UCI Road World Champions Peter Sagan and Amalie Dideriksen
present the 2017 Strade Bianche.
Download: start lists, press conference photo gallery

Siena, 3 March 2017 – The press conference on the eve of the Strade Bianche NamedSport and the Strade Bianche Women Elite NamedSport, both UCI WorldTour Calendar races, featured the UCI Road World Champions, Peter Sagan and Amalie Dideriksen, speaking in the breathtaking Palazzo Sansedoni – Fondazione Monte dei Paschi (Quartier Generale della Corsa), in Piazza del Campo, Siena.

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Photo Gallery – UCI Road World Champions
Start list – Strade Bianche NamedSport
Race Programme – Strade Bianche NamedSport
Start list – Strade Bianche Women Elite NamedSport
Race Programme – Strade Bianche Women Elite NamedSport

QUOTES
Before the start of the Press Conference, the Deputy Director of Fondazione Monte Paschi, Marco Forte, and the Head of Sport of Siena Municipality, Leonardo Tafani, gave a warm welcome to those attending.

Peter Sagan: “This is for sure a very nice race, different from all the others because of the gravel roads. It’s beautiful to ride it and also to watch it from a spectator’s point of view. I’m certainly motivated, if not, why come here? Although I can’t say I won’t come back if I don’t win tomorrow… I’ll come back anyway because I just like it, from my very first experience here even though I wasn’t lucky. I was in an Italian team and I was already around here for Tirreno-Adriatico. But I crashed after 60km of racing, I had a flat tyre on the Sante Marie climb and the race was finished for me. It’s a fun race whatever happens. I actually don’t know what will happen. I only know there will be a winner and, if it shall be rainy, it will rain on everyone. It might make the race more dangerous but also easier if it shakes up the peloton. I don’t know because I’ve never raced on those gravel roads under rainy conditions.”

Amalie Dideriksen: “It’s my first time taking part in the Strade Bianche. I’m looking forward to it. I went to reconnoitre the last 30km today. It’s going to be very hard. The two previous winners [Megan Guarnier and Lizzie Deignan] are in my own team [Boels Dolmans], so I already took advice from them for this race.”

STRADE BIANCHE NAMEDSPORT
In the men’s Strade Bianche NamedSport, part of the UCI WorldTour calendar for the first time, eyes will be focused on the classics specialists such as UCI World Champion, Peter Sagan (Slovakia), the Olympic Road Champion Greg Van Avermaet (Belgium) and the Czech rider Zdeněk Štybar (winner in 2015 and runner-up in 2016 behind Cancellara).

COURSE
The main differences with last year’s course are in the first kilometres, where the Bagnaia climb on gravel roads marks its return after the 2014 and 2015 editions. The course will then see a harder white roads sector in the first part and the cancellation of the paved Passo del Rospatoio climb.
A twisty and undulating course, with no long climbs but with punchy hills, most significantly on the unpaved parts. There are roughly 62km of gravel roads, appearing in 11 sectors (eight of those shared with the Women Elite course).
Starting from Siena (Stadium/Medicean Fortress area), the first undulating kilometres are on tarmac before reaching the 2.1km gravel Sector 1 at km 11, which is perfectly straight and always slightly uphill.
After few kilometres the riders will face Sector 2 (4.7km), the course’s first real challenge with a short descent and a long climb with parts at over 10%.
The course will then go through Radi, where Sector 3 starts (4.4km, second part of the original Sector 1 of the first editions) and immediately after Sector 4, one of its classic gravel sectors (5.5km, featured in the course since its first edition) with no significant gradient and leading to Buonconvento.
After few kilometres the second climb of the day starts: the Montalcino (4km at 5%). After Torrenieri the riders will face Sectors 5 (11.9km) and 6 (8km) with only 1km of tarmac in between them. Both are hard, hilly, very punchy and with many bends, climbs and descents.
After the second passage through Buonconvento the feed station will be positioned in the area of Ponte d’Arbia. Soon the route reaches Monteroni d’Arbia, which marks the beginning of Sector 7 of San Martino in Grania (9.5km) in the middle of the Crete Senesi. It’s a long sector with continuous up and downs in the first part, ending up with a twisting climb before meeting the tarmac again.
In Ponte del Garbo (Asciano) gravel Sector 8 begins. At 11.5km it’s the hardest of the race, mostly uphill and characterised by tough hills, the most important being those close to Monte Sante Marie, which face steep gradients on both climbs and descents over short distances. After Castelnuovo Berardenga there’s a very short, flat section of gravel (300m), before facing, after Monteaperti, Sector 9 which is only 800m long, but with a double digit gradient ramp before rejoining the tarmac in Vico d’Arbia and going to paved road through Pieve a Bozzone.
Next comes the penultimate sector (Sector 10, 2.4km) on the climb toward Colle Pinzuto (with gradients up to 15%). After a few kilometres the riders will face the last sector (Sector 11, 1.1km) which features a sequence of a demanding descent followed by a very punchy climb (max 18%) that ends up at the Tolfe. From here only 12km separate the riders from the finish in Piazza del Campo, Siena.

