Strade Bianche 2025 on TV: route, times and favorites. Pogacar is there

Rome, 8 March 2025 – The 2025 Roads The calendar of the events opens today March classics. The script, even this season, seems to be the same: Tadej pogacar against everyone. On the roads of Siena the first test, already with a view of Milan-Sanremo. A tough and evocative race, thanks to its traditional dirt roads and the arrival in the mythological Piazza del Campo. Pogacar, as reigning champion and world champion, will be at the start to defend the 2024 victory and to conquer the third Strade Bianche of his career on a par with Fabian Cancellara, who won it in 2008, 2012 and 2016. The hat trick would also guarantee the Slovenian a dedicated monument and he will be the big star of the competition. But watch out for some accredited rivals, starting with Thomas pidcock, another former winner, who also changed teams. 

The path

Will 213 total kilometers from Siena to Piazza del Campo for the 2025 edition of the Strade Bianche. There will be 16 dirt sectors, with the first ones already included at the start of the race in the first forty kilometers. As always, however, the Strade Bianche will start to get into full swing halfway through the route, especially starting from the San Martino in Grania sector, which precedes Monte Sante Marie within the ninth dirt sector, which is the hardest. Watch out for the usual Monteaperti sector, uphill with double-digit gradients.

Here stands the final circuit with sector 11 of Colle Pinzuto with slopes of 15%, then following the Tolfe (18%) and, in San Giovanni Cerreto, the 14th sector of Montechiaro which is 3.3 kilometers long. Very tough final with the second passage on Colle Pinzuto and on the Tolfe to arrive within ten from Siena.

Once in the town, you go up via Esterna di Fontebranda with gradients of up to 9%. 900 m from the finish line, you pass Porta di Fontebranda and the paved road begins. The gradient exceeds 10% until reaching around 500 m from the finish line, in via Santa Caterina, peaks of 16%. Followed by a sharp right turn into Via delle Terme and the entrance into Via Banchi di Sotto. From 300 m the road is always slightly downhill. At 150 m turn right into Via Rinaldini. At 70 m you enter the Campo, the last 30 m downhill at 7%.

The favourites

Without Wout Van Aert and Mathieu Van der Poel, all attention will be on world champion Tadej pogacar, the absolute favourite of the race with the bib of the winner of the 2024 edition. The main rival will be the 2023 winner Thomas pidcock, from this season to the Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team, while Ineos will rely on veteran Michal Kwiatkowski. Outsiders Van EetveltTom skujins, Valentin Madouas, Mark HirschBen Healy, Attila Valter, David Formolo, Matej Mohoric, Mikel Landa and Kevin Vermaeke. Among the Italians we also mention Filippo Zana, alberto Bettiol, new standard-bearer of Astana, and Christian Scaroni.

Where to watch the race on TV

The 2025 edition of Strade Bianche will be held on Saturday 8 March with departure time at 11.25 and arrival expected between 16.30 and 17. Live coverage on Eurosport 2, Sky channel 211, starting at 14.05 and streaming on Discovery Plus, Dazn and Sky Go. Live free-to-air on Rai Due and streaming on Raiplay. Read also - Skiing, Paris' feat in Kvitfjell: Odermatt beaten in downhill