The 2024 editions of the men’s and women’s Strade Bianche include an extra loop and more gravel sectors, elevating the Tuscan race even closer to the status of professional cycling’s sixth monument.
The 2023 men’s race covered 184km and 11 gravel sectors. This year’s race on Saturday, March 2 will cover 215km and 15 gravel sectors. The extra racing covers much of the traditional final loop of the race to the east of Siena.
The 2024 climbs of Colle Pinzuto and Le Tolfe, where the decisive attacks are often made, will be covered twice, before the climb up to central Siena and the finish in the spectacular Piazza del Campo.
The women raced for 136km and covered eight gravel sectors. For the 2024 edition they will race for 137 km but face 12 gravel sectors, also covering the Colle Pinzuto and Le Tolfe loop twice.
Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers) won the men’s Strade Bianche with a solo attack, while Demi Vollering beat her SD Worx teammate Lotte Kopecky after a tense battle in the finish.
The extended routes of the men’s and women’s Strade Bianche were presented in Siena on Tuesday.
The new routes arguably make the races even more demanding, with the final climb up to Renaissance Siena likely to reveal the eventual winners.
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