This Saturday, Strade Bianche returns, taking us through the rolling Tuscan hills, the historic white gravel roads—the strade bianche—and finishing in one of the most beautiful settings in all of cycling: Piazza del Campo in Siena.

And at the center of it all? Tadej Pogacar.

The two-time winner lines up as the overwhelming favorite, chasing history. If he wins for a third time, he’ll earn a permanent marble marker along the route, joining Fabian Cancellara as the only rider to receive the honor. But as we know, with Pogacar, it’s never just about the win—it’s about how he does it.

Last year, he attacked with 81 kilometers to go, soloing all the way to victory in one of the most dominant performances cycling has ever seen. A move so ridiculous that many said it could never be repeated.

And yet, here we are. Pogacar is back.

He won his first race of the season at the UAE Tour and now switches focus to one-day races. “No more stage races until the Dauphiné,” he said. “I need to switch the mentality for the one-day races now.”

He’s not trying to recreate 2024’s madness. “I hope I also find the good legs and we see the results. I don’t mind if everything doesn’t go as smoothly as last year.”

But we know him well. If he senses a moment to go, he’ll take it.

The Contenders: Who Can Challenge Pogacar?

The list of challengers is strong, but Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert won’t be racing. They’ll wait for battles later this spring.

That leaves Tom Pidcock as a key threat. The 2023 Strade Bianche champion has started his season on fire, winning four times with his new Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team. If anyone can pull off a daring long-range attack, it’s him.

Also watch out for Michal Kwiatkowski, a two-time winner of this race, and Maxim Van Gils, third last year and fresh off a win at the Vuelta a Andalucía.

Other dark horses? Marc Hirschi, Valentin Madouas, Ben Healy, Mathias Vacek, Attila Valter, and Davide Formolo.

But let’s be honest—beating Pogacar on his terrain is almost impossible. If he’s even just okay, he’s the man to beat. If he’s at his best… good luck.

The Race: 213km of Gravel and Chaos

The Strade Bianche route is more brutal than ever—213 kilometers with 16 gravel sectors, covering 82km of sterrato. That’s nearly 40% of the race off-road.

The final sector, Le Tolfe, is where Pogacar launched his winning move last year. But before that, riders must survive Monte Sante Marie, a grueling stretch where the race often explodes.

And then there’s the final climb into Siena, the cruelest of finishes. A brutal ramp over 10% leading to Piazza del Campo. If a small group arrives together, this is where the race will be decided.

Women’s Strade Bianche: A Battle of Champions

The women’s race starts at 9:40 AM and follows a 136km route, with 13 gravel sectors covering 50km.

Defending champion Lotte Kopecky isn’t racing, but there’s no shortage of talent. Former winners Elizabeth Deignan (2016), Elisa Longo Borghini (2017), Anna van der Breggen (2018), and Demi Vollering (2023) all return.

Also in the mix? Kasia Niewiadoma, Mavi Garcia, Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, and Olympic road race champion Kristen Faulkner.

How to Watch Strade Bianche 2025

You can catch Strade Bianche live and on demand on FloBikes, exclusively for our viewers in Canada.

Pogacar is here. The white roads are waiting. Will we see another legendary solo ride? Or will someone rise up to challenge him?

Either way, Siena is ready for a show. Strade Bianche 2025 is here.