Strade Bianche

Common card · No. 437211

The Strade Bianche (pronounced [ˈstraːde ˈbjaŋke]; Italian for 'White Roads') is a road bicycle race in Tuscany, Central Italy, starting and finishing in Siena. First held in 2007, it is raced annually on the first or second Saturday of March. The name stems from the historic white gravel roads in the Crete Senesi, which are a defining feature of the race. Around one-third of the total race distance is raced on dirt roads, covering between around 60 km (37 mi) and 80 km (50 mi) of strade bianche, spread over multiple sectors. Despite its short history, the Strade Bianche has quickly gained prestige, and renewed interest in road racing on gravel and dirt roads as a specific skill and discipline. The event is part of the UCI World Tour, cycling's highest level of professional road races. It is organized by RCS Sport – La Gazzetta dello Sport, and is held the weekend before Tirreno–Adriatico as an early spring precursor to the cobbled classics in April. A three-time winner over the pavé of...

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