The elite of world cycling is back on the road, Saturday, August 1, with the Strade Bianche, more than five months after the first cancellations of races in the face of the progression of the Covid. From Siena to Siena, on the gravel paths of Tuscany and under terrible heat, the young Italian race (14th edition) marks the resumption of the World Tour, reduced by a third this season with 24 races instead of 36 due to virus.

"It is a message of hope that leaves Siena, not only for cycling but for all sport. We are back, life is here", assured Thursday in the Gazzetta dello Sport the president of the UCI David Lappartient.

Stunning heat

From March 7 to August 1, the date has changed but not the program. Before arriving on the superb Piazza del Campo in Siena after 184 kilometers, the riders will have suffered on the 11 sectors (63 km) of "sterrati", the whitewashed dirt roads that give the race its name.

And under brutal heat (up to 37 degrees in the afternoon), they will have faced the flat roads of Tuscany and the dreaded 16% of Via Santa Caterina, just before the finish, where Julian Alaphillipe had made the difference to win last year.

But even more than the heat, the big variable will be the total uncertainty weighing on the states of form of each other after nearly five months without competition.

"It's the race that will speak"

“Honestly, that's a big question mark. I feel good and I think I prepared the best. But it's the running that will speak. You can walk as hard as you want in training, everything. is different in the race, ”Vincenzo Nibali explained this week in an interview with Gazzetta.

"The specialists of the classics are advantaged and then this time it is the recovery. Mamma mia ... I really do not know what to expect", added the Sicilian, who has never really shone on the Tuscan roads .

Alaphillipe, he will find himself defending in quick succession his two most beautiful Italian successes of 2019, with the Strade Bianche then Milan-Sanremo from next Saturday.

But with a schedule that prompts him to look to the Tour de France and beyond to the World Championships and the September-October classics, the French puncher may be a little behind.

Lots of motivation

"It's going to be a completely different race from the one we're used to, with 35 degrees and even more dust than usual. But we're coming with a lot of motivation," assured its sporting director Davide Bramati.

Second in Siena last year, Fuglsang (Astana) could be a candidate, like Sagan and Schachmann (Bora), Van Avermaet (CCC), often placed, or Benoot (Sunweb), winner in 2018.

But all eyes will be on Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma), third in the last two editions, and on the Van der Poel attraction. For Van Avermaet, the young Dutchman is even "the favorite".

With AFP

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