The Strade Bianchi, professional cycling’s newest classic, will help kick off a re-jiggered 2020 calendar and teams are ready for action.
The 184km-long race returns for its 14th edition and will test the riders’ handling skills and climbing ability alike over 63 kilometers of white gravel roads divided across 11 scenic sectors.
Alaphilippe Returns to Defend
Defending champion Julian Alaphilipe will be again at the start and will lead the charge for the Deceuninck-Quick Step, together with another former winner – Zdenek Stybar – who finished the race five out of five times in the top 10. Kasper Asgreen, whose display of formidable strength carried him to a resounding victory at Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne five months ago, Davide Ballerini, Mikkel Honoré, Luxembourg Champion Bob Jungels and Pieter Serry will also line out in Siena’s Fortezza Medicea, ready to take on the Italian World Tour race.
“We’ve had many good results here in the past, three wins with as many different riders, and we want to be again up there and feature in the fight for victory, especially as it is a race we like a lot. It’s going to be a completely different race than we are used to, with temperatures of 35 degrees and even more dust than usual, but we are going there with a huge motivation after our excellent Val di Fassa training camp and prepared for every type of scenario”, said sports director Davide Bramati.
Debut for Oliver Naesen
Ag2r La Mondiale’s Oliver Naesen will make his first attempt at victory at the race.
“I am very happy to race Stade Bianche for the first time,” Naesen said. “This is the perfect opportunity. Usually the race takes place the day before Paris-Nice and I just watch it on TV. I have incredible memories of the 2018 edition, when Tiejs Benoot won ahead of Romain Bardet. Sitting in front of my TV, I was super excited, and I would have liked to have been in the race.
“I’m happy with the way I was able to handle this long break. I was lucky, I was able to train on the roads normally, which means I have 20,000 kilometers on the clock since the beginning of January. With the health crisis in mind, I prepared conscientiously, without the string of races.
“I have good feelings but there are a lot of uncertainties. For example, I do not know how fit my opponents are, in particular.
“The racing calendar as it is constructed suits me perfectly even though I know that the coming months will be special and that the situation can still evolve,” he concluded.
Van Avermaet hopes to restart 2020 with success
Greg Van Avermaet will return to the start line at Strade Bianche where he is hoping to restart the season with success on Italian soil.
Sports Director Fabio Baldato said the team is motivated and confident ahead of the Italian racing block.
“Greg Van Avermaet is our undisputed leader for Strade Bianche, where he has previously finished in the top ten on seven occasions, two of which were on the podium. Strade Bianche is a tough race in the normal racing calendar but this year, I think we’re in for a big shock with the heat and after so many months without racing. It’s hard to predict what will happen when this will be the first race back for all of our riders, but we are going into the race confident. Greg and the Classics team have just completed a block at altitude and their shape is good. Ultimately, we are just happy to be back racing and thankful to be able to do so,” Baldato said.
Van Avermaet is eager to get back to racing and is looking to repeat his previous success at Strade Bianche.
“Strade Bianche is one of my favorite races so it is special to have this as my first race back. I’ve normally always raced well there so I am hoping to do the same again. I was able to stay motivated throughout lockdown and now after our training camp in Livigno, I feel like my shape is where it needs to be. Of course, the circumstances will be a little different than normal and the heat will be a big factor so I hope I am ready for that. Then I am excited to race Gran Trittico Lombardo. It will be interesting to discover a new race and I think it will suit me well. I’ll enjoy every moment regardless because I can’t wait to race again,” Van Avermaet said.
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