Thursday, February 25, 2010

Montepaschi Strade Bianche: March 6th


This professional one day race has its roots in a course and event begun by amateur cyclists at the "L'Eroica". For the 4th edition this year there is yet another slight name change. Now simply named the "Montepaschi Strade Bianche" it has been previously named the "Montepaschi Strade Bianche, Eroica Toscana" and "Eroica".

The race came about due to Italy wanting to establish a new one day classic on the professional calendar to rival the traditional Spring classics. To accomplish this the race offers the white gravel and shale roads of Tuscany rather than the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix. The course will be 190 km in length starting in Gaiole in Chianti and finishing in the Piazza del Campo in Sienna. The route will have 8 sections of white roads totalling 57 km of the 190 km route; the longest white road section is 13.5km.

Past winners:
2009 Thomas Lovquist
2008 Fabian Cancellara
2007 Alexandr Kolobnev

Invited teams to this year's race, and team captain(s):
ACQUA & SAPONE-MOKAMBO (Ita): Garzelli, Paolini
AG2R LA MONDIALE (Fra): Efimkin
ANDRONI-DIQUIGIOVANNI (Ita): Ginanni
ASTANA (Kaz): Vinokourov
BMC (Usa): Evans, Ballan
CERVELO TEST TEAM (Svi): Hammond
GARMIN-TRANSITION (Usa): Hesjedal
ISD-NERI (Ita): Visconti
LAMPRE-FARNESE VINI (Ita): Bernucci, Gavazzi
LIQUIGAS-DOIMO (Ita): Pellizotti
OMEGA PHARMA-LOTTO (Bel): Peraud
SKY PROFESSIONAL CT (GB): Lofkvist
TEAM HTC-COLUMBIA (Usa): Cavendish, Pinotti
TEAM KATUSHA (Rus): Pozzato, Kirchen
TEAM SAXO BANK (Dan): Cancellara

The L'Eroica, for amateurs, will be held October 3, 2010.

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