenders looking to make their mark. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot is aiming to prove herself in her first major road target, while the tactical battle between Anna van der Breggen and Demi Vollering adds another layer of intrigue. Meanwhile, the men’s race is once again dominated by Tadej Pogačar, who is widely expected to attack for a third title. However, Tom Pidcock and Quinn Simmons insist they are not lining up to race for second place. Here’s what the biggest names in both races are saying ahead of Saturday’s showdown.
Strade Bianche Donne Race Preview
2025 Strade Bianche Donne
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot: “Strade Bianche is my first big target”
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, making her full-time return to road racing with Visma-Lease a Bike, has set her sights on a strong performance at Strade Bianche.
“Tomorrow will be the first test of the season,” she said on the eve of the race. “If I don’t do well tomorrow, maybe I will be a bit disappointed because I trained hard for it. But the UAE Tour was just a warm-up.”
The French rider, who has 15 elite world titles across multiple disciplines, acknowledged that her mountain biking background could be an advantage on the gravel roads.
“Yes … it is not the same technique or handling on the bike but, for sure, we are used to this, and not scared of the speed,” she said. “I think it’s good that more MTB riders are coming in and can show the MTB discipline.”
“I have prepared myself very well, and it’s why I have good motivation for tomorrow,” she added.
Photo Credit: LaPresseAnna van der Breggen: “Strade Bianche is a good test to see where I stand”
Anna van der Breggen’s return to racing has been impressive, but the real test comes at Strade Bianche.
“This will be my first WorldTour race since my comeback,” she said. “I am realistic, but it is a good gauge to see where I stand.”
She named Vollering, Longo Borghini, and possibly Pieterse as the riders to beat.
“Strade Bianche is always a fair race. Whoever wins tomorrow will certainly have good legs.”
Annemiek van Vleuten: “It’s not just Anna versus Demi, it’s FDJ versus SD Worx”
Annemiek van Vleuten expects an intriguing dynamic between Anna van der Breggen and Demi Vollering.
“Through her time as a directeur sportif, Anna knows a lot about Demi. She knows exactly what wattages Demi could hold in the final hour of a race,” Van Vleuten said.
“But wattage isn’t everything. That’s the criticism of power meters in racing: it becomes too computer-controlled. Ride this number, and you’ll win. But it doesn’t work like that. Still, it can be a motivation for Van der Breggen.”
She believes Vollering may have a mental advantage.
“Anna will have shared her struggles and insecurities with Demi,” she said. “The difference with me is that I won’t return to the peloton, but Anna has. Fortunately, they are both fair play riders. Tactically, though, Van der Breggen might be slightly stronger.”
Van Vleuten also expects a tactical battle between FDJ-Suez and SD Worx-Protime.
“In Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, we saw how two team managers knowing each other so well led to a weird race,” she said. “Lars Boom came over from SD Worx-Protime to FDJ, so there’s a lot of tactical knowledge there. It’s not just Anna versus Demi; it’s FDJ versus SD Worx.”
Bodine Vollering: “Hopefully I can see Demi for as long as possible”
Making her WorldTour debut, 21-year-old Bodine Vollering will race alongside her sister Demi Vollering for the first time.
“That will be really special. Hopefully, I can see Demi for as long as possible in the race; that would be a good sign,” she said.
While comparisons with her sister have followed her career, Bodine downplayed expectations.
“I expect nothing much from tomorrow,” she admitted. “This year, my motto is to learn for the future.”
However, she still dreams big for the future: “I’m a climber, and one day I want to fight for the overall victory in the Tour.”
Dani Christmas: “One of the toughest and most beautiful races”
AG Insurance-Soudal sports director Dani Christmas is excited for what’s to come.
“Strade is one of the toughest and most beautiful races on the calendar,” she said. “It’s a special event, and with the addition of the new Serravalle sector, it could be even more epic!”
“We have a strong and motivated team at the start, who have prepared well. Over the next two days, we will complete course recons to refresh the memory and check out the new sector, so that on Saturday, we will be fully ready for a great race.”
Photo Credit: LaPresse2025 Strade Bianche Uomini
Alberto Bettiol: “It’s almost impossible to beat Pogačar”
XDS Astana’s Alberto Bettiol was blunt in his assessment of Tadej Pogačar’s dominance ahead of the men’s race.
“I honestly don’t think there’s anyone on the Strade Bianche start list who can even try to stay with him,” Bettiol said.
“He makes cycling beautiful to watch because he’s as good as Eddy Merckx and is smashing all the records. The ‘ugly’ side of racing against Pogačar is that you line up for a race knowing that it’s almost impossible to beat him.”
Tadej Pogačar: “Let’s hope for good legs and we’ll go from there”
“I’ll probably not attack so early, it’s too long to the finish,” Pogačar explained.
“Now we have a very long section of the race that is on gravel, almost consecutive gravel sectors. It makes the race more open, more hard and more time for bad luck,” he warned.
“But I’m ready for a nice race. I’m looking forward to it, I’m in good shape, it should be a good race for us.”
Quinn Simmons: “We’re not going to gift it to him”
“It’s hard to beat Mr Pogi, but you’ve got to try,” Simmons said. “We’re not going to sit back and let him ride away at Strade. That’s the most likely outcome but we’re not going to gift it to him.”
“If you race for second, there’s no point in even coming here. We’re here to try to win.”
Photo Credit: LaPresseTom Pidcock: “To beat Tadej, you have to cross the finish line first”
Tom Pidcock, who won Strade Bianche in 2023 with a long solo attack, was clear in his ambitions for this year’s race.
“We’re here to race, here to try and win, and that’s it,” he said.
“It’s predictable because Tadej is here. His team will ride solely for him and they’ll make a hard pace. Then Tadej is going to want to attack for sure,” he explained.
“You can’t really try and do much else in that situation. You follow or you don’t follow. If you can follow, then it’s game on.”
“Knowing that people see me as Pogačar’s rival is nice for the confidence,” he said. “I don’t think beating him is out of the question.”
Greg Van Avermaet: “Strade Bianche is becoming a pure climbers’ race”
“In the early years of Strade Bianche, the climbers and stage racers didn’t dare to ride it, they preferred Paris-Nice or avoided any risks before Tirreno-Adriatico,” Van Avermaet explained.
“As the Strade Bianche gained in prestige, they wanted to try to add it to their palmarès. Now, with the new sector and double loop of Colle Pinzuto and Le Tolfe, it’s becoming a pure climbers’ race.”
Main photo credit: LaPresse
