The Strade Bianche Weekend Has Been Unveiled

The Strade Bianche Weekend was officially presented today at La Rinascente Milano Piazza Duomo. On March 7, the event will mark the opening of the Italian UCI WorldTour Classics season, organised by RCS Sport. which will be followed on March 8 by the 11th edition of the Gran Fondo Strade Bianche Estra.

Strade Bianche Crédit Agricole and Strade Bianche Women Elite Crédit Agricole will feature some changes to their routes, while preserving the unique charm of two spectacular races that have produced memorable sporting feats over the years, such as Demi Vollering’s second victory in Piazza del Campo and the solo ride of the reigning world champion Tadej Pogačar in last year’s edition.

The men’s race will cover a distance of 201 km, with the number of gravel sectors reduced from 16 to 14, for a total of 64.1 km on white roads. The women’s race will also feature two fewer sectors, with a total distance of 131 km, including 33 km of gravel.

The weekend in the Crete Senesi, which will open on March 6 with the team presentations inside the Fortezza Medicea, will conclude on March 8 with the Gran Fondo Strade Bianche Estra, an event that continues to grow in importance within the cycling calendar for amateur riders. The record number of entries from previous editions has already been surpassed.

The Route Of Strade Bianche Crédit Agricole 2026

The course is twisty and undulating, with no extended climbs but with quite a few punchy bits, especially on the unpaved sections of the route. There are roughly 64 km of gravel roads, across 14 sectors, 11 of which are shared with the Women Elite course. The race starts near the Stadium/Fortezza Medicea in Siena. The first undulating kilometers on tarmac lead to the 2.4 km-long gravel sector 1, which is perfectly straight and slightly downhill. Sector 2 (4.8 km) is just a few kilometers away; this will be the first tricky bit of the race, with a short descent followed by a long climb featuring sections over 10%. Upon reaching Radi, the route takes in the third gravel sector (4.4 km long), followed by 30 km that will lead to the Montalcino climb, the second ascent of the day (4 km at 5%). Sectors 5 (11.9 km) and 6 (8 km) begin just past Torrenieri, with only 1 km of tarmac in between. Both are hard, hilly and very punchy, with many challenging bends, climbs and descents. After the second pass through Buonconvento, riders will face the sector of San Martino in Grania (9.4 km), set amidst the Crete Senesi. This gravel sector is long and features a series of gentle undulations in its first part, and ending with a twisting climb that leads back to paved roads. Sector 7 begins in Ponte del Garbo (Asciano). At 11.5 km, it’s the hardest of the race, mostly uphill and marked by major slopes, especially near Monte Sante Marie, with steep gradients on both climbs and descents over short distances. Past Castelnuovo Berardenga there’s a very short, flat unpaved section (300 m) followed by the eight dirt road sector, after Monteaperti. At only 600 m in length, it greets the riders with double-digit gradients. The route goes back on tarmac in Vico d’Arbia where the 30 km circuit begins. Past Pieve a Bozzone, sector 9 (2.4 km) comes next, on the climb toward Colle Pinzuto, with gradients peaking as high as 15%. After a few kilometers, the route features the tenth sector, Le Tolfe, (1.1 km), marked by a fast-running descent followed by a very punchy climb (with a maximum gradient of 18%). Shortly after Le Tolfe, upon the first passage, the route takes a first-ever ride on the Strada del Castagno (11th sector, 700 m), which leads to some challenging passes on tarmac all the way to Pontignano, Ponte a Bozzone and San Giovanni a Cerreto, where we enter the 12th sector (Montechiaro 3.3 km), which was covered in the first editions of the race. The circuit ends at the end of this sector, in Vico d’Arbia. The sectors of Colle Pinzuto (13th) and Le Tolfe (14th) will be repeated before the route turns towards Siena with a little over 10 km left to the finish.

Final kilometers

The demanding final kilometers approach the city of Siena along wide and straight roads, connected by sweeping curves, initially downhill, and further on slightly uphill. With 2 km to go to the finish, the route takes the Via Esterna di Fontebranda; here the gradient touches 9%. The stone pavement begins 900 m before the finish line, just past the Fontebranda Gate. The gradient is over 10% until 500 m from the finish, reaching its steepest gradient of 16% along Via Santa Caterina. A sharp right-hand turn leads to Via delle Terme, and then to Via Banchi di Sotto. Starting 300 m to the finish onwards, the road is a slight, continuous ascent. With 150 m to go, a right turn leads into Via Rinaldini. The route enters the Piazza del Campo just 70 m from the finish line. The final 30 m descend at a gradient of 7% to the finish line, which is on level road.

