technical info

Strade Bianche 2026 features a very demanding and constantly rolling course, characterised by the absence of long climbs but packed with short, sharp and often steep ramps, especially on gravel. The Women Elite race includes around 33 km of white roads divided into 11 sectors, all to be tackled by the men’s race as well, on and compact surfaces with minimal loose stones. The start is in Siena, in the Stadio/Fortezza Medicea area, with rolling asphalt roads leading to the first gravel sector of 2.4 km, almost completely straight and gently downhill, followed shortly by the second sector of 4.8 km, the first real challenge of the race, featuring a long climb with gradients exceeding 10%. After the third sector in Radi, 4.4 km long, the route continues for about 20 km through Buonconvento and along the Via Cassia to Monteroni d’Arbia, where the long San Martino in Grania sector begins, 9.5 km through the Crete Senesi with rolling terrain and a concluding switchback climb back onto asphalt. A relatively easy paved section leads to Monteaperti, where the course joins the men’s route and the decisive finale. Immediately after comes a short but brutal 600-metre gravel ramp with double-digit gradients, before returning to asphalt in Vico d’Arbia and entering a 30 km circuit. After Pieve a Bozzone, the circuit includes Colle Pinzuto, 2.4 km with gradients up to 15%, followed a few kilometres later by the Tolfe sector, 1.1 km featuring a steep descent and an even steeper climb reaching 18%. On the first passage, riders also tackle the new Strada del Castagno sector of 700 metres, then face demanding asphalt sections through Pontignano, Ponte a Bozzone and San Giovanni a Cerreto before entering the Montechiaro gravel sector of 3.3 km, used in the early editions of the race, which brings the loop back to Vico d’Arbia. The Women Elite race then repeats Colle Pinzuto and Le Tolfe before turning toward Siena with just over 10 km remaining.
Final Kilometers 
The final kilometres for both races unfold on wide roads outside Siena, with long straights and sweeping bends, first downhill and then gradually uphill, until 2 km from the finish, where Via Esterna di Fontebranda begins with gradients up to 9%. At 900 metres to go the riders pass through Porta di Fontebranda and onto stone paving, with gradients exceeding 10% and peaking at around 16% in Via Santa Caterina, about 500 metres from the line. A sharp right-hand turn leads into Via delle Terme, then onto Via Banchi di Sotto, followed by a slight downhill from 300 metres to go, a right turn into Via Rinaldini at 150 metres, entry into Piazza del Campo at 70 metres, and a final 30 metres downhill at around 7% before the flat finish line.