AG Insurance – Soudal to Strade Bianche

AG Insurance – Soudal to Strade Bianche

Our first big appointment of the month comes on the famous white roads of Tuscany.

It’s one of the best races in the world despite the fact it was created only a decade ago. A race like no other, where the unique combinations of unpaved sections, demanding hills featuring steep gradients, twisty and undulating roads, and picturesque landscapes make for an exciting and spectacular day on the bike. Positioning, raw power, and luck are all important in Strade Bianche, which on Saturday runs its 12th edition, starting and finishing in Siena.

A total of 33 kilometers of sterrati divided across eleven sectors – including San Martino in Grania, Colle Pinzuto, and Le Tolfe – will open the race and give plenty of chances to those keen on making the difference before the explosive finale on Via Santa Caterina, the medieval street built five centuries ago that leads to the stunning Piazza del Campo.

AG Insurance will be present for the fourth consecutive year at the start of the race, with a team consisting of Mireia Benito, Letizia Borghesi, Lore De Schepper, Justine Ghekiere, Kim Le Court-Pienaar – who last year finished not far from the top ten here – and Urska Zigart.

“We have an important weekend coming up in Italy for both World Tour and Devo riders. Strade Bianche is a very special race, one that requires highest-level preparation from both riders and staff. We are ready and head to Siena with a very strong squad to compete for a top result. Kim rode a great race last year but in 2026 we have already made a step up as a team with strong performance from all the girls lining up in Siena. We will use our strong roster with reinforcements from Letizia and Justine alongside returning riders Mireia, Lore and Urška to race aggressively”, said Dani Christmas ahead of travelling to Italy.

Training and taking on the white roads of the region will be important also for another reason, as AG Insurance – Soudal’s sports director was quick to point out: “It’s a special weekend, as part of their learning and development plan we will bring our Devo riders to Strade so they can prepare alongside the World Tour team and have a taste of the race they will aim to step up and compete in in the upcoming years. They will get to do a recon and spend time with the World Tour riders, an experience from which they will learn a lot.”