The Route Of Strade Bianche Women Elite Crédit Agricole 2026

The course is twisty and undulating, with no extended climbs but with quite a few punchy bits, especially on the unpaved sections. There are more than 33 km of gravel roads across eleven sectors (all shared with the Men’s course). The race starts near the Stadium/Fortezza Medicea in Siena. The first undulating kilometers on tarmac lead to the 4.4 km-long gravel sector 1, which is perfectly straight and slightly downhill. Sector 2 (4.8 km) is just a few kilometres away; this will be the first tricky bit of the race, with a short descent followed by a long climb featuring sections over 10%. Upon reaching Radi, the route takes in the third gravel sector (4.4 km), shortly followed by 20 km on tarmac where, after a few hundred meters on the “Cassia,” riders will tackle the 4th sector San Martino in Grania (9.5 km), set amidst the Crete Senesi. It’s a long sector marked by a sequence of gentle undulations in its first part, and ending with a twisting climb that leads back to paved road. The fiftth dirt road sector, Monteaperti, is only 800 m in length, but it greets the riders with double-digit gradients.

The final kilometers are the same as the men’s course.

Quotes

Paolo Bellino, CEO of RCS Sports and Events: “The Great Strade Bianche Weekend represents one of the most defining events on our calendar and, over the years, has become a benchmark for international cycling. Opening the season of the Italian WorldTour Classics in a unique setting like Siena combines sporting excellence with the promotion of the territory. This is complemented by a top-tier media dimension, with live television coverage worldwide and extensive exposure also dedicated to amateur riders through the Gran Fondo, making the event a comprehensive communication platform of great value for partners and host territories”.

Nicoletta Fabio, Mayor of Siena, and Lorenzo Lorè, Councillor for Sports of the Municipality of Siena: “Siena is once again at the heart of the international sporting scene, with a race that has become an icon both competitively and at amateur level. Our roads, our landscapes, our monuments and our culture provide the backdrop to a two-day sporting event that is now famous worldwide. Strade Bianche and the Gran Fondo are in fact an unmissable fixture for cycling enthusiasts, an event that sees the city administration effectively involved throughout the year, together with RCS. Our city and our territory will once again welcome thousands of fans, in an ideal and real embrace that brings together top professionals and amateurs alike. Sport, culture, tourism and hospitality: Siena will once again take center stage in world sport”.

Marco Briata, Head of Marketing, Retail & Digital at Crédit Agricole Italia: “Crédit Agricole once again confirms its support for cycling, a sport that fully embodies values such as fairness, determination and sustainability, in which the Group firmly believes. Following the success of previous editions, our partnership with RCS continues as Top Sponsor of the Spring Classics, reaffirming the Group’s commitment to the tangible promotion of local territories through initiatives with an international reach”.

Matteo Mursia, Chief Revenue Officer of RCS Sports & Events: “The Great Strade Bianche Weekend is a high-profile communication platform, capable of combining international visibility, on-site activations and strong engagement with both professional and amateur audiences. The value of this project is also made possible thanks to the trust and contribution of partners who, year after year, choose to invest in a truly unique event. Choosing the Strade Bianche brand means embracing a holistic vision focused on quality and innovation”.

Giusy Virelli, Strade Bianche Crédit Agricole Project Manager: “The 2026 routes of Strade Bianche and Strade Bianche Women Elite fully preserve the technical identity of the race, built on the alternation between gravel and asphalt and on an extremely selective finale. The reduction in the number of sectors does not compromise the race’s toughness or spectacle. These remain demanding courses, designed for complete male and female athletes who, as we have seen in recent editions, are capable of excelling throughout the rest of the season across different terrains”.

Manolo Bertocchi, Head of Marketing at Colnago: “Strade Bianche today represents the most iconic event in Italian cycling worldwide, both amateur and professional. The beauty that permeates the entire Siena weekend is a fundamental part of our brand’s essence—victorious in the last two consecutive editions—and we simply could not fail to be part of it once again”.

Silvano Garro, Sales Director and Head of Human Resources at Rinascente: “Rinascente’s commitment to the city, with the city and within the city is not expressed solely through stores designed as reference points within the urban fabric, in harmony with the DNA of each territory, but also through support for culture and events that bring the city to life. For this reason, our relationship with RCS Sport and our support for the Gran Fondo Strade Bianche represent a concrete example of how we see ourselves as a media company that goes beyond retail, capable of offering authentic entertainment experiences”.

