VeloNews News Road

Road

Gallery: Benoot scores maiden pro victory at Strade Bianche

Tiesj Benoot’s first professional victory was a special one, as the riders tackled unforgettable conditions at the 2018 Strade Bianche.

Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.

Strade — The peloton split on one of the early dirt sectors in the race. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images

Strade — While it was stressful in the peloton, American Sepp Kuss (LottoNL-Jumbo) was out front in the breakaway. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images

Strade — Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) all bundled-up early on, as rain poured down onto the riders. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images

Strade — Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images

Strade — For much of the race, world champion Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) was hardly recognizable with a black rainbow jacket covering his white jersey. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images

Strade — Line choice was key through the dirt sectors. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images

Strade — Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images

Strade — The day was marked by many mechanicals and punctures. A rider had to have a bit of luck to make it through the race on Saturday. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images

Strade — The gloomy day made the peloton barely visible at times. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images

Strade — Romain Bardet (Ag2r-La Mondiale) is tackling the rough roads of the spring classics for the first time in his career in 2018. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images

Strade — Michal Kwiatkowski (Sky) kicked-off the finale of the race when he attacked on the eighth sector, which is named after Fabian Cancellara. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images

Strade — Michal Kwiakowski’s attack created a select group of leaders. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images

Strade — Three-time world cyclocross champion Wout Van Aert (Vérandas Willems-Crelan) and Romain Bardet emerged from the eighth sector of dirt in the lead. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images

Strade — Tiesj Benoot (Lotto Soudal) and Pieter Serry (Quick-Step Floors) attacked the chase group on the long road section between the eighth and ninth sectors of dirt. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images

Strade — Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images

Strade — Sometimes it can be a bit lonely out there. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images

Strade — Tiesj Benoot left Pieter Serry behind on the penultimate sector of dirt. After bridging to the leaders, he then dropped them on the final sector of dirt. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images

Strade — Riders resorted to spraying themselves in order to be able to see the road ahead. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images

Strade — Tiesj Benoot entered the famous Piazza del Campo alone to the cheers of the crowd. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images

Strade — Romain Bardet, a podium finisher at the Tour de France, surprisingly finished second at Strade Bianche. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images

Strade — It had stopped raining by the time the riders finished, but they were still very muddy from the day’s effort. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images

Strade — Peter Sagan finished eighth at Strade Bianche, his first race in Europe in 2018. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images

Strade — The podium had a young look to it, as Romain Bardet was the elder statesman at just 27-years-old. Tiesj Benoot and Wout van Aert are both 23-years-old. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images

Strade — Riders continued to roll into the Piazza as the podium celebration took place. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images

Greg

O Gran Camiño stage 1 stopped with 20km to go due to heavy snow

Mathieu van der Poel taking long view on classics after Strade Bianche bust

Strade Bianche: Tom Pidcock delivers sublime solo victory

An American in France

What’s it like to be an American cyclist living in France? Watch to get professional road cyclist Joe Dombrowski’s view.

Keywords:

Native
Wilier

Related content from the Outside Network

One Way South

Mountain Bikers React to Their First Taste of Non-Alcoholic Craft Beer

Video review: BMC URS 01 Two gravel bike

Kiel Reijnen Vuelta Video Diary: The painful decision to abandon