STRADE BIANCHE AND STRADE BIANCHE WOMEN ELITE, 2025 ROUTES PRESENTED WITH MORE GRAVEL

PROFESSIONALS | 24/01/2025 | 14:17
Today, at the Sala delle Lupe inside the Palazzo Pubblico in Piazza del Campo, the official presentation of the routes for Strade Bianche Crédit Agricole and Strade Bianche Women Elite Crédit Agricole 2025 took place.
After hosting in 2024 Tadej Pogacar's sensational solo performance - whose encore in Piazza del Campo was a prelude to a record-breaking season - and the duel between Lotte Kopecky and Elisa Longo Borghini - a preview of what we witnessed a few months later at the Giro d'Italia Women - in 2025 the most Northern Classic in Southern Europe will also be one of the most prestigious events in the first part of the season, thanks to a renewed route that maintains the charm of a race that shows the world the splendid scenery of the Crete Senesi.
The gravel sections increase to 16 in the men's race, 81.7 km out of 213 total, and to 13 in the women's race, 50.3 km out of 136 total. The finale remains unchanged with the Santa Caterina wall preceding the entrance to Piazza del Campo where the new masters of one of the most coveted races in the entire calendar will be crowned. The Strade Bianche will also feature the BiciScuola project, an "edutainment" project to raise awareness among children about bicycle use for a healthy lifestyle, sporting fair play, balanced nutrition, road education, and the rules of new sustainable mobility.
RINASCENTE FIRENZE.
Thanks to the partnership with Rinascente Firenze, from February 24 to March 10, the charm of the Strade Bianche Grand Weekend will arrive in the heart of the Tuscan capital. The Rinascente windows will be dedicated to celebrating one of the most exclusive events in the world's two-wheel calendar.
STATEMENTS
Paolo Bellino, CEO and General Manager of RCS Sports & Events: "The Strade Bianche weekend is one of the most anticipated globally, both for the two Saturday races and the Sunday Gran Fondo. During this weekend, Siena becomes the capital of cycling, and its beauty, broadcast worldwide, acquires an incomparable media value. This is demonstrated by the numbers, constantly rising both in television ratings, with 25 million total viewers for both races, and in the Digital universe, with data showing a constant increase in our Social Community. Strade Bianche and Strade Bianche Women Elite are a heritage of national and global cycling, almost comparable to the great Monument Classics - Two exciting and highly coveted challenges thanks to marvelous scenarios and routes, the same routes that will then be ridden the next day by many amateurs from all over the world. A great opportunity that Siena has been able to seize and that is renewed also for 2025."
Mauro Vegni, Cycling Area Director RCS Sport: "Strade Bianche and Strade Bianche Women Elite have acquired such importance that they are contested by great names, as demonstrated in 2024 by the victories of Tadej Pogacar and Lotte Kopecky. Both, in case of a new success, would reach 3 victories, acquiring the right to have a sector named after them, as happened in the past only to Fabian Cancellara. For this edition, we have once again renewed the route, adding a gravel sector to both races and making them even more selective. For the first time, they will exceed 50 and 80 km of gravel, an important test for an absolute level race that has now become one of the main objectives of the season for every champion."
Nicoletta Fabio, Mayor of Siena: "An extraordinary opportunity for our territory and for the history of our city. Cycling is a sector that promotes not only sport but also tourism and local economy, helping to make our city and our traditions known to an international audience. Through sport, the possibility of enhancing our historical, cultural, and environmental heritage. A unique opportunity to go beyond our borders and reach a large audience. A special thanks to the RCS team who once again, together with the Municipality, our offices, and the Sports Department, has organized an international event capable of attracting athletes and more from all over the world."
Lorenzo Lorè, Sports Councilor of the Municipality of Siena: "The city is ready to welcome athletes, enthusiasts, and tourists for a weekend in the name of sport and emotions that only Strade Bianche can give. This event, now a traditional appointment for our city, confirms itself as a winning format, as demonstrated by the constantly growing numbers. We are enthusiastic about the confirmed presences, not only from Italy but also from many enthusiasts from all over Europe, who choose our city to follow one of the most loved Classics in the cycling landscape. This year's arrival in Piazza del Campo will not fail to excite and leave us breathless. Beyond the warmth of many spectators, we expect all of Siena and the territories crossed by the race to warmly and enthusiastically welcome this great event, which will once again stage a unique spectacle for all cycling lovers."
Paolo Bettini: "I only participated in one edition of this spectacular race, but in hindsight, I am certain it would have been one of my seasonal goals. The honor roll speaks for itself, with great champions and great champions who have succeeded over the years. Moreover, a race like this in these marvelous scenarios represents a perfect spot for cycling and bicycle-related tourism."
THE ROUTE OF STRADE BIANCHE CRÉDIT AGRICOLE

