The 2017 Strade Bianche was a

road cycling Road cycling is the most widespread form of cycling in which cyclists ride on paved roadways. It includes recreational, racing, commuting, and utility cycling. As users of the road, road cyclists are generally expected to obey the same laws as ...

one-day race that took place on 4 March. It was the eleventh edition of the

Strade Bianche The Strade Bianche is a road bicycle race in Tuscany, Central Italy, starting and finishing in Siena. First held in 2007, it is raced annually on the first or second Saturday of March. The name ''Strade Bianche'' (Italian for ''White Roads'') st ...

and was the fifth event of the

2017 UCI World Tour The 2017 UCI World Tour was a competition that included thirty-seven road cycling events throughout the 2017 men's cycling season. It was the ninth edition of the ranking system launched by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) in 2009. The ...

. It was the first time that the race was included in the UCI World Tour calendar. Poland's

Michał Kwiatkowski Michał Kwiatkowski ( , born 2 June 1990) is a Polish professional road bicycle racer, who currently rides for UCI WorldTeam . Kwiatkowski is seen as a strong all rounder, with good sprinting, time-trialling and climbing abilities allowing him ...

() became the second rider, after

Fabian Cancellara Fabian Cancellara (born 18 March 1981), nicknamed "Spartacus", is a Swiss cycling executive, businessman and former professional road racing cyclist who last rode for UCI ProTeam . He was born in Wohlen bei Bern, Switzerland. Cancellara began ...

, to win multiple editions of the race, after attacking from a group of four race favourites with around remaining and was able to solo away to the race victory. Second place was taken by

Greg Van Avermaet Greg Van Avermaet (born 17 May 1985) is a Belgian professional cyclist, who currently rides for UCI WorldTeam . Considered one of the most versatile riders of modern cycling, Van Avermaet is a specialist of the classic cycle races, but has also ...

for the fifteen seconds in arrears, while a further two seconds back in third place, 's

Tim Wellens Tim Wellens (born 10 May 1991) is a Belgian professional road cyclist, who currently rides for UCI WorldTeam . He is the son of former racing cyclist Leo Wellens and the nephew of cyclists Paul and Johan Wellens. Career Born in Sint-Truiden, W ...

completed the podium.

Teams

As a new event to the

UCI World Tour The UCI WorldTour (2009–2010: ''UCI World Ranking'') is the premier men's elite road cycling tour, sitting above the UCI ProSeries and various regional UCI Continental Circuits. It refers to both the tour of 38 events and, until 2019, an ann ...

, all

UCI WorldTeam A UCI WorldTeam (2015–present), previously UCI ProTeam (2005–2014), is the term used by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) to name a cycling team of the highest category in professional road cycling, the UCI World Tour or UCI ProTour ...

s were invited to the race, but not obligated to compete in the race. However, all eighteen UCI WorldTeams elected to compete in the race, the first such occurrence in relation to the new-for-2017 races. Three UCI Professional Continental teams competed, completing the 21-team peloton.

Route

The race started and finished in the

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World Heritage Site A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for h ...

Siena Siena ( , ; lat, Sena Iulia) is a city in Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the province of Siena. The city is historically linked to commercial and banking activities, having been a major banking center until the 13th and 14th centur ...

, for the second successive year, prior to which the race started in San Gimignano. The distance was , run entirely within the southern Tuscan

province of Siena The province of Siena ( it, provincia di Siena, link=no, ) is a province in Tuscany, Italy. Its capital is the city of Siena. Geography The province is divided into seven historical areas: * Alta Val d'Elsa * Chianti senese * The urban area o ...

. The Strade Bianche is particularly renowned for its sectors of ''strade bianche'' ( en, white roads) or ''sterrati'' ( en, dirt), which comprise large sections of the route. The course ran over the hilly terrain of the Chianti region and included eleven sectors and a total of – up from nine sectors and a total of in

2016 File:2016 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Bombed-out buildings in Ankara following the 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt; the Impeachment of Dilma Rousseff, impeachment trial of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff; Damaged houses duri ...

– of dirt road. The two returning sectors come within the first , at Bagnaia and Radi. The first sector was addressed just after the start; the longest and most arduous sectors were the ones in Lucignano d'Asso, in length, and the -long Monte Sante Marie. The latter section was renamed in honour of

, following his third win in the race in 2016. The last stretch of gravel road came from the finish in Siena. The race finished on Siena's illustrious Piazza del Campo, after a narrow ascent on the roughly-paved Via Santa Caterina in the heart of the medieval city, with steep stretches of up to 16% in gradient.

Teams

Route

Result

References

External links