Movistar Team keep their cards close ahead of Strade Bianche with several possible leaders

This Saturday comes the first great classic of the season. For many, "the sixth Monument". Strade Bianche 2025 once again attracts a top crop of cycling's greatest, lead by defending champion Tadej Pogacar. Can anyone challenge the Slovenian? Movistar hopes to be in the mix with a team led by Pelayo Sánchez.

The Asturian is not a "gravel rookie" with a victory in gravel stage of the 2024 Giro d'Italia under his belt. Sánchez had to withdraw from his first two races of the year (Faun-Ardèche and Faun Drôme), which makes it a bit difficult to read his current shape, but normally, he should still be Movistar Team's main option for victory. Another option for Movistar could be Carlos Canal, who was very strong on Spanish gravel race Clásica Jaén two weeks ago.

Alongside the two aforementioned riders there will also be two Italian-born riders: Davide Formolo and Manlio Moro. Formolo used to be seen as a serious contender at Strade Bianche with a second place from 2020, but recent years weren't as strong from the 32-year-old and so it'll be seen if he can repeat his top-10 result from last two editions.

Ruben Guerreiro will make his first appearance after abandoning the Vuelta a Andalucía. Gonzalo Serrano shares a similar fate with his Portuguese teammate - that he abandoned the Spanish race that took place two weeks ago. In Italy, they'll be both offered an opportunity to regain confidence and fitness.

The Movistar Team line-up is completed by Natnael Tesfatsion. The Spanish team's new recruit turned a globetrotter for the first months of the season, racking up race days in Australia, Portugal and France. The best result so far was a 5th place at the Surf Coast Classic (1.1).