Results Strade Bianche Donne 2026 | Elise Chabbey takes win on thrilling Siena sprint; Vollering and Ferrand-Prévot taken off the race by motorbike
Cycling
The 2026 edition of Strade Bianche Donne was perhaps as eventful as anyone could've expected. Many of the race's main favourites were taken off the race after following a motorbike off course; punctures and mechanicals turned the race on its head; the attacks over the gravel sectors didn't succeed and there was an all-out sprint between multiple riders following the Via Santa Caterina. It was FDJ United - Suez' Elise Chabbey who took the biggest win of her career.
The race truly did not have a breakaway as the combination of the multiple steep climbs, treacherous and narrow roads; and the gravel sectors led to a constant fight for positioning and a very high pace in the peloton that never let riders get much of a gap; or consider burning matches early on without the chance of having the benefit from it.
Hence it was a race of elimination, with the mechanicals and punctures beginning early on, affecting riders such as Anna van der Breggen, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot and Demi Vollering. The latter two had issues at the same time on the first time up the key sector of Le Tolfe, as Elisa Longo Borghini attacked up front and split the race. About a dozen riders remained in front after the first combination of sectors in the decisive section of the race; but a strong chasing group was on their heels.
However with 32 kilometers to go this dynamic changed fully as a motorbike leading the chasing group headed off-course and took the riders out of the race figuratively speaking. Vollering, van der Breggen, Ferrand-Prévot, Lotte Kopecky and Kim Le Court were amongst the riders who instantly lost an immense amount of time and were effectively out of contention for the race.
This meant the race was to be won by the riders in the first group. On Colle Pinzuto with 18 kilometers to go Elisa Longo Borghini and Elise Chabbey stood out and attacked off the front but were then caught; And at Le Tolfe a few kilometers later it was Longo Borghini, Puck Pieterse and Katarzyna Niewiadoma.
But the trio also did not collaborate ideally, and a few other riders managed to join from behind in the following kilometers. Seven riders headed into the final climb together, with Marianne Vos cracking completely at the base of the Via Santa Caterina.
Elisa Longo Borghini led the way and crowned the 16% ramp at the front, but four riders remained in front, leading to a thrilling sprint in the streets of Siena. Elise Chabbey took the front in the tricky corners and managed to take the victory at the Piazza del Campo ahead of Niewiadoma and Franziska Koch. Longo Borghini had to settle with a fourth place after a brutal effort.
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A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
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