Strade Bianche keeps dreaded Pogacar final intact, but also accommodates Van Aert and co a bit

Strade Bianche has become a fixture on the cycling calendar. In the ongoing debate about whether the white roads of Tuscany deserve the title of the ‘sixth Monument’, organizers RCS Sport weighed in back in 2024 by extending the race distance past 200 km thanks to a new final circuit.

That change produced the same winner in the past two editions and drew criticism from riders more suited to classic terrain, who felt the race had become too tough for a genuine contest. Pogacar launched his decisive move around 80 km from the finish on the Monte Sante Marie sector in both years — and in 2025 he still prevailed despite crashing hard mid-race.

In a bid to inject more tension and make Pogacar work harder for a potential fourth win, the course has first been trimmed from 213 km down to 201 km. The total climbing of 3,716 metres has also been slightly eased. Additionally, the amount of gravel drops from 80 km in 2025 to 64.1 km in 2026, with roughly 2.5 sectors removed.

The profile now feels relatively gentler in the early stages. When the riders reach the Monte Sante Marie sector after 117 km — traditionally where the race splits — only six gravel sectors have been completed. The end of the Monte Sante Marie strip comes at 128.6 km, leaving just over 70 km to the finish in Siena’s Piazza del Campo.

For the third year running, the organizers have opted for a final circuit of around 30 km, to be completed twice. This loop features the climbs of Colle Pinzuto and Le Tolfe. After the second climb of Le Tolfe, riders will turn left toward Siena rather than right.

The question is whether this tweak is enough to suit riders with a bit more punch and power. Mathieu van der Poel last rode Strade Bianche in 2023, having won the race in 2021. Wout van Aert stood on the podium three times in the old 180 km format and won in 2020, but last competed here in 2021. He has already announced a return to the event in 2026.

The women’s course will also be shortened by 5 km for a total of 131 km. Like the men, they will also complete the final loop twice — but, as always, will not ride the Monte Sante Marie sector.