Gallery: Women's WorldTour on Tuscan dirt

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pauliena Rooijakkers sped across the gravel. Photo: Velofocus

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Gallery: Women’s WorldTour on Tuscan dirt

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