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Strade Bianche
Preview |
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New on the women's calendar for
2015 is one of the most exciting races Strade Bianche.
Perfectly situated between the opening Belgium classics and
the weekend of the trio of races in the Netherlands situated
around the Ronde van Drenthe.
The Route
Profile
At 103km the race is relatively short but it will be one of
the hardest races on the calendar. The main feature is the
gravel sections, of which there is five for a total of 17km
but the route is also full of short steep climbs that will put
a lot of riders under pressure.
The race starts climbing almost immediately and is likely to
put some riders out the back from the start and the majority
of the race is up and down. The first gravel section Pian del
Lago comes after 32.9km and is 2.2km. Likely to be the first
real test and is likely to break the peloton in to several
groups. The second and longest of the gravel sections starts
at 58.8km just after Monteroni d'Arbia and lasts 9.5km. Making
the section worse is the fact the majority of it is uphill. If
you lose contact here your race is very likely over as the
strongest riders move ahead.
After approximately 10km downhill section what remains face
the 2.2km Bv. per Pieve a Bozzone section after 80.3km. If the
first 80km wasn't hard enough then the final 20km gets harder.
There is two more gravel sections and three very short and
steep climbs.
Final 20km
The penultimate section through Bv. per San Giorgio with
19.3km remaining is 2.4km long and starts off with a very
steep uphill ramp reaching 15%. As riders move off the gravel
section they will have a brief respite before the road again
starts to climb ahead of the final section. At 1.1km it is the
shortest of the race but inside the final 500m the road kicks
up to 18%. Over the top there is 12km remaining. There is another rise
with eight kilometres remaining that could be used as a
launching point for any last attacks.
With just over three kilometres remaining there is a brief
downhill section before the road starts to climb with 2km to
go with a gradient of around 9% as riders reach 900m to go.
The next 400m are over 10% before hitting 16% as the road
kicks up one final time with 500m remaining at Via Santa
Caterina.
After the steep section the road continues to climb before a
quick descent over the final few hundred meters ahead of a
flat finish in Siena's Piazza del Campo. If a rider gets a gap
over the top of Via Santa Caterina they will be hard to catch
with the quick run in to the finish.
The Contenders
Start list available
here
Lizzie Armitstead and Boels Dolmans
After a big recruitment drive over the past two seasons Boels
Dolmans have been the team to beat in 2015. Three stages and
first and third overall from Lizzie Armitstead and Ellen Van
Dijk in Qatar. 2nd, 3rd and 4th and 8th at Omloop Het
Nieuwsblad after having the numbers in every move before
winning Le Samyn des Dames on the weekend with Chantal Blaak.
The team again has the strength and multiple cards to play.
Lizzie Armitstead comes in with good form having won two
stages in Qatar and the bunch sprint at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
last weekend. Very quick from a select group and is back to
winning bunch sprints but also climbs very well as we saw when
she finished second at La Fleche Wallonne last year. The race
is a big target for her and the short steep climbs are where
she is at her best.
Megan Guarnier is another rider with form second overall at
the Women's Tour of New Zealand ad ninth at Le Samyn earlier
this week. One of the strongest and smartest climbers in the
field and never goes beyond what she knows she can do. The
undulating course suits her. Don't be surprised to see her go
on the attack knowing Lizzie Armitstead is another card for
the team.
Emma Johansson and Orica-AIS
Fifth in Qatar, 14th at Het Nieuwsblad before rounding out the
podium at Le Samyn. Whatever the race you can be sure that
Johansson will be in contention. Another rider who excels on
the short sharp climbs and from a small group is dangerous.
Has a strong team to support her including Gracie Elvin who
comes from a mountain bike background and has had her best
start to a European season to date.
Katrin Garfoot won the time trial and finished third in the
road race at the Oceania Championships last month in a sign
that she has recovered from injury that saw her miss the
Australian summer. Still new to racing in Europe having joined
Orica-AIS mid way through 2014. A puncheur who is likely to be
key support for Johansson in the closing stages. Former
Australian Champion Amanda Spratt looks to be re-finding her
form from several years that saw her finished fourth at Trofeo
Alfredo Binda. Likes to attack so expect to see her off the
front at some stage. Italian Valentina Scandolara is climbing
and sprinting better than ever and on home roads look for her
to put in a strong ride.
