Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney nonetheless remembers the day she fell in love with the steep white gravel roads of Strade Bianche. It occurred in 2014 when she got here to Siena to race the granfondo L’Eroica, along with her earlier staff Rabobank.
“We had a lot enjoyable [racing L’Eroica]– it was extraordinarily tough however lovely, and we simply loved the entire day,” Niewiadoma stated in a staff launch.
That very same day, the organisers introduced the Strade Bianche Ladies for 2015.
“I keep in mind sitting on the announcement after they had been exhibiting the course. I simply immediately fell in love as a result of I really like the steep gravel roads, the sweetness, and the way the race will all the time be arduous – whether or not you win it or not, there’s all the time a large sense of satisfaction that comes on the finish,” she stated.
“I believe these recollections from once I was tremendous younger and dreaming of profitable the race have one way or the other caught with me for all these years. Motivation is all the time there as a result of anytime I lose, I need it much more for some purpose.”
That motivation nonetheless animates the Canyon-Sram zondacrypto rider who claimed 9 top-10 finishes in ten begins, together with three runner-up spots, and a 3rd place.
For the eleventh version of the race, the 136km route of undulating terrain throughout the scenic however unforgiving hills of Tuscany, options 13 gravel sections that add as much as 10km extra unpaved roads, now as much as 50.3km in comparison with final 12 months’s parcours.
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After opening her season at Setmana Ciclista Valenciana, and racing the one-day Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Niewiadoma-Phinney made her technique to the world to recon the primary a part of the race.
There she centered on about 90km of the route, together with the brand new gravel sector, Serravelle. The riders received’t have a lot time to relaxation after the brand new 9.3km uphill sector, because the sixth sector, Grania, begins lower than two kilometres later.
Although Serravelle comes removed from the end, sitting 78km from Siena, Niewiadoma-Phinney thinks that this variation will “undoubtedly” make an impression.
“There’s little or no restoration between the brand new sector and the subsequent,” she stated. “Everybody will need to keep within the entrance and naturally that’s not possible – there’s going to be an enormous washer impact, and also you’ll undoubtedly want a little bit of luck to not puncture or crash.
“Some gravel sections additionally look fairly free and ‘weirdly’ recent. I believe that the race will probably be tougher, however the further gravel part will one way or the other make it simpler earlier than the next 9km gravel part which is often the opening of the race. As a result of we received’t enter it from a giant highway anymore, however as an alternative from small gravel roads, I do consider that it’s higher for us as a staff.”
With Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig, the Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto comes into the race with two contenders for the victory. The previous FDJ-Suez was on the rostrum in her final participation in 2023 and has seven top-10 finishes in seven appearances. After three weeks of coaching following her season debut at Setmana Ciclista Valenciana along with her new staff.
“Valencia was an incredible expertise. I felt good on the market and it was improbable to get that first race of the season below my belt, particularly with a brand new staff. The vibe was nice, and the power from the ladies made it even higher,” Uttrup Ludwig stated.
The Dane needed to skip final 12 months’s Strade Bianche after sustaining a fracture of the sacrum in a crash at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.
“Lacking out on Strade final 12 months was robust, so I’m past excited to be racing it once more this time round. Now we have such a robust lineup and I can’t anticipate us to place our mark on the race. I’m actually trying ahead to it.”
Becoming a member of Niewiadoma-Phinney and Uttrup Ludwig at first in Siena for Strade Bianche will probably be Antonia Niedermaier, Agnieszka Skalniak-Sójka, Soraya Paladin, and Alice Towers.
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