Peter Sagan is back this weekend on the White Roads of Tuscany at Strade Bianche

The Strade Bianche (White Roads) is Italy’s version of Paris-Roubaix and held on the dirt roads of Tuscany with the finish in Siena.

Without having raced since the Tour Down Under in January, the  leader of his Bora-Hansgrohe team, the triple world champion will be keen to win this prestigious Italian classic. One of Sagan’s big aims for the season is to add to his one day palmarés as he hopes to add to his monuments cycling tally that currently only holds his Tour of Flanders victory in 2016. Having raced in every edition since 2012, Sagan’s best result has seen him fall just short taking second place in both 2013 and 2014.

The world champion was a notable absence at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, the latter being a race he actually won in 2017. Instead the Slovakian had opted to take to the high Sierra Nevada’s for a altitude training camp instead of battling it out in the lowlands.

When asked about his main goals and future plans, Sagan said that he would love to win Paris-Roubaix and Milan San Remo “For sure I’ll be in Italy for Strade Bianche and Tirreno-Adriatico before Milan-San Remo.”

He’ll be hoping that the time spent on the high roads of the Sierra Nevadas, will give him the edge he needs to take victory at the race.

Peter Sagan is back this weekend on the White Roads of Tuscany at Strade Bianche

He faces some tough opposition from the likes of defending champion Michal Kwiatkowski and last year's classic's ing Greg Van Avermaet. Greg Van Avermaet will be one of the most serious contenders for victory, having placed second in 2015 and 2017.

“Strade Bianche is a race that is pretty honest, so I am looking forward too. It is one of my favorite races in the year, and I hope the weather is okay because I do not love the cold that much, or the rain. We will see how it goes, but I am feeling motivated again. Last year, I was second, and I have been on the podium a few times already so hopefully this year I can win,” Van Avermaet said. Next to him a real superteam - Alberto Bettiol (ITA), Damiano Caruso (ITA), Stefan Küng (SUI), Michael Schär (SUI), Francisco Ventoso (ESP) and Loïc Vliegen (BEL) - selected by diesse Valerio Piva.

"The Strade Bianche is a race that Greg loves , he has touched the win a couple of times and will be our leader. You can count a good team, I expect a lot from Alberto Bettiol , because for him it is the home race for him, together with Damiano Caruso and Stefan Küngthat in the end they must be with Greg. Obviously we have to be careful in every stage of the race, but I am convinced that we will have a good race. We also have strong guys like Francisco Ventoso, Michael Schär and Loïc Vliegen who will help Greg. The weather forecast is not good , we know, but we are ready to give our best, " explained Piva. 

Unfortunately for Van Avermaet a huge cold snap has hit many parts of Europe and forecasts predict sub zero and windy conditions.

Jasper Stuyven is to lead Trek-Segafredo, the Belgian, fnished in fourth place on the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad last weekend is looking for a podium place. Indeed Trek has a string lineup including Jasper Stuyven . Unlike the Belgian, Fabio Felline has already achieved a top 10 in this classic, while Gianluca Brambilla was on the podium  in 3rd in 2016. 

The name Strade Bianche (Italian for White Streets) stems from the historic white gravel roads that are a defining feature of the race. More than 50 km of the total distance are raced on dirt roads. Despite its relatively short history, the Strade Bianche has quickly gained prestige. As from 2017, the event will be included in the UCI World Tour, cycling's highest level of professional road races. It is organized by RCS Sport - La Gazzetta dello Sport, and is held the weekend before Tirreno–Adriatico as an early spring precursor to the cobbled classics in April. Swiss Fabian Cancellara holds the record with three wins.

Since 2015, a women's event, the Strade Bianche Donne, is held on the same day as the men's race. The event is part of the UCI Women's World Tour and is raced at approximately half the distance of the men's race, containing 17 km of gravel roads spread over five sectors.

