Strade Bianche 2026 route cuts race distance and number of gravel sectors after years of Pogačar dominance

The route for Strade Bianche has been shortened by 14km from 215km to 201km for the 2026 edition, and will feature two fewer gravel sectors, race organiser RCS revealed in Milan on Wednesday.

After growing in status as a one-day Classic, the iconic Italian race over the white Tuscan roads was transformed in 2024, with the route being made significantly more difficult by adding kilometres and more gravel.

RSC have walked back these changes after two years; however, with Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) dominating those editions with long-range solo attacks, that even a high-speed crash and an in-form Tom Pidcock (Q36.5) couldn't prevent in 2025.

The two sectors removed from last year are La Piana (6.4km) and Serravalle (9.3km), which both featured in the opening half of the route, potentially giving more chance for the race to kick off later.

As a result, the total gravel kilometres have been reduced from 80km to 64km.

The final loops around Siena remain unchanged, however, with the Colle Pinzuto (2.4km) and Le Tolfe (1.1km) sectors again featuring twice, before the iconic steep slope up the Via Santa Caterina brings the riders home to the Piazza del Campo.

The gravel action will kick off early at the first sector, Vidritta, which arrives after 10km of racing, and is closely followed by Bagnaia and Radi; however, there will then be a 30km gap before the next off-road section at Lucignano d'Asso – the first four-star and longest gravel sector.

After 98.3km, the riders will hit the first of two five-star sectors, S. Martino in Grania, but the sector which has provided the launch pad for many of the past editions won't be far in the distance.

11.5km in length, the iconic up and down slopes of the Monte Sante Marie will once again play host to the crucial moment of the race, with just over 70km of the race remaining after its conclusion – if you miss a move here, it will be nigh-on impossible to win the race.

Having won on a shorter 184-kilometre course in 2022, Pogačar will remain the big favourite to make it three in a row at Strade Bianche, which is set to be his first appearance of the 2026 season on March 7.

He will face stiff competition as always, though, especially with former winner Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) returning, who also won the gravel stage into Siena at last year's Giro d'Italia and was the only rider to drop Pogačar in a race last season.

Other top contenders who could come into play on the softened route could be Pidcock, who is also a former winner, Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) and Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike).

Though Pogačar will have the bonus of star teammate Isaac del Toro alongside him, and last year's third-place finisher, Tim Wellens, acting as super domestique once again, so UAE remain the team to beat.

Gravel Sectors at Strade Bianche 2026

• Vidritta (2.4km)
• Bagnaia (4.8km)
• Radi (4.4km)
• Lucignano d'Asso (11.9km)
• Pieve a Salti (8km)
• S.Martino in Grania (9.4km)
• Monte Sante Marie (11.5km)
• Monteaperti (0.6km)
• Colle Pinzuto (2.4km)
• Le Tolfe (1.1km)
• Strada del Castagno (0.7km)
• Montechiaro (3.3 km)
• Colle Pinzuto (2.4km)
• Le Tolfe (1.1km)