Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney nonetheless recalls the day she fell in love with the steep white gravel roads of Strade Bianche. It took place in 2014 when she got here to Siena to race the granfondo L’Eroica, along with her earlier staff Rabobank.
“We had so much fun [racing L’Eroica]– it was extremely difficult but beautiful, and we just enjoyed the whole day,” Niewiadoma mentioned in a staff free up.
That very same day, the organisers introduced the Strade Bianche Ladies for 2015.
“I remember sitting at the announcement when they were showing the course. I just instantly fell in love because I love the steep gravel roads, the beauty, and how the race will always be hard – whether you win it or not, there’s always a massive sense of satisfaction that comes at the end,” she said.
“I think those memories from when I was super young and dreaming of winning the race have somehow stuck with me for all these years. Motivation is always there because anytime I lose, I want it even more for some reason.”
That motivation nonetheless animates the Canyon-Sram zondacrypto rider who claimed 9 top-10 finishes in ten begins, together with 3 runner-up spots, and a 3rd position.
For the eleventh version of the race, the 136km path of undulating terrain around the scenic however unforgiving hills of Tuscany, options 13 gravel sections that upload as much as 10km extra unpaved roads, now as much as 50.3km in comparison to closing yr’s parcours.
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After opening her season at Setmana Ciclista Valenciana, and racing the one-day Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Niewiadoma-Phinney made her approach to the realm to recon the primary a part of the race.
There she desirous about about 90km of the path, together with the brand new gravel sector, Serravelle. The riders received’t have a lot time to relaxation after the brand new 9.3km uphill sector, because the 6th sector, Grania, begins lower than two kilometres later.
Although Serravelle comes a ways from the end, sitting 78km from Siena, Niewiadoma-Phinney thinks that this modification will “definitely” make an have an effect on.
“There’s very little recovery between the new sector and the next,” she mentioned. “Everyone will want to stay in the front and of course that’s impossible – there’s going to be a huge washing machine effect, and you’ll definitely need a bit of luck not to puncture or crash.
“Some gravel sections also look quite loose and ‘weirdly’ fresh. I think that the race will be harder, but the extra gravel section will somehow make it easier before the following 9km gravel section which is normally the opening of the race. Because we won’t enter it from a big road anymore, but instead from small gravel roads, I do believe that it’s better for us as a team.”
With Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig, the Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto comes into the race with two contenders for the victory. The previous FDJ-Suez was once at the podium in her closing participation in 2023 and has seven top-10 finishes in seven appearances. After 3 weeks of coaching following her season debut at Setmana Ciclista Valenciana along with her new staff.
“Valencia was a great experience. I felt good out there and it was fantastic to get that first race of the season under my belt, especially with a new team. The vibe was great, and the energy from the girls made it even better,” Uttrup Ludwig mentioned.
The Dane needed to skip closing yr’s Strade Bianche after maintaining a fracture of the sacrum in a crash at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.
“Missing out on Strade last year was tough, so I’m beyond excited to be racing it again this time around. We have such a strong lineup and I can’t wait for us to put our mark on the race. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Becoming a member of Niewiadoma-Phinney and Uttrup Ludwig in the beginning in Siena for Strade Bianche might be Antonia Niedermaier, Agnieszka Skalniak-Sójka, Soraya Paladin, and Alice Towers.
