Filippo Zana leads Jayco AlUla in pursuit of another top result at Strade Bianche: "So far, I have improved every year"
Cycling
Team Jayco AlUla will be in the underdog role at Strade Bianche, but certainly not completely without their chances.
Within Filippo Zana, they have a rider capable of fighting for a top-5 result. The Italian has not yet convinced with his performances in 2025, but Strade Bianche is the race where he often turns the page and steps out of his own shadow.
"This will be my fourth Strade Bianche and, every year, I have always improved," Zana recalls good memories from the past editions. "Last year I finished in ninth place and, I hope to improve on that result this weekend."
The 2025 route is slightly different from previous editions, but not too much, Zana reckons: "I don’t think that an extra gravel sector can make the difference, Monte Sante Marie will make the real selection. There will be teams that will have the interest of making the race harder, you will always have to be in front."
Jayco AlUla, however, might bet on another horse - Alan Hatherly. The MTB world champion should immediately feel home on the gravel sectors, even if it's his debut in such a long race. The South African's previous performances at AlUla Tour could be a promise of what's to come on Saturday.
Truly well-rounded Australian team will have plenty other options this weekend, thanks to Felix Engelhardt, Anders Foldager and Davide De Pretto - all three riders on the verge of a breakthrough result. They'll be supported by experienced Alessandro De Marchi and Asbjorn Hellemose. Both can offer a great amount of valuable gravel insight.
Team's sports director Valerio Piva is looking forward to the sterrato roads including the new sector Seravalle that was added to the course right ahead of the famous Monte Sante Marie where Tadej Poagacar took off to his 80 km solo last year. "The Strade Bianche is one of the hardest and most selective races of the entire WorldTour circuit. This year even more so since a new gravel sector of over nine kilometers has been added during a race with a total of over 210 kilometers."
Team Jayco AlUla for 2025 Strade Bianche:
- Alessandro De Marchi
- Davide De Pretto
- Felix Engelhardt
- Anders Foldager
- Alan Hatherly
- Asbjørn Hellemose
- Filippo Zana
Read also
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- wtf dudemij07-11-2026
- big rival … ridiculous.Ketterechts07-11-2026
- It would be great if the World Champion's jersey could be rotated among McNulty, Simmons, and Jorgenson. They threaded the needle perfectly. If each hadn't done exactly what he did, exactly when he did it, the race would have gone to one of the more heralded superstars. That said, how nice that this humble and hardworking guy gets his moment in the sun.
MarkFour07-11-2026 - This is a really interesting idea, which, if well prepared could even be very successful. Very little money needs to be involved for a first season and any success could lead to rapid interest from sponsors.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Hmmm, you seem to have a very convenient black and white view of things. Perhaps you haven’t been around much to discover how complex problems can become over time with people who know how to control, manipulate (or worse) others so gradually or subtly that you arrive at an irresolvable situation before you realise. This is how many inconveniences get introduced to the young, naïve, passionate or “desperate”, knowing they are not armed, protected or strong enough to defend themselves once it’s too late. Why do you think omerta culture is so widespread, why do you think so many people continue to go through so many awful things in life that others can’t understand anyone getting into? Life may be far more jolly for you but you would do well to understand (or reflect more on) the real world to refrain from being so quick to criticise those in a hard spot that may have genuine reason for speaking out.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Seriously do you think when somebody gets into a serious accident, the ambulance is called by the hurt person?🤦 there is always a buddy system in place for a risky job. police , firefighters etc so that if someone gets hurt, the other call that in.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I get the point totally. We live in the snowflake society where some riders forget they are getting paid to ride and get results. When they have a few issues they try to look outside of the real issue instead of themselves. It odd so many of the team are making no complaints and getting on with their job. If you do not like what you do find another job simples. Tough love as my mum would say.paultryan200207-11-2026
- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
Loading
Write a comment