The 16th edition of Strade Bianche took place on 5 March 2022, marking the third event of the 2022 UCI World Tour. Looking back, the white gravel Tuscan hills did not disappoint.
Women’s Race
On the women's side, there were a total of 14 World teams and 10 Continental teams competing through rain and shine. The Strade Bianche Women’s race is relatively young, starting in 2015, quickly growing in popularity due to its exciting nature and picturesque landscapes. This year the peloton tackled five steep climbs, including 31.4 kilometers of gravel roads through the total 136-kilometer race. As anticipated, this year’s race was close all the way to the end, where 16 or so favorites emerged as part of the group riding into Siena for the final climb. On the steepest section of the Via Santa Caterina, riders Kopecky and Van Vleuten moved ahead, with Kopecky taking the lead in the front heading into the Piazza del Campo. This left Moolman-Pasio finishing third. As more and more women push the sport forward, it continues to grow more and more competitive, more evident than ever in the 2022 women's race.
Men's Race
The 184km men's race was equally full of action-packed excitement with high winds blowing the white gravel and riders all over the course. Eleven total sectors of the race included 63km on the gravel. With two past champions - Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert - absent from the start line, this year's race was wide open. Some notable names who stepped to the plate to show their stuff included 2019 winner Julian Alaphilippe (crashing above) and other strong contenders by the likes of Alejandro Valverde, Kasper Asgreen, and Tadej Pogačar. Pogačar, who has been performing impeccably, burst from a leading group of riders with 50 km to go in a show of pure talent, going on to win the 2022 race on Saturday. As the first Tour de France winner at Strade Bianche, Pogačar rode alone into the narrow streets of Siena to Piazza del Campo to take victory, showing off his riding versatility and skillset across the board.
Even though the Strade Bianche is one of the youngest one-day spring Classic races, created in 2007. In just a short time, the race has become one of the largest, most classic, and anticipated of the spring, if not the year. For more information on upcoming spring classic races or to get your own Tour de Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, or Amstel Gold gear, visit our spring classics collection today. Don’t hide your Spring Classics excitement, wear it!
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