Albert Philipsen will be the youngest ever Strade Bianche participant this weekend. Can he become the youngest winner too?

With past champions such as Tadej Pogacar (2022) and Tom Pidcock (2023), who both won Strade Bianche at the age of 23, it's hard to imagine neither of them is the youngest champion of the race that dates back to 2007 when the iconic race held its first edition under the name Monte Paschi Eroica.

Yet in 2013, there was a young certain Italian on a roll - Moreno Moser, who was 22 years and 98 days old at the time of his triumph. How long will his reign last in the era of young supertalents? We'll have to wait and see to find out. Luckily for Moser's record, as long as the likes of Tadej Pogacar have a place in heart for the white roads around Sienna, we may not see a younger winner for some time...

Or maybe it could already happen this weekend?

Exactly two riders were promoted to WorldTour ranks striaght out of the junior category and they both immediately left their mark on their first appearances. Albert Philipsen impressed with a fourth place in one of the decisive stages of Tour Down Under.

The Dane is clearly not afraid of big races, and the same applies for his team who gives him an opportunity to show off the skills two-time MTB junior World champion on the gravel roads of Strade Bianche. Lidl-Trek's press officer Jacob Kennison confirmed this information to Feltet.dk, after the Dane's name appeared on the preliminary startlist last week.

According to the renowned X-profile Cycling Statistics, the 18-year-old Philipsen becomes the youngest participant in Strade Bianche's 18-year history. He beats Simone Velasco's record from 2015 by almost a full year. Back then, the Italian who now represents XDS Astana, finished outside of the time limit.

Ambitions of Philipsen are certainly greater, despite a recent crash in a Spanish MTB race. And if he doesn't win on his first attempt? No worries. After all, he'll have four more opportunties to beat Moser's record...