Considered monumental like those with many more years of history behind them, Strade Bianche is the best way to approach the season of great classics: it's spectacular, runs through fairytale scenarios and with its gravel roads gives an ancient charm to modern cycling. Moreover, it can boast a prestigious honor roll that, despite its young age (eighteen editions so far), is already prestigious: of those who dictate the law in one-day races, only Evenepoel is missing. Traditional route, from Siena and back with the final climb to Piazza del Campo, a 213-kilometer adventure, 82 of which are distributed in sixteen sections of dirt and gravel roads, where technical difficulties, like steep climbs and descents, are compounded by the high risk of falls and punctures. Of the three at the start who have already won it, Pogacar and Kwiatkowski are the ones aiming for a hat-trick: achieving it would mean being etched in stone on the route, so far obtained only by Cancellara. As for Italy, it remains stuck at Moreno Moser's victory, dating back to 2013. Here are the ten faces that could emerge victorious from the Tuscan dust.

Tadej Pogacar. Wins because doing so comes easily to him on any terrain, because he has a sense of history and aims to write it here too, because a year ago with 81 kilometers of breakaway he showed he's a level above the others. Doesn't win because luck is not always on the side of the strongest.

Tom Pidcock. Wins because he's one of the three in the race who has already succeeded, because he's another who makes no difference between road and off-road, because having already won four times this season is a sign of form and brings serenity. Doesn't win because when phenomena are around, he must follow.

Toms Skujins. He wins because he's the type of rider who improves in this race year after year, because last year's second place gave him confidence, because tough classics are his bread and butter. He doesn't win because playing supporting roles doesn't always help you become the lead actor.

Michal Kwiatkovski. Wins because he knows this race very well, because in one-day races he's always better kept an eye on, because he comes from a season where he didn't exhaust himself and has already won the Clasica Jaen on Galician gravel roads. Doesn't win because at 34 he's starting to feel the weight of new generations.

Marc Hirschi. Wins because he's a classics man, because he has always raced at the front since the start of the season, because he finally has the opportunity to face this test as a leader and not a domestique. Doesn't win because being fast on asphalt doesn't mean being able to do so on gravel.

Davide Formolo. Wins because the harder the race, the more he likes it, because the last five times he finished three times in the top ten with a second place, because with Bettiol and Zana he's among the few cards Italy has. Doesn't win because in such a race being tenacious is not enough to drop everyone.

Valentin Madouas. Wins because this is a race he has in his DNA, because in four participations he has a second place and three top twenties, because he's always up front. Doesn't win because being a protagonist in classics hasn't yet allowed him to win one.

Matej Mohoric. Wins because he's another who goes hand in hand with classics, because on gravel roads he has the experience to make it, because for a couple of years he's been immediately behind the best. Doesn't win because he started the season with the air of someone thinking mainly about the Northern Classics.

Attila Valter. Wins because he's always done well in this classic, because he defends himself very well off-road, because he can race with the team at his disposal and not at the disposal of others. Doesn't win because he has just two races in his legs and on gravel roads it might not be enough.

Kevin Vauquelin. Wins because he's a talented guy, because he started this season brilliantly, because a year ago at his debut he showed he can race even on Sienese clay roads. Doesn't win because a classic like this requires certainties he doesn't yet have.