"The sections are definitely gonna be pretty muddy today" - Ben Healy loving tough Strade Bianche conditions ahead

Strade Bianche saw a few days of rainy weather before the main event, and the gravel sectors became perhaps a little more treacherous than usual. This benefits the Irishman Ben Healy, who has high hopes for today's race.

"... We're looking for at least a podium here, and we've got a team that we can achieve that here today," Healy told Eurosport this morning. "I think we've got a strong team here with me, Richard [Carapaz] and Neilson [Powless]. Strong depth in a squad to support us as well, I think this is a true full race and the legs will show in the end."

The 215-kilometer race should suit Healy, who is a big fan not only of the tough weather: "I like the bad weather and it's been raining here quite a bit, the sections are definitely gonna be pretty muddy today," he said this morning; but also of the lengthy race and constant roller-coaster profile it presents. He was a not-so-distant second place to Tadej Pogacar last year at Amstel Gold Race where the race was blown to bits very early, and could replicate a performance like that. 

"The conditions are not that fun for a lot of people, so that's fun for me. No rain but the damage has been done," he concludes, referring to the impact it's had on the surface of the gravel sectors.