Good morning, and welcome along for one of the best races of the year. It's a modern classic, with a short history but no shortage of prestige. It's a journey through the rolling hills of Tuscany and, of course, the gravel roads that give the race its name and its iconic identity. It's Strade Bianche, and it's here!
Blue skies greet the riders in Siena. The sign-on ceremony is wrapping up and we're not far away from the start.
Before we get going, now's the time to have a read of our in-depth race preview.
This is one of the most-loved races on the calendar not just because of the gravel and the spectacular images it creates, and not just because of the stunning finale up into Siena's old town, but because they all combine to make it one of the most open races of the year. Thoroughbred Classics riders compete alongside lightweight Grand Tour climbers, and the parcours - although relatively short at 184 - has a habit of making class float to the top.
On that note, my colleague Stephen Farrand has a really interesting pre-race story on the type of rider Strade Bianche is attracting, and how the nature of the race might have changed since its inception in 2007.
We're off!
We're taking you through the men's race here but we also have live coverage of the women's race, which is now into the final 50km. You can join Amy Jones for all the latest on that one.
Stephen Farrand is in Siena for Cyclingnews and he's been catching up with some of the race favourites. Here's Tour de France champ Tadej Pogačar, who was seventh last year and is in strong form after winning the recent UAE Tour.
And there is Pogačar, at the start a little earlier. He said he only arrived in Italy yesterday after staying on in the UAE to enjoy the warm weather. That means no recon, but he's not worried.
In the early kilometres a breakaway has formed, and there are around seven riders in there. Names to follow shortly.
Here are the riders who have slipped up the road:
The group gets 45 seconds but we have a counter-attack. Bardiani-CSF have missed out...
If you're one of the three Italian second-division teams - who have been invited by RCS Sport - you have to have a presence in the break and it's a surprise Bardiani have allowed a seven-man move to go without them. Samuele Zoccarato has been fired up into no-man's land for them.
The weather today could play a part. It's not wet, like it was back in 2018 when a mud-caked Tiesj Benoot took the spoils, but it is chilly.
Onto the Strade Bianche!
Zoccarato has company in the form of Eolo-Kometa's Sergio García. Eolo already have a man in the break but they've cleverly marked this move from the Bardiani rider. But they're still at 45 seconds.
We are without the past two winners, with Mathieu van der Poel still coming back from a back injury and Wout van Aert redesigning his spring schedule, but 2019 winner Julian Alaphilippe is here in the world champion's jersey.
Back on the tarmac and the breakaway have now decided to wait to allow Zoccarato and Garcia to join them. So that makes a nine-man breakaway with a lead of nearly three minutes.
25km done
Heinschke punctures on the gravel and is off the back of the lead group.
As they reach the top of that gravel climb, the leaders have taken their advantage out to 5:30.
Heinschke is back in.
The first shots of the breakaway and of the gravel are in
Downhill here and the peloton have upped it, taking a minute out of the breakaway's lead.
37km ridden
Puncture for Gianni Moscon (Astana) but he's back in without any issues.
Plenty of riders in the sick bay. A stomach virus has deprived Tom Pidcock of a shot at the race that suits him so well, while Tom Dumoulin has been ruled out through COVID-19. Peter Sagan is also sick but starts. Full infirmary round-up here.
Just under 40km covered in the first hour of racing.
You love to see it
48km ridden
The peloton is still on high alert. The breakaway are still on a modest leash of 3:45.
5km to go in the women's race and we have a small group heading into Siena. Join Amy Jones for live coverage of the finale.
After the fourth sector the road flattens out but soon starts climbing on the tarmac up to Montalcino. It won't see big action but this will start to sap the legs on a day where the elevation gain will total 3000 metres.
Lotte Kopecky has won the women's race in a thrilling finale.
It's relatively calm as the riders make their way up the Montalcino climb. The nine leaders have an advantage of 3:30.
Over the top and we're now heading down the other side. The gap falls to below three minutes.
QuickStep, Movistar, and UAE are prominent at the head of the peloton.
Here we go then. Onto the fifth sector and so begins the second phase of this race. It's long, at 11.9km, and it's followed almost immediately by the 8km Pieve a Salti sector.
The peloton has upped the tempo once more on this long sector. The gap falls below two minutes.
