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).
Movistar Team line-up for Strade Bianche 2025:
- Carlos Canal
- Davide Formolo
- Ruben Guerreiro
- Pelayo Sanchez
- Manlio Moro
- Gonzalo Serrano
- Natnael Tesfatsion
Read also
🇮🇹 #StradeBianche
— Movistar Team (@Movistar_Team) March 5, 2025
Uno de los días más esperados del año 🌪️
213 km con 16 sectores de sterrato por la Toscana, con final en la icónica Piazza del Campo de Siena 🏰
Nuestro 7️⃣ para la clásica:
🇪🇸 Carlos Canal
🇮🇹 Davide Formolo
🇵🇹 Ruben Guerreiro
🇮🇹 Manlio Moro
🇪🇸 Pelayo Sánchez… pic.twitter.com/KwwKKg4Epj
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.
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- 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
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- Yeah man...PogiSloFans07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
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