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Italy 07 Mar 2026 Class 1.WWT – 1 day – UCI Women’s WorldTour
Website www.strade-bianche.it
Data powered by FirstCycling.com
The Strade Bianche Donne 2026 is scheduled for Saturday, March 7. This 12th edition of the women’s “Modern Classic” will see the world’s best cyclists tackle the iconic white gravel roads (sterrati) of Tuscany.
Below is the program and key details for the race:
Race Schedule (CET)
The women’s race traditionally precedes the men’s event, ensuring a high-profile finish in the heart of Siena.
| Event | Time (Approx.) |
| Neutralized Start (Siena, Fortezza Medicea) | 10:15 AM |
| Official Start | 10:20 AM |
| Live TV Coverage Begins | 11:45 AM – 12:00 PM |
| Expected Finish (Siena, Piazza del Campo) | 1:45 PM – 2:00 PM |
The Route & Challenges
The 2026 course covers 133 km (or 131 km depending on the final neutralized section) starting and ending in Siena. While the organizers have slightly reduced the total gravel distance compared to 2025, it remains a brutal test of endurance.
- Total Gravel: ~32.6 km spread across 11 sectors.
- Key Sectors: * San Martino in Grania (9.5 km): The longest and most energy-draining sector, often where the first major splits occur.
- Colle Pinzuto: Features ramps up to 15%.
- Le Tolfe: A short but steep wall with gradients hitting 18%.
- The Finale: The race concludes with the legendary climb up Via Santa Caterina (16% gradient) before the final sprint into the Piazza del Campo.
How to Watch
- Italy: RAI Sport
- Europe/UK: Eurosport 1, Discovery+, and HBO Max
- USA: HBO Max
- Australia: SBS
Top Contenders
The 2026 start list is stacked, featuring a heavy rivalry between Demi Vollering (seeking a third win) and World Champion Lotte Kopecky. Other riders to watch include Elisa Longo Borghini, Kasia Niewiadoma, and the multi-disciplinary threat Puck Pieterse.
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
The Strade Bianche Donne has a relatively short but incredibly prestigious history. Despite only being established in 2015, it has rapidly become one of the most coveted titles in women’s professional cycling, often referred to as the “Sixth Monument” due to its iconic “white roads” (sterrati) and brutal finale in Siena.
1. Origins and Rapid Rise (2015–2016)
The race was created by RCS Sport as a companion to the men’s event, which had started in 2007.
- Inaugural Edition (2015): The first race was 103 km long with 17 km of gravel. American rider Megan Guarnier became the historic first winner after a solo attack.
- WorldTour Status (2016): Just one year after its debut, the race was included in the inaugural UCI Women’s WorldTour, cementing its status as a top-tier event. The distance was increased to 121 km, and the start moved to Siena.
2. Evolution of the Course
Over the years, the race has grown in both length and difficulty to match the increasing depth of the women’s peloton.
- Early Years: Typically covered around 120 km with 7–8 gravel sectors.
- The “Super-Sized” Era (2024–2025): In 2024, the course was significantly toughened, exceeding 135 km and featuring over 40 km of gravel for the first time.
- 2026 Adjustments: For the 12th edition (tomorrow, March 7), the course has been slightly “dialed back” to 131 km with 11 gravel sectors. This refinement aims to keep the racing explosive while maintaining the legendary difficulty of sectors like San Martino in Grania.
3. The Legends of the “Sterrati”
Three riders currently share the record for the most victories (2 wins each), and as of today, no woman has ever won it three times.
- Annemiek van Vleuten (2019, 2020): Known for her grit, the Dutch legend dominated during the pandemic era, including a famous chase-down victory in the blistering August heat of 2020.
- Lotte Kopecky (2022, 2024): The Belgian superstar proved her versatility by winning in 2022 in a thrilling duel against Annemiek van Vleuten and again in 2024.
- Demi Vollering (2023, 2025): The defending champion won a controversial 2023 edition where she outsprinted her own teammate (Kopecky) and followed it up with a dominant performance last year.
4. Historical Milestones
- 2017: Elisa Longo Borghini became the first (and only) Italian woman to win the race, wearing the Italian national champion’s jersey, a moment considered one of the most iconic in the race’s history.
- 2018: Anna van der Breggen won in a legendary “mud-fest” edition where heavy rain turned the white dust into thick, grey clay.
- The “Cancellara Rule”: In the men’s race, anyone who wins three times gets a gravel sector named after them (Fabian Cancellara has Sector 8). In 2026, both Demi Vollering and Lotte Kopecky are competing for the chance to become the first woman to earn this honor.
5. Winners List
| Year | Winner | Nation |
| 2015 | Megan Guarnier | 🇺🇸 USA |
| 2016 | Lizzie Deignan | 🇬🇧 GBR |
| 2017 | Elisa Longo Borghini | 🇮🇹 ITA |
| 2018 | Anna van der Breggen | 🇳🇱 NED |
| 2019 | Annemiek van Vleuten | 🇳🇱 NED |
| 2020 | Annemiek van Vleuten | 🇳🇱 NED |
| 2021 | Chantal van den Broek-Blaak | 🇳🇱 NED |
| 2022 | Lotte Kopecky | 🇧🇪 BEL |
| 2023 | Demi Vollering | 🇳🇱 NED |
| 2024 | Lotte Kopecky | 🇧🇪 BEL |
| 2025 | Demi Vollering | 🇳🇱 NED |