Moreno Moser: “Strade Bianche is a crazy race, unlike any other. It brings together all the elements of cycling, and that is why it is so loved by spectators, who can enjoy it to the fullest also thanks to the introduction of the final circuit, which allows fans to watch several passes of their heroes. From my 2013 victory I will always carry with me the roar of the crowd as I entered Piazza del Campo, a wonderful feeling in an artistically magnificent place”.

Maria Giulia Confalonieri: “Strade Bianche has always had a special charm, even though the course characteristics didn’t really suit me. Over the years, the level of the riders has increased, and with it the prestige of the race. The final circuit has also made it more exciting. I expect a battle among the best athletes in the world starting from the fourth sector”.

The Route Of Gran Fondo Strade Bianche Estra 2026

Approximately 42 km of gravel roads (over 30% of the total route) are included, divided into 9 sectors (some new to both the men’s and women’s races). The surface is well maintained and compact. The race starts in Siena (Stadium/Fortezza Medicea area), leaving the city via the northern ring road, skirting Porta Pispini and Porta Romana on rolling asphalt before reaching the 1st gravel sector (2.1 km), perfectly straight and always on a very gentle uphill. After just a few kilometers comes the 2nd sector (5.8 km), the first real challenge of the race, featuring a short stretch of slight downhill followed by a long climb, at times with gradients around and above 12%. The route then reaches Radi, where the 3rd sector (4.4 km) begins, followed immediately by the 4th sector (6.4 km), which is less demanding from an elevation standpoint. This leads to Ponte d’Arbia, where the course crosses the Via Cassia to tackle the Serravalle sector (5th – 9.3 km), which ends in Monteroni d’Arbia. Almost immediately the 6th gravel sector, San Martino in Grania (9.5 km), begins in the heart of the Crete Senesi. This long sector features a succession of gentle rises and dips in the first part, before concluding with a climb of sweeping, steep bends that leads back onto asphalt. Before Castelnuovo Berardenga, the race turns toward Guistrigona, where the 7th gravel sector is located, consisting of a fast descent followed by a climb, all within just 1.1 km. Shortly afterward comes the 8th sector, only 800 m long, at Montaperti, but with double-digit gradients on the punchy climb. The route then returns to asphalt at Vico d’Arbia and passes through Pieve a Bozzone, still on paved roads. The 9th and penultimate sector (2.4 km) follows, on the uphill Colle Pinzuto road, with gradients up to 15%. After a few more kilometers of asphalt—mostly downhill—the 10th and final gravel sector (1.1 km) begins, featuring a sequence of a sharp descent followed by a steep climb (maximum gradient 18%), ending at Le Tolfe. From there, just over 12 km remain to the finish in Piazza del Campo, Siena.

Quotes

Luca Onofrio, Head of Mass Events at RCS Sports & Events: “The Gran Fondo Strade Bianche Estra today represents one of the most eagerly awaited and iconic events on the international amateur cycling calendar. The more than 8,500 registered participants clearly demonstrate how much this event has grown over time while preserving the unique charm of Strade Bianche. Riding on the same roads and gravel sectors tackled by the WorldTour champions, with a finish in the extraordinary setting of Piazza del Campo, is an experience that each year attracts enthusiasts from all over the world. The Strade Bianche Great Weekend has become a benchmark event, capable of combining top-level sport with mass participation, while at the same time enhancing the Crete Senesi landscape and the city of Siena”.

Alessandro Fabbrini, Vice President of Estra: “Estra is a multi-utility company that grows while remaining close to people, businesses, and the territories in which it operates, with constant attention to sustainability and service quality. Being the title sponsor of the Gran Fondo Strade Bianche means giving concrete form to this vision through a project that brings together sport, passion, the environment, and community. It is a forward-looking choice, finding its most authentic meaning in participation and shared experience”.

Alessio Cremonese, Executive Chairman of MVC Group: “Our collaboration with RCS Sport is not a simple sponsorship, but a strategic partnership built on shared values: a passion for sport and the history of cycling combined with a constant drive to innovate. Being a partner of Strade Bianche, and of the Gran Fondo, means associating our Sportful brand with an event that has become a global icon, bringing together the technical excellence of our products and the unique beauty of the Italian landscape. For a company like ours, it is a source of great pride to contribute to the growth of a race that is already legendary”.