Preview Strade Bianche Donne 2026 - Vollering, Kopecky, Longo Borghini, Ferrand-Prévot and Le Court go head-to-head

On the 7th of March the women's peloton takes on one of its most unique and prestigious classics: Strade Bianche Donne. In the gravel roads of Tuscany the riders find every year a brutal route that goes through steep hills, extensive off-road sectors and scenic landscapes that quickly turned the race into one of the sport's landmarks. The women's race is expected to start and finish at 10:20 and 14:00CET.

The women's race had its first edition back in 2015, eight years after the men's event proved to be a huge success. And right from the start this was a race with major names crowning themselves winners, with Megan Guarnier taking the first title that year. All hits, no misses in this race's winner books: Lizzie Deignan, Elisa Longo Borghini, Anna van der Breggen, Annemiek van Vleuten, Chantal van den Broeck-Blaak, Lotte Kopecky and Demi Vollering.

In 2025 Vollering took a high-level win after beating her former DS Anna van der Breggen in the final climb up to Siena; whilst Pauline Ferrand-Prévot completed the podium with a performance that would foreshadow what she would achieve later in the year.

11 gravel sectors in what is one of the most exciting races of the year. Without a doubt there will be a lot of spectacle amongst the climbers and classics specialists who have a route full of opportunities to make the difference. The riders do not take on Monte Sante Marie however, but the 9-kilometer long San Martino in Grania (end with 67Km to go) can prove decisive before the final two-lap circuit.

Several dozens of kilometers on gravel roads in a total of 131 kilometers, with the first half of the race having the longest sectors, and the second half the hardest and steepest. The riders will have to tackle a two-lap circuit with the brutal Colle Pinzuto (600; 7%) and Le Tolfe (600m; 7%) before heading into Siena where the traditional finale at the Piazza del Campo will decide the race after the climb of the Via Santa Caterina (700m; 9%).

*** Demi Vollering, Elisa Longo Borghini, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot
** Kim Le Court, Katarzyna Niewiadoma, Lotte Kopecky
* Elise Chabbey, Cecillie Uttrup Ludwig, Magdeleine Vallieres, Puck Pieterse, Shirin van Anrooij, Niamh Fisher-Black, Lucinda Brand, Liane Lippert, Marianne Vos, Anna van der Breggen

Pick: Vollering

How: Sprint win from a small group of riders.