12th Strade Bianche Donne, one-day Miniment + 17th Trofeo Oro in Euro, March 7th-8th, 2026

[Samu Cuenca]

Italy is calling, and the white roads of Tuscany are ready to welcome the riders for another hopefully memorable edition of one of the most iconic newer races in the sport.

Last year's race saw Demi Vollering become victorious for the second time in her career, but if the recent trend continues, it will once again be Lotte Kopecky's turn to come out on top in Siena. Kasia Niewiadoma showed in Omloop that Vollering won't necessarily be able to drop her for fun, and as former gravel World champion she must be delighted to be able to ride on real gravel here. Elisa Longo Borghini did her usual thing in UAE and is looking to be victorious on home roads (well Trofeo Binda next week is of course taking place much closer to her actual home) for the second time in her career, thus equaling the record held by Vollering, Kopecky and Annemiek van Vleuten. Anna van der Breggen can achieve that same feat.

Tour de France champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot scored her first ever podium in this race last year and could be hungry for more, depending on how much she's been eating in the weeks leading up to the event. Her sister and current French gravel champion Axelle Dubau-Prévot is sadly not on the start list, but Magdeleine Vallieres, Cédrine Kerbaol, Puck Pieterse, Marianne Vos, Kim Too-many-last-names, Silvia Persico, Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig, Shirin van Anrooij, Yara Kastelijn, Liane Lippert, Mischa Bredewold and many others are.

Silke Smulders, who unfortunately crashed out of Setmana Valenciana, is the only rider form last year's top 10 that's missing from the start list, but her teammate Monica Trinca Colonel is there to defend Jayco's honour.

Full start list: https://firstcycling.com/race.php?r=9044&y=2026&k=8

In 2025 they went live with 61 km left. I can see in my TV schedule that the broadcast will begin at 11:45, so if we get live pictures from let's say 12:10, we could be looking forward to 65 km of action if we're lucky.

Hold your horses, so they don't end up interfering with the race, and enjoy a lovely Saturday glued to the screen!