Filippo Zana leads Jayco AlUla in pursuit of another top result at Strade Bianche: "So far, I have improved every year"

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."