On Saturday, 7 March 2026, the peloton rolls out once again into the pale, dusty hills of Tuscany for the twelfth edition of this modern classic. It’s early season, form is still revealing itself, and the white roads, the sterrato, will serve as an electrifying test of riders’ fresh legs and confidence.
There will be 21 teams of six riders competing in the Italian one-day Classic. Among them are the top WorldTour teams, as well as five local Continental teams: Aromitalia Vaiano, Isolmant-Premac-Vittoria, Team Mendespeck E-Work, Top Girls Fassa Bortolo and Vini Fantini-BePink.
If cycling has a version of beautiful suffering, this is it. And today, we are offering a preview of the women’s race, so you will have everything you need get the most out of this weekend’s Strade Bianche Donne.
Tuscany in March, a stunning backdrop for a seriously hardcore race
The setting of rolling vineyards, cypress-lined roads, and golden light over Siena is deceptive. It looks like a postcard, but Strade Bianche Women 2026 is 131 kilometres of relentless changes in rhythm, traction, and mood. Gravel sectors bite into momentum, there are punchy climbs to tackle, and no shortage of dust to fill the lungs and blur vision. So far, the weather is looking clear for Saturday, but even a bit of rain can turn those cobbles into a messy mud-fest showdown.
The 2026 route trims two sectors compared to last year; La Piana (6.4 km) and Serravalle (9.3 km) are gone, creating a longer stretch of asphalt between the early and late phases of the race. But don’t mistake “fewer sectors” for easier racing, as the core brutality remains intact.
The race still features 11 gravel sectors, and they’re strategically placed to keep the pressure constant:
- Vidritta (2.4 km)
- Bagnaia (4.8 km)
- Radi (4.4 km)
- S. Martino in Grania (9.4 km) ★★★★★
- Monteaperti (0.6 km)
- Colle Pinzuto (2.4 km) ★★★★
- Le Tolfe (1.1 km) ★★★★
- Strada del Castagno (0.7 km)
- Montechiaro (3.3 km)
- Colle Pinzuto (2.4 km)
- Le Tolfe (1.1 km)
Martino in Grania remains the only five-star sector, nearly ten kilometres of exposed, energy-draining gravel that often detonates the race. There is no Monte Sante Marie on the women’s course, but Colle Pinzuto and Le Tolfe, tackled twice near the end, are vicious enough to decide everything.
And then comes Siena. The final ascent of Via Santa Caterina, steep, narrow, savage, drags the survivors into Piazza del Campo. It’s short, but it feels vertical. Riders don’t sprint here, but rather endeavour to claw their way to the top.
View this post on Instagram
The rivalry: Vollering vs Kopecky
In recent years, Strade Bianche has belonged to two women: Demi Vollering and Lotte Kopecky.
They’ve traded victories over the past four editions, but Vollering, now racing for FDJ-United Suez, arrives as defending champion after her commanding solo victory in 2025. Kopecky, riding for SD Worx-Protime, has repeatedly proven that her power on punchy terrain is nearly unmatched.
What makes their duel so compelling isn’t just strength, it’s timing. Vollering prefers to grind rivals down on climbs, while Kopecky thrives in explosive finales. On gravel, when positioning is everything, one hesitation entering a sector can cost ten seconds, while one perfectly timed acceleration can win the race.
If these two arrive together at the final loop into Siena, expect fireworks. But, as always, there are more than a few top hopefuls who look well-positioned to take the top spot.
Enter the multi-disciplinary force
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot will be another top rider who is sure to remind us all that gravel rewards versatility. After returning to road racing with Visma–Lease a Bike and rediscovering her top-tier road form, Ferrand-Prévot has already shown she can translate off-road brilliance into major road victories.
With her background in mountain biking and cyclocross, the technical sterrato sectors are less threatening and more of a playground. If conditions turn chaotic, crosswinds, punctures, slippery descents, few riders read terrain as instinctively as she does.
Strade Bianche is often described as “a mini monument.” Ferrand-Prévot rides like someone who collects monuments in multiple disciplines.
The return of a legend
And then there’s Anna van der Breggen. Her 2018 victory here remains one of the defining rides in the race’s history. She knows how this race unfolds, where patience matters, where hesitation is fatal.
If SD Worx-Protime effectively deploys both Kopecky and Van der Breggen, they can force others to chase. Strade is a race where numbers matter less than legs, but smart teamwork still changes outcomes.
The dark horses
Because it’s early season, surprises are common. Alongside solid all-rounder bets like Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney, Puck Pieterse, and Elisa Longo Borghini, riders who have completed winter training perfectly can emerge ahead of schedule. Those transitioning from cyclocross are also arriving sharp.
Watch for aggressive moves before S. Martino in Grania. The absence of Monte Sante Marie may encourage earlier attacks, especially from riders who want to avoid a pure climbing duel on Via Santa Caterina.
Don’t be surprised if a small group slips clear over Colle Pinzuto on the final circuit. Once gaps open on gravel, they’re notoriously hard to close. Overall, keep your eye on young all-rounders, unafraid of chaos. Strade rewards courage.
What makes this race so special?
Strade Bianche Donne sits at a fascinating point in the season. For some, it’s a target, whereas for others, it is a stepping stone toward the Ardennes Classics or the Tour de France Femmes. That tension, between preparation and ambition, can add plenty of high-stakes unpredictability.
And then there’s Siena.
Finishing in Piazza del Campo is pure theatre. The curved medieval square frames the riders like a stage, and after hours of gravel warfare, the winner lifts her arms in one of the most photogenic finishes in cycling.
With fewer early sectors, the opening phase may be calmer than in previous years. Teams will fight for position before Vidritta and Bagnaia, but the real tension will build as they approach S. Martino in Grania.
That’s where favourites must be near the front. A split here can eliminate half the peloton.
If Vollering wants to control the race, she may push the pace on Colle Pinzuto. Kopecky, meanwhile, might prefer a reduced group arriving together in Siena. Ferrand-Prévot could gamble on a long-range move, trusting her technical skill on gravel descents.
The double lap over Colle Pinzuto and Le Tolfe is the crucible. Riders are already fatigued,d and gaps open easily.
And then, the final climb. Via Santa Caterina averages over 10%, with sections steeper. It’s cobbled, narrow, and unforgiving. Whoever hits the bottom with momentum and belief often wins.
In any case, in a sport increasingly defined by precision and data, Strade Bianche feels gloriously unpredictable.
How to watch Strade Bianche Women 2026
The race takes place on Saturday, 7 March and starts at 10:15 CET (local time). The riders are expected to finish around 13:45–14:00 CET, depending on the race speed.
Fans in Europe can watch the action live on Eurosport and via the Discovery+ platform, which typically broadcasts the final and most decisive part of the race as the riders tackle the last gravel sectors and the dramatic climb into Siena.
Coverage usually begins roughly 1.5–2 hours before the finish, just as the race hits the most selective sectors like Colle Pinzuto and Le Tolfe — the point where the favourites often make their decisive moves.
If you prefer following online, the race can also be tracked through live updates on the official website of the organiser, RCS Sport, as well as team social media and cycling news outlets.
But if you can tune in live, it’s worth it. Few races deliver such a perfect mix of scenery, suspense, and sheer suffering!