The wind is blowing now and it's blowing the race up!!
Crosswinds on this long sector
Huge crash!!
Wow. Riders getting blown fully off the road by this wind.
Julian Alaphilippe is down
Alaphilippe was in his teammate's wheel when a huge gust came from the right. That took his wheel out and the world champion went flying head over handlebars.
Crazy scenes here, really. Riders, even having crashed, getting blown straight into the field by the side of the gravel.
A small group avoided that crash at the front and are away, just behind the breakaway. The race has exploded after that crash, though.
Alaphilippe is back on his bike and is chasing with Mikkel Honore and Mauro Schmid.
Fuglsang is up the road with a teammate in a group of around seven. Alaphilippe is counted at 2 minutes behind that group.
Back onto the tarmac but not enough time for things to settle down. We're straight back onto the next sector of gravel in around a kilometre.
Pogacar is in the group with Fuglsang and Tim Wellens. QuickStep have two riders in there.
And now a much bigger group is getting across to that select group. That's the bunch now.
94km to go and we're heading downhill on the sixth sector. The breakaway are 40 seconds ahead of this newly reformed but reduced peloton.
Alaphilippe is still chasing at 1:40.
It's hard to see Alaphilippe getting back in. He's in a much smaller group than the bunch, and only has two teammates. There seem to be plenty of willing parties in the bunch ahead, including Trek, Lotto, and FDJ.
The replays of the mass crash are extraordinary. Alaphilippe unclips before his teammate goes down in front of him, and then goes flying when he hits the bike. When he lands, having somersaulted, he almost bounces and then pretty much flies left into the field.
It was a strong wind but they were clearly hit by massive gusts, exactly from the right, on that exposed section. Riders were crashing all over the shop.
Alaphilippe is in a group of 10 and they're picking up dropped riders but they're not getting any closer.
Tiesj Benoot (Jumbo-Visma) has abandoned after the crash. That's a huge blow for the 2018 winner and his team, who are here without 2020 champ Van Aert.
86km to go
Things calm down a little in the bunch, but still plenty of teams looking interested here, with Bahrain and Alpecin near the front at the moment.
Alaphilippe is gaining. He's now just 50 seconds in arrears.
The Alaphilippe group has swelled and they're limiting the damage here. It would still be extraordinary if Alaphilippe comes back to compete for victory here.
Victor Campenaerts and Brent Van Moer abandon for Lotto Soudal. Matej Mohoric is out for Bahrain.
And it's Bahrain who are actually taking command in the bunch with almost all their remaining riders on the front. They have Pello Bilbao and Heinrich Haussler in their ranks.
78km to go
Amid all the action, the breakaway has split. The five riders left out front are Brenner, Calmejane, Van der Hoorn, Heinschke, Zoccarato.
Alaphilippe coming back. They're through the cars and almost in.
Over 20 riders in that group now and they're going to regain contact.
75.5km to go
Valverde was in that Alaphilippe group and Movistar helped to bring it back.
Pogacar has had a stop after the regrouping but he's being brought back towards the front now.
Time for more gravel. It's sector 7 at San Martino in Grania, and it's 9.6km long and largely uphill.
71km to go
Lotto take it up as the peloton hits the gravel.
Alaphilippe right up at the front on this sector. Fair play.
Michael Matthews (BikeExchange) and Michael Gogl (Alpecin-Fenix) also abandon.
It's pretty calm on this sector. It's more of a headwind here.
Kasper Asgreen is leading the peloton on this sector.
Heinschke is dropped from the break as Zoccarato forces the issue on the sterrato. Four left standing.
The leaders find a little more ground again. 1:10 is the gap now as the gravel really starts to climb.
Movistar have taken the reins in the bunch for Valverde.
Fancy watching this? Of course you do. Here's how.
62km to go
Things absolutely exploded earlier on and it looked for a minute like it could be a day of carnage. But things have regrouped and calmed down, and we're heading for a more traditional finale, although the wind could strike again on this next sector...
We've got some photos of the crash.
It's lighting up again now. This looks like it's going to be a critical sector as teams fight for position and the speed ramps up.
Here we go! Onto the gravel again
The gap to the break plummets to 20 seconds on entry.
