The Women's WorldTour once again began along the white gravel roads of Strade Bianche in the Tuscan region of Italy.
The 136km race included none of the long ascents or iconic mountains that are so well known in Italy, instead it was challenging because of its punchy terrain and the eight gravel sectors.
Anna van der Breggen (Boels Dolmans) started her 2018 race programme with a cagey victory in Strade Bianche. Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM) was runner-up in Siena for the third time in a row. Last year's winner Elisa Longo Borghini (Wiggle High 5) rounded out the podium in third.
