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Gallery: Women’s WorldTour on Tuscan dirt

Strade Bianche was the first race the inaugural Women's WorldTour, and it started the 2016 season with a bang.

Photo: Sean Robinson

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2016 — Ariana Fidanza (Astana Women) warmed up on a cold spring morning in Siena ahead of the second edition of Strade Bianche and the first ever Women’s WorldTour race. Photo: Velofocus

2016 — Carmen Small enjoyed her pre-race massage ahead of the start in Siena. Photo: Velofocus

2016 — Local cafés look forward to a bumper day of sales when Strade Bianche comes to town. Photo: Velofocus

2016 — Gabriella Pilote Fortin (Cervélo – Bigla), stepped up to sign in for her first experience of Strade Bianche. Photo: Balint Velofocus

2016 — The race stayed together as the peloton approached the first gravel section. Photo: Velofocus

2016 — One gravel sector down, just six to go for the peloton on a damp day in Tuscany. Photo: Velofocus

2016 — Trixi Worrack (Canyon – SRAM) made her way to the front before setting a fierce pace on the early climbs. Photo: Velofocus

2016 — Helping a teammate in need. Punctures at the wrong point soon ended any ambitions for the race. Photo: Velofocus

2016 — Pauliena Rooijakkers sped across the gravel. Photo: Velofocus

2016 — Clara Koppenburg (Cervélo – Bigla) led the peloton over the bridge into Ponte D’Arbia. Photo: Velofocus

2016 — Annemiek van Vleuten (Orica – AIS) chased back after a quick wheel change. Photo: Velofocus

2016 — A broken derailieur at the start of a 9.5km sector of gravel put an end to Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio’s chances of winning. Photo: Velofocus

2016 — The peloton rode through the Tuscan countryside in the women’s 2016 Strade Bianche. Photo: Velofocus

2016 — Nasty crash for Romy Kasper (Boels – Dolmans). Photo: Velofocus

2016 — Riders approached the end of the longest stretch of gravel, but there was a tough climb to be tackled first. Photo: Velofocus

2016 — Lizzie Williams and Carmen Small (grinned or grimmaced) from ear to ear up the gravel climb. Photo: Velofocus

2016 — Malgorzata Jasinska set a fierce tempo for the favorites to follow as the race reached the halfway point. Photo: Velofocus

2016 — Nikki Harris (Boels – Dolmans) broke clear, establishing a lead of up to 50 seconds. Photo: Velofocus

2016 — The chase was on to keep Harris at a safe distance. Photo: Velofocus

2016 — Lucinda Brand (Rabo – Liv) looked to bridge the gap to lone leader, Harris. Photo: Velofocus

2016 — Harris looked back to see how big her gap had grown. Photo: Velofocus

2016 — Lucinda Brand (Rabo – Liv) chased after the lone leader. Photo: Velofocus

2016 — World champion Lizzie Armitstead was happy to follow Anna van der Breggen’s wheel. Photo: Velofocus

2016 — Joëlle Numainville (Cervélo – Bigla) attacked the penultimate gravel sector. Photo: Velofocus

2016 — Armitstead, Emma Johansson (Wiggle – Hi5), and Kasia Niewiadoma (Rabo – Liv). Photo: Velofocus

2016 — Emma Johansson and her breakaway companions reached the final gravel sector. Photo: Velofocus

2016 — Armitstead won Strade Bianche ahead of Niewiadoma and Johansson. Photo: Velofocus

2016 — There was a mad media scramble around race winner, Lizzie Armitstead. Photo: Velofocus

2016 — Podium celebrations were on, after Armitstead won Strade Bianche 2016. Kasia Niewiadoma and Emma Johansson completed the podium in second and third respectively. Photo: Velofocus

2016 — The race winner took a celebratory swig of Prosecco. Photo: Velofocus

2016 — Lizzie Armitstead is the first rider to wear the leader’s jersey of the new UCI Women’s WorldTour. Photo: Velofocus

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