53km to go and this is a crucial phase of the race. It's the last long sector (11.5km) before the shorter and punchier final three later on.
Lotto Soudal take it up. They have Wellens who's looking really strong.
52.5km to go
Alaphilippe attacks!
Not a full blown attack but the world champion accelerates and hits the front. Uphill now and the gradient is biting.
Alaphilippe draws up alongside Alaphilippe. It's not full gas yet but the favourites are appearing at the front and plenty of riders are getting spat out the back.
Wellens accelerates!
The Belgian stretches things out as the climb tops out and the roads head downhill.
Uphill drag again now and the wind is blowing from the right.
Alaphilippe attacks!
And now Pogacar goes!!
A more sustained acceleration from the world champion and now the Tour de France champion puts in a dig of his own.
It's a playful attack but it's splitting things up
Simon Clarke, Quinn Simmons are with Pogacar and Alaphilippe. Small split then Wellens is there with a lined out group.
Wow, Pogacar almost goes wide as he continues his charge downhill now. He gets a gap!
49.5km to go and Pogacar is looking to go clear alone. Alaphilippe responds behind.
Pogacar is lighting this up. What a rider. The gravel is going uphill again now and he's pounding the pedals and gaining ground again.
Carlos Rodriguez leads the chase now for Ineos, who also have Carapaz and Narvaez in the chase group.
Pogacar is creating daylight here. Wow.
Pogacar has 14 seconds over Rodriguez and 20 seconds over the chasing group.
Asgreen takes the lead as the chase group swells. Kuss is there too.
What a bold move from Pogacar, who went alone with 50km to go. Still 47km to go now and it remains to be seen how this plays out. If favourites have teammates in the group behind to organise a chase, it could be a wasted bullet, but audaciousness seems to be a characteristic that pays in this new generation.
Pogacar is still increasing his lead. He's still on this 8th sector and the gap hits 30 seconds now.
Rodriguez is still in between, at 21 seconds.
There are 25 riders in the chase group. Alaphilippe has two teammates but is doing some of the work himself.
38 seconds now for Pogacar! Wow.
Downhill again now and Rodriguez is faltering, slipping and sliding. He dislodges his chain but it's back on. Still, he's riding gingerly and losing ground.
Alaphilippe accelerates at the head of the chase. He has two teammates in his wheel...
Have QuickStep switched leaders? Or is Alaphilippe just in damage limitation mode?
Pogacar now leads by 1:06! Extraordinary
42km to go
Carapaz punctures and drops from the chase group.
The chase group swells. Another group has got back in and there are more than 40 riders at 1:10 behind Pogacar.
Alaphilippe takes it up in the expanded chase group. He's working for Asgreen now.
Pogacar's back is dusted and his left elbow is bloodied. He clearly went down in that crash earlier.
Trek have started to work in the chase. Movistar as well. They need to get organised now.
36km to go
Pogacar gets into a tuck - about as far as he can go without drifting into supertuck territory. He zips downhill for a brief bit of respite on these tarmacked roads ahead of the stinging gravel climbs to come.
This was the attack...
The amazing thing is that Pogacar has largely done this into a headwind. It's a bit more from the side from here on in.
Rodriguez is slipping still but putting in a big ride himself. He's 55 seconds behind Pogacar now.
30km to go
1:35 now for Pogacar. Absolutely remarkable.
Movistar and Trek continue to combine in the chase, but they're steadily losing ground to the Tour de France champion.
Pogacar is 3km away from sector 9. The bunch needs to undo some of this damage before it explodes again on these next sectors.
Rodriguez is at 1:20 now and just ahead of the peloton.
The bunch are zipping along now and they have taken 10 seconds back out of Pogacar.
25km to go
Pogacar takes on the dip down and the sharp right-hander into sector 9.
Pogacar hits the sterrato again and it's a draggy gradient to begin with.
Skujins leads the bunch onto it for Trek.
Pogacar's head is bobbing now. Is he fading? He's down to 1:20.
Pogacar grabs a bottle as he continues uphill.
Simmons accelerates.
Mechanical for Miguel Angel Lopez
23km to go
Asgreen accelerates! Simmons in the wheel. Here we go!
Alaphilippe dropped.