A very varied and undulating route both planimetrically and altimetrically, without long climbs, but dotted with more or less steep sections especially on gravel. There are about 82 km of gravel roads divided into 16 sectors (13 of which are shared with the women's race). Starting from Siena (Stadium/Fortezza Medicea area), the first kilometers are undulating on asphalt until reaching the 1st gravel sector (4.4 km), perfectly straight with only one curve in the middle and constantly slightly downhill.
A few kilometers separate it from the 2nd sector (4.8 km), the first true difficulty of the race, which presents a long uphill section with gradients even beyond 10%. Radi is reached where the 3rd sector (4.4 km) is encountered and immediately after the 4th "La Piana" sector (6.4 km), altimetrically less challenging, which leads to Ponte d'Arbia, from where, traveling along the Cassia, Buonconvento is reached. The Montalcino climb (paved) is then tackled, the second difficulty of the day (4 km, 5%). After Torrenieri, the 5th (11.9 km) and 6th (8.0 km) sectors begin, separated by only 1 km of asphalt, both challenging, undulating, very nervous, and with many curves and ups and downs. After the second passage through Buonconvento, the new Serravalle sector (9.3 km) is tackled, which ends just before the start of the next sector (San Martino in Grania, 9.5 km) in the midst of the Crete Senesi.
A long gravel sector with a succession of slight ups and downs in the first part, concluding with a switchback climb that re-enters the asphalt. At Ponte del Garbo (Asciano), the 9th gravel sector begins (11.5 km, the most challenging of the race), predominantly uphill and characterized by significant ups and downs, including those near Monte Sante Marie that abruptly reach very high gradients both uphill and downhill (over short distances). After Castelnuovo Berardenga, a short paved section leads to Monteaperti where immediately after there is the 10th sector of only 600 m, but with a gravel section with double-digit gradients.
Asphalt is found again at Vico d'Arbia where the 30 km circuit is entered. After Pieve a Bozzone, the circuit offers the 11th sector (Colle Pinzuto 2.4 km) with gradients up to 15%. A few kilometers later is the 12th Tolfe sector (1.1 km) with a sequence of sharp descent followed by a steep climb (max gradient 18%). Shortly after Tolfe, on the first passage, the new Strada del Castagno sector is entered (13th sector, 700 m) which leads to some challenging paved sections to Pontignano, Ponte a Bozzone, and San Giovanni a Cerreto where the 14th gravel section (Montechiaro 3.3 km) is taken, used in the first editions of the race. At the end of this sector, at Vico d'Arbia, the loop concludes.
The Colle Pinzuto (15th) and Tolfe (16th) sectors are then covered a second time, turning towards Siena when just over 10 km remain to the Siena finish. The last kilometers wind for the first part outside the Siena urban area on wide roads and long straights connected by wide curves, first downhill and then slightly uphill until 2 km from the finish where the Esterna di Fontebranda road is taken with gradients up to 9%. 900 m from the finish, Porta di Fontebranda is passed and the cobblestone pavement begins. The gradient exceeds 10% to reach around 500 m from the finish, in Via Santa Caterina, with peaks of 16%.
A sharp right turn follows in Via delle Terme and entry into Via Banchi di Sotto. From 300 m the road is always slightly downhill. At 150 m, a right turn onto Via Rinaldini. At 70 m, entry into the Campo, last 30 m downhill at 7%.
THE ROUTE OF STRADE BIANCHE WOMEN ELITE CRÉDIT AGRICOLE

A very varied and undulating route both planimetrically and altimetrically, without long climbs, but dotted with more or less steep sections especially on gravel. About 50 km of gravel roads divided into 13 sectors (all shared with the professional race) with well-maintained, well-beaten ground, free of grassy intrusions and with little surface gravel.
Starting from Siena (Stadium/Fortezza Medicea area), the first kilometers are undulating on asphalt until reaching the 1st gravel sector (4.4 km), perfectly straight with only one curve in the middle and constantly slightly downhill. A few kilometers separate it from the 2nd sector (4.8 km), the first true difficulty of the race, which presents a long uphill section with gradients even beyond 10%. Radi is reached where the 3rd sector (4.4 km) is encountered and immediately after the 4th "La Piana" sector (6.4 km), altimetrically less challenging, which leads to Ponte d'Arbia where, after a few hundred meters on the "Cassia", the new Serravalle sector (9.3 km) is tackled, which ends just before the start of the next sector (San Martino in Grania, 9.5 km) in the midst of the Crete Senesi.
A long gravel sector with a succession of slight ups and downs in the first part, concluding with a switchback climb that re-enters the asphalt. A paved section with few difficulties follows until entry, at Monteaperti, into the classic men's route with the same challenging finale.