Final Kilometres
The demanding final kilometres, with gradients up to 16%, approach the city of Siena along broad, straight sections of road, connected by sweeping curves, first descending, and then climbing slightly. 2km from the finish line, the route joins Via Esterna di Fontebranda, where the gradient touches 9%.
900m from the finish line, the race route passes beneath Fontebranda Gate where the road surface becomes paving slabs. The gradient exceeds 10% until 500m from the finish line, reaching its highpoint of 16% in Via Santa Caterina. A sharp right hand turn leads to Via delle Terme, and then Via Banchi di Sotto. With 300m to go, the road continues to climb slightly then, 150m from the line, a right turn leads into Via Rinaldini. The route enters the Piazza del Campo just 70m from the finish line. The final 30m descends at a gradient of 7% and the finish line itself is flat.

STRADE BIANCHE WOMEN ELITE NAMEDSPORT
Among the women who will challenge for victory of the Strade Bianche Women Elite NamedSport, the favourites are: the Briton Lizzie Deignan (last year’s winner), the Dane Amalie Dideriksen (UCI World Champion), the Dutch duo Marianne Vos and Anna van der Breggen (Olympic Road Champion), the American Megan Guarnier (winner in 2015) and the Italian Elisa Longo Borghini.

COURSE
A twisty and undulating course, with no long climbs but with punchy hills, most significantly on the unpaved parts. There are roughly 30km of gravel roads, appearing in eight sectors (all shared with the Men’s course).
Starting from Siena (Stadium/Medicean Fortress area), the first undulating kilometres are on tarmac before reaching the 2.1km gravel Sector 1 at km 11, which is perfectly straight and always slightly uphill.
After few kilometres the riders will face Sector 2 (4.7km), first real challenge on the course with a short part on descent and a long climb with parts at over 10%.
The course will then go through Radi, where Sector 3 starts (4.4km, second part of the original Sector 1 of the first editions) and immediately after Sector 4, one of its classic gravel sectors (5.5km, featuring in the course since its first edition) with no significant gradient and leading to Buonconvento.
After the passage through Buonconvento the feed station will be positioned in the area of Ponte d’Arbia. Soon the route reaches Monteroni d’Arbia, which marks the beginning of Sector 5 of San Martino in Grania (9.5km) in the middle of the Crete Senesi. It’s a long sector with continuous up and downs in the first part, ending up with a twisting climb before meeting the tarmac again.
After Castelnuovo Berardenga there’s a very short, flat section of gravel (300m), before facing, after Monteaperti, Sector 6 which is only 800m long, but with a double digit gradient ramp before rejoining the tarmac in Vico d’Arbia and going to paved road through Pieve a Bozzone.
Next comes the penultimate sector (Sector 7, 2.4km) on the climb toward Colle Pinzuto (with inclination up to 15%). After a few kilometres the riders will face the last sector (Sector 8, 1.1km) which features a sequence of a demanding descent followed by a very punchy climb (max 18%) that ends up at the Tolfe. From here only 12km separate the riders from the finish in Piazza del Campo, Siena.
The final kilometres are the same as the men’s course.