Strade Bianche Profile

 
Tag: sagan
 
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Nov 19 2019 - NEWS: Peter Sagan hosted the three-day Sagan Roadie-Oh in California
Oct 01 2019 - NEWS: Save 20% on Peter Sagan's New Cycling Event In SoCal: The Gran Roadie-OH
Mar 10 2019 - NEWS: Pope Francis gives Cycling a Mixed Blessing
Dec 11 2018 - NEWS: AMAZING: Watch Peter Sagan bunny hop up a full flight of stairs in Mallorca
Nov 09 2018 - NEWS: Super Sagan Road Fondo weekend with Garda Bike Hotel!
Oct 18 2018 - NEWS: Ride with Peter Sagan in Sonoma County, CA on November 3rd
Jul 15 2018 - NEWS: Host City of Three-Time World Champion Peter Sagan’s Road Gran Fondo Announced
 
Tag: saganfondo
 
Feb 07 2020 - NEWS: Five hundred fans rode the Sagan Fondo at the la Vuelta a San Juan
Nov 19 2019 - NEWS: Peter Sagan hosted the three-day Sagan Roadie-Oh in California
Nov 09 2018 - NEWS: Super Sagan Road Fondo weekend with Garda Bike Hotel!
Oct 18 2018 - NEWS: Ride with Peter Sagan in Sonoma County, CA on November 3rd
Jul 15 2018 - NEWS: Host City of Three-Time World Champion Peter Sagan’s Road Gran Fondo Announced
May 08 2018 - NEWS: Peter Sagan enjoyed his new Dirt Fondo before heading to the Tour of California
Mar 27 2018 - NEWS: The Sportful Jersey for the Sagan Gravel Fondo Revealed
Apr 14 2018 - NEWS: Peter Sagan looking forward to his Dirt Fondo in California after winning Paris-Roubaix
Mar 25 2018 - NEWS: Peter Sagan Announces Two Gran Fondo Cycling Events in California
Feb 09 2018 - NEWS: Peter Sagan Hosts Two New Gran Fondos in California
 
Tag: stradebianche
 
Mar 05 2024 - NEWS: Frignani and Lenehan fastest at the 2024 Gran Fondo Strade Bianche Enel
Mar 05 2023 - NEWS: Sold Out Strade Bianche sees 6,500 cyclists tackle the White Roads
Mar 04 2023 - NEWS: Brit Tom Pidcock attacks to solo to Strade Bianche Victory
Feb 10 2023 - NEWS: New routes for sold out Gran Fondo Strade Bianche
Mar 05 2022 - NEWS: Pogacar leaves rivals in the dust with stunning solo attack at Strade Bianche
Mar 05 2022 - NEWS: Horrrendous crash after freak gust of wind decimates Strade Bianche peloton
Mar 05 2022 - NEWS: Lotte Kopecky outsprints Annemiek van Vleuten to win Strade Bianche
Aug 01 2020 - NEWS: Cool Cucumber Wout van Aert storms to Sizzling Hot Strade Bianche Victory!
Mar 04 2020 - NEWS: Gran Fondo Strade Bianche cancelled due to Corona-Virus Fears in Italy
Oct 28 2018 - NEWS: Limited Edition VIP: Experience Italy’s Strade Bianche with Garda Bike Hotel
Oct 28 2018 - NEWS: Italian Flair and Style: Pinarello's new dedicated gravel bike called the Grevil
Feb 28 2018 - NEWS: Strade Bianche will be a Mud Fest Tomorrow as Snow Melts
Feb 27 2018 - NEWS: Peter Sagan is back this weekend on the White Roads of Tuscany at Strade Bianche
Mar 17 2017 - NEWS: 5,000 Tackle Gran Fondo Strade Bianche
Mar 02 2017 - NEWS: Strade Bianche Route Revealed
Mar 02 2024 - EVENT: 2024 Strade Bianche
Sep 15 2024 - EVENT: Strade Bianche Peel and Hei