News flash! If Fabian Cancellara wins a third edition of the Strade Bianche in Siena, the race organizers plan to name sector six, an 11.5km stretch of white road over Monte Sante Marie, after him. These are the gimmicks you can pull off, without a whiff of resistance, when you're the world's most beloved brand-new classic.
What is it?
The world's most-beloved brand new classic. This is only the tenth edition of the pro event, though -- I cannot overemphasize this -- it evolved from a retrogrouch dress-up party of the highest order, a vintage bike grand fondo that happens on Sunday once the pros have cleared out. If you want to count the editions involving guys in pantalons and handlebar moustaches, the race itself is coming up on its 20th anniversary.
The course is an absolute gem of a rolling rise across the gorgeous country byways that traverse the Chianti region south of Siena. Its signature are the "strade bianche," the white roads, made of white limestone and other crushed rock, making it a uniquely Italian visual feast. But more importantly, it's a challenging course involving narrow roads and numerous short ascents, as well as the rough surface, that evokes the northern classics remade in an Italian style. The riders seem to love it. The tifosi go crazy for it. To put it more succinctly, it's a stroke of utter genius.
Oh, and as to those guys dressed up in wool and using goofy handlebars? It's actually kind of a positive thing. Think about this -- at a time when de Ronde van Vlaanderen, possibly the world's most cherished race, is selling its soul and finishing on a bland highway in Oudenaarde, a newer race is celebrating the old and the beautiful (in a landscape known for both) to fans who clearly want in. The finale of Strade Bianche winds up impossibly narrow streets into the Campo in the middle of old Siena, a scene that looks entirely in place with the handlebar moustache guys. To see the carbon and lycra guys come screaming into town is no less awesome. Actually, it's a lot more awesome. This is an unmissable event.
Giuseppe Cacace, Getty Images
What's New This Year?
The course is quite a bit different from the previous few editions, with a distance of only 176km being the main distinction. But don't call it easier: it's still got over 50km worth of gravel grinding, and barely a flat spot on the entire course:
Where Will the Race Be Won?
Not before Sector Fabian Cancellara... I mean Monte Sante Maria, but from there, just about any stretch of road will make for decisive racing, if someone decides it should. And unless there's a solo leader, the climb to Il Campo di Siena, featuring a 16% gradient, will settle matters once and for all. It's almost guaranteed that someone will win alone, if only by a few seconds. Gilbert is listed as having won in 2011 in a field sprint, but that's pure fiction:
Honestly, the course is so unpredictable that I don't want to waste your time speculating where the move should happen. But I will say this: the move toward a shorter course is perhaps a nod to the style of women's racing, where courses are short but eventful, and the racing is often completely uncontrollable. In a good way.
Oh, and this is probably a good place to mention that it's supposed to rain all day in Siena Saturday.
So Who Has This?
Ah... it's tempting to imagine Cancellara putting yet another stamp on his passport to the pantheon of all-time great cyclists, and with a diverse support team including red-hot Jasper Stuyven as well as usual suspects like Stijn Devolder and Jaro-Pop, then maybe it really is all falling into place for a third win.
Not just good times... VERY good times. But Cance didn't win in 2010. (Nor did Pippo. Relax.) Photo by Lars Ronbog, Getty
Peter Sagan arrives in huge form, possibly enough to take a few eyes off the back of Cancellara, and with ace Daniele Bennati -- another guy with early fitness -- along for help. Benna has been 11th here a couple times and has otherwise played good teammate before, so this is a key alliance. Then there's Etixx-Quick Step, with defending winner Zdenek Stybar probably getting antsy to kick off his season in earnest. His support squad features another piping hot kid, Petr Vakoc, as well as climbers like Bob Jungels and powerhouses like Tony Martin and Yves Lampaert.
BMC want to extend their powerful opening statement with Greg Van Avermaet -- second here last year -- supported by semi-local kid Taylor Phinney, plus ideal helpers in Daniel Oss and Manuel Quinziato. Tiesj Benoot has some relevant ability here. Alejandro Valverde had better be gone before the final km if anyone else wants to win. Valverde has Giovanni Visconti in tow, among others. Oh, and 2014 winner Michal Kwiatkowski will lead Team Sky and a diverse lineup of guys like Puccio, Moscon, and so on.
Then there are the Italians. Vincenzo Nibali always hungers for iconic wins, and this one seems gettable, thanks to his hot start and notwithstanding his modest history with the race. Diego Rosa and Jakob Fuglsang are his decoys, should he rely on them. [And is it notable that his little brother Antonio is riding here for Vini Fantini?] Diego Ulissi leads Lampre with his usual suspects. Sonny Colbrelli could be a person of interest, though he's done little here in the past. Also the old guys: Rebellin, Pozzato, Cunego... do Italian cyclists ever retire?
So yeah, this is a loaded race. It's a little crazy that Dimension Data aren't taking part, they seem to have scaled back to World Tour-Only for a couple weeks it seems. Boasson Hagen would look good here, though now that the FSA Directeur Sportif is underway, it's time for the promising winter riders to disappear.
I'm sticking with Cancellara putting one over on Sagan in the finale, with Nibali as my outside shot. Yes, those are predictable big names, but I think this race has warranted that kind of effort on the part of the top riders, and Cancellara doesn't get stopped much when he's in the mood to win.
What say ye?
Bryn Lennon, Getty Images