POINTS OF INTEREST
SIENA
It would have been too difficult to decide between Piazza del Campo and Torre del Mangia, between the cathedral and the other buildings of the same complex, such as the baptistery, the crypt and the grand façade (known as “Facciatone”). So the entire old town centre was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site for its outstanding artistic value. Siena is a true jewel of art, both sacred and profane at the same time, ever bustling with life and with more than a million visitors each year. It hosts major sporting and cultural events, such as the legendary Palio, staged twice a year, in which the 17 city quarters (“contrade”) challenge each other in front of large crowds coming from all over the country to attend the town’s most famous and iconic event.
The Strade Bianche is a legendary race that perfectly fits into a historical context that serves as an excellent setting for both the race start and finish. While waiting for riders to fly by, spectators can explore the city’s monuments and enjoy the many local delicacies, including wild boar sauces and specialties, ribollita, panforte (Siena’s iconic dessert), as well as world-renowned, refined wines, such as Chianti. Ricciarelli, traditional pastries made from almonds, sugar and egg whites, are the perfect snack while waiting for the finish.
Siena was founded by the Etruscans, it grew under the Romans, and was ruled by the Ghibellines and later the House of Medici. Nowadays, Siena belongs first and foremost to all those lucky ones who have visited or will be visiting this UNESCO World Heritage site. A must-see: Torre del Mangia. A must-taste: Ricciarelli. The best time to be in town: 4-5 March; or 2 July and 16 August – Palio di Siena.

SOVICILLE
“That pleasant place”, as its Latin name suggests, is a quaint village in the province of Siena, teeming with churches and ancient fortifications. If you are in town on any third Saturday, then consider visiting the famous “Mercatale”, an open-air market held in Piazza Marconi, attracting visitors from all over the province and offering local food produce from the Val di Merse and the province of Siena. One of the finest Romanesque buildings of the entire Siena area, the parish church of San Giovanni Battista, is found in the hamlet of Ponte allo Spino.

MURLO
Murlo is a tiny ancient village in the province of Siena, rising on the hills that mark the transition from the rolling landscape of the Crete Senesi to the woody scenery of the Maremma Grossetana. Now teeming with major historical and architectural heritage, Murlo was a cradle of the Etruscan civilisation, and the so-called Cappellone, an Etruscan statue depicting a man wearing a large hat, has become the symbol of the town. Following recent DNA studies conducted by the researchers of the Genetics Institute of the University of Turin, the inhabitants of the village were found to be the actual descendants of the ancient Etruscans. The town lies far off the main streets and still retains its old-world charm, especially if you make your way to the village along the “white roads” surrounding it.

MONTERONI D’ARBIA
This village in the province of Siena is named after the river that flows through the Val d’Arbia. The early 14th-century fortified watermill is well worth a detour from the Strade Bianche route. The hilly region of the Crete Senesi around San Fabiano and the small villages of Radi and Ville di Corsano (the latter with a tiny Romanesque parish church) offer a beautiful landscape and valuable historical heritage. Monteroni is a major destination for cycle tourism, and approximately 20km of the ancient Via Francigena pilgrim route run across the town and its surroundings.

BUONCONVENTO
Buonconvento is part of the Crete Senesi district, and is listed as one of “the most beautiful villages in Italy”. The town is still surrounded by the ancient defensive walls, and its red brick houses give it a mediaeval look. Major landmarks include the belfry (Torre Civica) of the ancient government palace, which is decorated by the coats of arms of the former governors. Wandering the streets of the town is just as evocative, especially in September, when the famous Sagra della Valdarbia brings together the love for good food, music, arts and literature.