Those accelerations bring Pogacar back to a minute!
Asgreen continues his effort onto the tarmac.
Asgreen has split the group. Narvaez, Valverde, Simmons, Wellens are with him.
3km to the next sector, the Colle Pinzuto, with its critical 15% slopes.
The five-man chase group is 55 seconds down on Pogacar. This all depends on how they work together between the gravel.
20km to go
That quintet is 20 seconds ahead of the rest of the chase.
19.5km to go
The chase group is hesitating. Wellens attacks
Wellens takes a gap into sector 10. Narvaez leads the way behind.
Pogacar is up the road and now hitting the steep gradients. He still looks to have a lot left in the tank.
Asgreen goes again now!
Asgreen distances his fellow chasers. Wellens is back but not out the back.
Asgreen is now alone in pursuit of Pogacar. He looks strong but he has a minute to close in the space of 18km. It's going to take an implosion from Pogacar.
Pogacar is on a flatter part of this sector 10 now. He's still riding this quicker than anyone else.
16km to go
Just a few kilometres to the start of the final sector.
Asgreen has seven seconds on Simmons, Wellens, Narvaez, Valverde. That group could reform shortly.
13.3km to go
Pogacar leads onto it, and he has found more ground again. It's a minute as he hits the gravel.
Only a mishap will prevent Pogacar from claiming victory here with one of the most extraordinary displays this or any race has seen.
Fans line the slopes of this sector and they roar Pogacar up the final steep slopes.
Pogacar blitzes through that sector. He's already done with it. He is not fading.
Asgreen goes all-in and finds a few seconds, but it's not going to be enough.
Valverde attacks behind! He makes his way towards Asgreen
11km to go
Asgreen and Valverde are working together now.
The roads continue to undulate all the way to Siena, where we have a sting in the tail in the super steep Via Santa Caterina in the old town.
9km to go
Asgreen and Valverde are gaining slightly. They're 50 seconds down now but they're running out of ground.
45 seconds now. It's coming down and this would be suspenseful had Pogacar not already put this race out of sight long ago.
You can lose a lot of time on the Santa Caterina if you blow up and others are fresh behind. But Pogacar shows no sign of doing that.
6km to go
Attila Valter and Pello Bilbao have worked their way across to Wellens, Simmons, Narvaez.
4km to go
Asgreen and Valverde have 25 seconds over the chase group of Simmons, Wellens, Narvaez, Valter, Bilbao.
2km to go and Pogacar takes on the last little dip before the road into the old town.
1km to go
Pogacar is alone with 52 seconds to spare.
Pogacar springs out of the saddle and looks around as he goes under the gates into the old town. There's no one there, Tadej.
He's high-fiving fans... Wow.
Pogacar hits the Via Santa Caterina. One final brutal climb to tick off.
He still has power to put through the pedals. Incredible.
Head bobbing, he drags his way to the top and turns onto the flatter ground.
Through the narrow streets now and he doesn't have to worry about positioning. He's all alone and soaking it up
Here he comes. Final bend. The drop down into the Piazza. Arm aloft, and now two. Wow
Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) wins Strade Bianche
Valverde drops Asgreen on the Via Santa Caterina. He takes second.
Valter, Bilbao, Narvaez, Simmons, Wellens, Petilli, Higuita round out the top 10.
Let's hear from the winner
| Pos. | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tadej Pogacar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates | 4:47:49 |
| 2 | Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team | 0:00:37 |
| 3 | Kasper Asgreen (Den) Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team | 0:00:46 |
| 4 | Attila Valter (Hun) Groupama-FDJ | 0:01:07 |
| 5 | Pello Bilboa (Spa) Bahrain-Victorious | 0:01:09 |
| 6 | Jhonatan Narvaez Prado (Ecu) Ineos Grenadiers | |
| 7 | Quinn Simmons (USA) Trek-Segafredo | 0:01:21 |
| 8 | Tim Wellens (Bel) Lotto Soudal | 0:01:25 |
| 9 | Simone. Petilli | 0:01:35 |
| 10 | Sergio Higuita Garcia (Col) Bora-Hansgrohe | 0:01:53 |
Here's the place for report, results, and photos
If you missed it earlier, here's footage of the extraordinary crash with 100km to go
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