When measured against other classics, Italy’s Strade Bianche is a spring chicken, but even though the race is just 10 years old in 2016, it boasts an eye-catching line-up of current and former champions for the men’s race, including reigning world champ Peter Sagan of Tinkoff.
On March 5, Sagan, who finished second in the race two years ago, will toe the line in Siena, Italy, along with former time trial world champions Tony Martin (Etixx – Quick-Step) and Fabian Cancellara (Trek – Segafredo), as well as the 2014 Tour de France champion Vincenzo Nibali (Astana). Last year’s winner, Etixx’s Zdenek Stybar will also race on Tuscany’s famed white gravel roads, as will BMC’s Greg Van Avermaet, runner-up in 2015.
The 2016 route features nine sectors of gravel roads, comprising 52.8km of the 176km race.
2016 men’s teams and their leaders
WorldTour teams:
Ag2r La Mondiale (F) – Bakelants, Riblon
Astana (Kaz) – Nibali, Rosa
BMC (US) – Van Avermaet, Phinney
Etixx – Quick-Step (B) – Stybar, Tony Martin
Lampre – Merida (I) – Ulissi, Modolo
Lotto – Soudal (B) – Monfort, De Clercq
LottoNL – Jumbo (Nl) – Gesink, Battaglin
Movistar (Sp) – Valverde, Visconti
Orica – GreenEdge (Aus) – Chaves, Plaza
Sky (GB) – Landa, Poels
Tinkoff (Rus) – Sagan, Bennati
Trek – Segafredo (US) – Cancellara, Nizzolo
Pro Continental teams:
Androni Giocattoli – Sidermec (I) – Selvaggi, Bandiera
Bardiani CSF (I) – Colbrelli, Bongiorno
CCC Sprandi Polkowice (P) – Rebellin, Paterski
Nippo – Vini Fantini (I) – Cunego, Bole
Novo Nordisk (US) – De Mesmaeker, Peron
Southeast – Venezuela (I) – Pozzato, Belletti