MONTALCINO
This lovely medieval village rising on the top of a hill, at the heart of the iconic Tuscan landscape, was founded by the Etruscans. Its pentagonal fortress stands out as its major landmark. After the fall of Siena in 1555, the city rulers retreated here, where they founded the Republic of Siena at Montalcino and held out for four years, hoping that one day they may be able to return to Siena. The town is also known to wine lovers worldwide for Brunello di Montalcino, an excellent red wine that gets better and better with aging.

SAN QUIRICO D’ORCIA
This village, with a population of approximately 2,000, hosts the impressive Horti Leonini, created by Diomede Leoni around 1580; a magnificent example of Italian gardens and the most popular attraction in town. Major landmarks also include the Osenna collegiate or parish church (dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries), and an ancient castle in the hamlet of Vignoni. Recently, the entire village made its big-screen debut as it was chosen as location for the Italian movie “La scuola più bella del mondo”, starring Rocco Papaleo and Christian De Sica.

PIENZA
A UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996, Pienza was hometown to Pope Pius II, who considered it the Renaissance’s “ideal city”. The projects that were conceived at that time are a significant example of the urban architecture of the Italian Renaissance, although not all of them were actually implemented. Palazzo Piccolomini, one of the buildings that Pope Pius II commissioned, was chosen by director Franco Zeffirelli as location for filming some scenes of “Romeo and Juliet”. Piazza Pio II, Palazzo Piccolomini and the Cathedral are well worth visiting.

ASCIANO
Lying at the heart of the Crete Senesi, Asciano is one of the oldest and most remarkable towns in the Siena area. Initially an Etruscan settlement, it was further developed by the Romans. The old town still retains its distinctive medieval look, with major landmarks that have survived to the present day, such as the 11th-century Basilica of Sant’Agata, which was further expanded in the Gothic style. History and modern architecture merge together in the Site Transitoire, by French sculptor Jean Paul Philippe, located amid the Crete Senesi, where three small roads meet.

CASTELNUOVO BERARDENGA
The town, founded in the Middle Ages, lies north-east of Siena, in the Chianti area. Inside the church of Madonna del Patrocinio, at the heart of the village, is a 14th-century terracotta statue of the Virgin Mary, which was found among the ruins of the castle. The picturesque surroundings of Castelnuovo Berardenga are dotted with castles; making the area a major tourist destination. Main landmarks include the monastery and church (Certosa) of San Pietro or Pontignano (established in 1343, with a magnificent cloister that is open to the public), the castle of Montalto and the village of San Gusmè. Within the municipal district of Castelnuovo Berardenga is the tiny village of Montaperti, which is known for being the setting of a battle that was fought between the Guelphs and the Ghibellines that is commemorated with a torchlight procession every year.

TV COVERAGE
The Strade Bianche NamedSport, now in its 11th edition, will be broadcast in 184 countries right across the five continents. The 2017 edition of the race will be shown live by 13 TV networks.
RAI, the WorldTour event’s host broadcaster, will produce two hours coverage of the race in Italy on Rai Sport. Eurosport will show the ‚Northern Classic in the South of Europe‘ live throughout the whole of Europe, with the exception of France where l’Equipe will air the event race on its free-to-air channel.
Eurosport will also broadcast the race in 16 territories across the Asia Pacific region, while in Japan the exclusive live broadcast is on DAZN. In New Zealand the Strade Bianche NamedSport will be broadcast exclusively on Sky Sports.
OSN network is the right holders for the Middle East and Africa regions, while Kwese Sport will cover the SubSaharian Africa territories with the sole exception of South Africa, where the race will be broadcast live on Supersport.
The Strade Bianche NamedSport can be followed in the Americas on Fubo.TV in USA and Canada, on TDN in Mexico and Central America and on the ESPN network in South America and the Caribbeans.
SNTV – the Sports News Television platform will distribute images from the race all over the world.

SUNDAY 5 MARCH – THE GRAN FONDO
On Sunday, over the very same course as the women’s pro race the previous day, the Gran Fondo will witness 5,000 sportive riders taking on the Strade Bianche of the Terre di Siena.

Photo Credits: LaPresse

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