Anna Van der Breggan and Rabo
The race was all but made for former road and cyclocross World
Champion Marianne Vos but an injury is keeping her sidelined
here. Newly crowned cyclocros and road World Champion Pauline
Ferrand-Prevot is also absent but the team brings the in form
Anna Van der Breggan.
Van der Breggan might only have two race days in her legs but
when you have won Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and finished second at
Le Samyn her form speaks for itself. Had a strong 2014 winning
Festival Luxembourgeois Elsy Jacobs and Ladies Tour of Norway
plus podium finishes at Emakumeen Euskal Bira, Giro Rosa and
Lotto Belisol Belgium Tour. The rider with the best form in
the race and with a course that suits her there is a good
chance she will again find herself on the podium.
16th at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and 15th Le Samyn des Dames sees
Katarzyna Niewiadoma claim a strong start to the year. With
Van der Breggan flying it is hard to see the team work for
someone else here but as a backup plan the 20 year old is a
strong one. Consistent across 2014 including picking up her
first professional win at Frauen Grand Prix Gippingen and just
missing the top 10 at the Giro Rosa.
After a difficult 2014 Shara Gillow has a new team and has
already tasted success reclaiming her Australian time trial
title. When on form Gillow climbs with the best in the world
and regardless of it she is supporting Van der Breggan or has
an opportunity for herself is not a name to ignore.
Velocio-Sram
Wasn't at her best in Australia in January but since starting
her international season Tiffany Cromwell has been building
form. Seventh in Qatar and fifth at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad is a
sign Cromwell is close to the mark of picking up another win.
Was close on more times one can count in 2014 and an early win
this year will be important for her confidence. The undulating
course and short climbs is perfect for Cromwell and her sprint
is better than ever.
Champion of Belarus Alena Amialiusik is a name to watch
closely. Might not be a name many immediately think of but
Amialiusik often surprises. Rounded out the podium at Trofeo
Alfredo Binda before finishing 14th at the Giro Rosa and top
five at La Route de France and Tour de l'Ardeche. Strong on
the short steep climbs and has a decent finish. Watch out for
Lisa Brennauer as well.
Bigla
South African and African Continental Champion Ashleigh
Moolman has had a solid start to her European season,
finishing 11th at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and a further
improvement of sixth at Le Samyn des Dames. Moolman is at her
best when the race has been difficult and that is what we are
likely to see here. The constant undulating and short steep
climbs is likely to see Moolman in a select group of
favourites.
2011 World Cup overall winner Annemiek Van Vleuten will be
looking to step up another level this year. The second half of
2014 saw Van Vleuten return to her best winning two stages of
the Giro Rosa and three stages and the overall at Lotto
Belisol Belgium Tour. A potent sprint from a smaller group and
with Moolman the duo could pose a real threat to some of the
favourites.
Wiggle Honda
Wiggle bring a strong team including two time World Champion
Giorgia Bronzini, two time Giro Rosa winner Mara Abbott and
hilly classics specialist Elisa Longo Borghini. Giorgia
Bronzini is a name to beat in any bunch sprint throughout the
season and will give everything she has but the course is
likely to be too hard for Wiggle to control for a bunch
sprint. When the roads start to climb Mara Abbott is always a
name to watch but it is the longer climbs where she excels.
Elisa Longo Borghini has been threatening to take another big
win after her success at Trofeo Alfredo Binda in 2013. The
race suits her, the short steep climbs and being on Italian
roads her motivation will be even higher. Was the best young
rider at the Giro Rosa in 2012 and fifth overall last year so
there is no doubting her talent. The closing stages give her a
perfect opportunity to attack and take a solo victory.
Lotto Soudal
Italian Champion Elena Cecchini will be looking forward to
showing off her tricolour jersey on Italian roads. Climbs well
and was frequently on the attack at Emakumeen Euskal Bira last
year but this will be another test and the frequency on the
climbs might just prove too much for Cecchini.
In Jessie Daams and Carlee Taylor the team has two of the most
underrated riders in the peloton. Daams is under the radar but
is often around the mark, finishing top 20-30 even when the
races are not overly suited to her. 20th at Omloop Het
Nieuwsblad and 25th Le Samyn des Dames in a sign of decent
form. Doesn't have a super quick finish but climbs well, has
finished in the top 20 of the Giro Rosa. Without a standout
favourite Daams could continue to fly under the radar and post
a strong result. Taylor is often seen working on the front for
others but when she gets an opportunity for herself can be
relied on to get a result.
Other names to watch: Eugenia Bujak and Rosella Ratto. |
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