AG Insurance – Soudal ready for Strade Bianche

On Saturday, March 8, AG Insurance – Soudal will line up for the 11th edition of Strade Bianche, one of the most iconic one-day races on the cycling calendar. The race starts and finishes in Siena, covering a demanding 136 km route, including 50.3 km of gravel roads spread over 13 sectors. The riders will take on the infamous white roads of Tuscany, with the final test being the steep climb leading to the Piazza del Campo in Siena.

Challenging course with Tuscan gravel sectors

The Strade Bianche route is rolling and demanding, featuring a series of short, steep climbs, often on the characteristic gravel roads. The first serious test comes early with a 4.8 km sector, where the riders will have to overcome a long climb with gradients exceeding 10%.

Later in the race, they will face longer and more technical gravel sections, such as San Martino in Grania (9.5 km), a sector known for its tough final climb. In the decisive phase, the legendary Colle Pinzuto (2.4 km, max. 15%) and Le Tolfe (1.1 km, max. 18%) will be key moments where the race can be won or lost.

The final kilometers towards Siena are equally demanding. The riders will navigate through the narrow streets of the city, tackling the Via Santa Caterina, a brutal climb with ramps reaching 16%, before arriving at the stunning Piazza del Campo for the finish.

Strong lineup for AG Insurance – Soudal

AG Insurance – Soudal heads into Strade Bianche with a well-balanced team, featuring both experience and rising talent. Ashleigh Moolman Pasio, who secured a third-place finish in 2022, brings valuable knowledge of the race and its brutal finale. Kim Le Court Pienaar returns for her second participation, coming off an impressive third place in the general classification at the UAE Tour. Urška Žigart, Mireia Benito, and Gaia Masetti add climbing strength and versatility to tackle the demanding gravel sectors. Meanwhile, Lore De Schepper will be making her Strade Bianche debut, gaining valuable experience in one of the most prestigious one-day races on the calendar. 

Dani Christmas: "One of the toughest and most beautiful races"

Sports director Dani Christmas is looking forward to this special race: "Strade is one of the toughest and most beautiful races on the calendar. It’s a special event, and with the addition of the new Serravalle sector, it could be even more epic! We have a strong and motivated team at the start, who have prepared well. Over the next two days, we will complete course recons to refresh the memory and check out the new sector, so that on Saturday, we will be fully ready for a great race."