10 riders to watch at Strade Bianche Women 2022

Following the cancellation of the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race for the second consecutive year, Strade Bianche Women will once again be the first race of the 2022 Women’s WorldTour. It is known for its white, gravel roads, beautiful landscapes and the aggressive racing it produces. 

Six steep climbs and eight gravel sectors litter the 136km route the peloton will tackle after setting out from Siena for a circuit of the Tuscan countryside.

These obstacles offer plenty of opportunities to break up the field and there are many riders who will be seeking to do just that so they can take on the final ramp into Siena in prime position to fight for victory on the finish line in the historic Piazza del Campo. 

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Remarkably, Niewiadoma has finished in the top-ten at Strade Bianche on every occasion that she has completed the race. This run of results includes a second place in three consecutive editions, in 2016, 2017 and 2018, and a third place in 2019.

One of the peloton’s most aggressive riders, Niewiadoma is likely to unleash a series of late attacks in an attempt to break away from the main field, and finally secure an elusive victory at Strade Bianche.

In this endeavour, she will be ably supported by riders such as Elise Chabbey, Mikayla Harvey, Tiffany Cromwell and new signing Soraya Paladin, as her team has strengthened during the off-season. 

Displaying her early season form, Annemiek van Vleuten took victory at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad last weekend, attacking so ferociously on the Bosberg that only Demi Vollering could match her acceleration, and then winning a two-person