In 2001 contributor Rob Coppolillo traveled to Tuscany to participate in a little-known ride on the region's gravel roads. Two decades later, the event has grown into pro cycling's biggest off-road race.
At a time when the major professional teams have become unified in their position opposing the UCI ban on two-way radios, all three of the past week’s semi-classics saw dramatic, unpredictable racing.
Philippe Gilbert (Omega-Lotto) delivered a thrilling victory at the Monte Paschi-Strade Bianche race in Italy on Saturday.
Hesjedal racing ‘white roads,’ then catching flight to start Paris-Nice next day
Cadel Evans and George Hincapie get their seasons started this week in Italy. The BMC Racing veterans each delayed the starts to their 2011 campaigns to take advantage of warm weather training and remain fresh for midseason objectives.
George Hincapie feels better than ever. That’s saying a lot as the BMC veteran is on the eve of his 2011 debut – his 18th as a professional – at Montepaschi Strade Bianchi Saturday.
Team Type 1 is among 14 teams invited to participate in the 5th Montepaschi-Strade Bianche race over the white roads of Tuscany set for March 5.
Maxim Iglinskiy wins the Montepaschi Strade Bianche.
Maxim Iglinskiy wins a three-up sprint to take the Montepaschi Strade Bianche.
In Europe this week, the Vuelta a Murcia and the Monte Paschi Eroica are the big races, while mid-week races in Italy and Belgium keep things rolling. Andrew Hood takes a look.
There are a lot of big names expected for the 101st edition of Milan-San Remo next month, but Riccardo Riccò isn’t among them.
Following a breakthrough 2009 season, highlighted by a mountaintop stage victory in the Vuelta a España, it’s no surprise that Ryder Hesjedal is hungry for more.
Known for its strade bianche — white gravel roads — Italy's newest one-day classic is quickly becoming an early season favorite.
Swedish rider Thomas Lövkvist (Columbia-Highroad) bolted home to victory in the 3rd Monte Paschi Strade Bianche Toscana on Saturday as foreign riders dominated the popular one-day race on gravel roads across Tuscany. Coming through second was German Fabian Wegmann (Milram) at four seconds back with Swiss rider Martin Elmiger (Ag2r-La Mondiale) completing the podium with third.
After an exciting opening weekend of the classics season – with Thor Hushovd and Tom Boonen taking a pair of victories in Belgium – the hammerheads have plenty on their plates this week. The top draw for the first week of March is Monte Paschi Eroica in Italy, already considered a major event despite only its third year on the calendar. Spanish stage racing continues in the sunny south with the Vuelta a Murcia, where Denis Menchov (Rabobank) is the top name joining mostly Spanish riders in the five-day race.
CSC's powerhouse Fabian Cancellara won Saturday's new Italian one-day, the Monte Paschi Eroica. The long-time amateur race, which includes miles of gravel roads, was held for the first time as a professional race last fall. The first pro edition also was won by a CSC rider, Alexandr Kolobnev.
Following a successful debut last year, the Monte Paschi Eroica will be held March 8 in Italy over 181km that includes seven sectors of gravel. World champion Paolo Bettini and his Quick Step-Innergetic will be among the 8-man squads taking the start, along with High Road and Slipstream-Chipotle. Last year’s edition was held in the fall in Tuscany, and was won by CSC’s Alexandr Kolobnev soon after he took second at the world championships.