Update
2024-03-02T13:02:32.862Z
100 KM left
The leaders were caught. When racing on the gravel, everything is back together again.
2024-03-02T12:59:49.853Z
We are now in San Martino. The leaders are still out there, but the pace in the peloton will certainly be tremendous.
2024-03-02T12:57:32.432Z
The leading group has now shrunk to just three people as Craddock dropped back into the peloton after a flat tire.
2024-03-02T12:56:14.304Z
A typical image of Strade Bianche. (Image credit: Getty Images) 2024-03-02T12:53:28.374Z
Meanwhile, the women's race has just ended and it was an exciting race. You can read what happened here
2024-03-02T12:49:15.839Z
110 km left
Only 20 seconds left for the leaders. They may not even make it to the start of San Martino in Grania.
2024-03-02T12:46:02.054Z
San Martino in Grania could also mean the end of the break as an attacking player. Their distance is now only about 30 seconds. Only 10 km left until you're back on the gravel.
2024-03-02T12:43:46.624Z
Now there is some respite for the riders in the form of a short flat section. After that, we can expect life to really come to life when they arrive at San Martino in Grania, the first 5-star sector of the race.
2024-03-02T12:39:51.070Z
120 km left
They are nearing the end of Pieve a Salti and the leading quartet's lead has shrunk to less than a minute.
2024-03-02T12:37:52.976Z
Lawson Craddock also had to change his bike but made it back into the leading group.
2024-03-02T12:37:01.195Z
Brun was caught by the peloton and was unable to rejoin the front due to his mechanical failure. An unfortunate end to the Swiss rider's day at the front, but an occupational hazard at Strade Bianche.
2024-03-02T12:33:53.057Z
No further attacks from the peloton yet, but the group has been reduced. There are less than 50 rides left in it.
2024-03-02T12:28:30.968Z
The Lucignano d'Asso is finished and now they are in Pieve a Salti. This will be the toughest test the drivers have had to face so far today.
2024-03-02T12:23:50.908Z
130 km left
The peloton is still on Lucignano d'Asso and has reduced the gap to the leaders a little further, to around 1-15. Nils Brun is stuck in no man's land between them.
2024-03-02T12:18:30.316Z
Bad news for Nils Bruin, who had a flat tire and dropped out of the leading group. This leaves only 4 riders on the break.
2024-03-02T12:15:07.084Z
(Image credit: Getty Images) 2024-03-02T12:12:55.017Z
You are now on the Lucignano d'Asso.
2024-03-02T12:08:49.923Z
With these sectors in mind, the pace in the peloton increases. The lead at the break is only about 1:30.
2024-03-02T12:03:56.655Z
140 km left
We are just a few kilometers from sector five, Lucignano d'Asso. This section is particularly important as it is the longest of the day at 11.9km and is immediately followed by the first 4-star section of the day, Pieve a Salti.
2024-03-02T11:59:58.537Z
The weather is still showing some ominous signs that could make this a very different race. There were a few drops of rain further up the road in the women's race.
2024-03-02T11:56:16.440Z
(Image credit: Getty Images)
An insight into why this Tuscan race is one of the most beautiful in cycling.
2024-03-02T11:51:19.939Z
150 km left
The riders are currently climbing an asphalt hill. The gap between the five leaders and the peloton is still growing and is now 2-30.
2024-03-02T11:44:18.269Z
Things may be quiet for the men for now, but things are just getting started for the women. Remember that you can also follow this race with us.
2024-03-02T11:34:12.304Z
160 km left
The success of this break stabilized the racing situation. The UAE team Emirates leads the peloton for Pogačar and is happy to let them have the lead, which is now 1:30. It's still 22 km to the next gravel section.
2024-03-02T11:25:53.880Z
The top quartet has become a top quintet as counter-attacker Nils Brun (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) has successfully closed the gap. They have a lead of over a minute.
2024-03-02T11:21:40.669Z
Now it's time for the fourth gravel test – La Piana, which is rated 2 stars and lasts 64 km.
2024-03-02T11:19:23.136Z
170 km left
The quartet's lead is now over 30 seconds. This could be the break of the day.
2024-03-02T11:16:13.282Z
They were supported by Dion Smith (Intermarché – Wanty) and have a lead of around 20 seconds.
2024-03-02T11:14:57.889Z
A new trio now forms a new leading group, and a strong one at that: Lawson Craddock (Jayco-AlUla), Mark Donovan (Q36.5) and Anders Halland Johannessen (Uno-X), who was previously in attack.
2024-03-02T11:06:10.554Z
180 km left
You are now in the third gravel sector, the 2-star Radi.
2024-03-02T11:05:13.962Z
Sergio Samitier led the peloton on the previous gravel sector. As you can see the roads are dry and dusty, there is no rain causing mud.
(Image credit: Getty Images) 2024-03-02T10:59:08.234Z
The Bagnaia is completed and the peloton remains together.
2024-03-02T10:53:34.118Z
(Image credit: Getty Images) 2024-03-02T10:50:08.071Z
Now it's time for Sector 2, Bagnaia. It is more difficult than the last and was rated 3 out of 5 stars in terms of difficulty. This could be the point at which an outlier becomes clear.
2024-03-02T10:46:14.357Z
The peloton waits at the start (Image credit: Getty Images) 2024-03-02T10:41:39.862Z
200 km left
This leading group had made it to the first of the day's 15 gravel sections, the Vidritta, but did not survive and was brought back. We are waiting for the next steps.
2024-03-02T10:39:05.411Z
The 6 riders with Skujiņš are: Cristián Rodríguez (Arkéa – B&B Hotels), Oscar Riesebeek (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Felix Engelhardt (Jayco-AlUla), Logan Currie (Lotto Dstny), Anders Halland Johannessen (Uno-X) and Francisco Muñoz (Polti Kometa).
2024-03-02T10:34:36.887Z
Among these seven drivers is Toms Skujiņš. Given the form he showed for a week on the opening weekend, he certainly won't be allowed on the road.
2024-03-02T10:33:13.828Z
205 km left
There have been attacks and a group of seven currently has a small lead over the main field.
2024-03-02T10:27:20.508Z
As for the all-important weather forecast, in this picture of the women's race you can see that even though it's dry at the moment, there are some ominous looking clouds in the sky. Should the skies open, the gravel roads will become mud baths, changing the entire character of the race. However, forecasts suggest no rain this afternoon.
(Image credit: Getty Images) 2024-03-02T10:20:45.244Z
215 km left
And here we go!
2024-03-02T10:20:15.242Z
All eyes are on Tadej Pogačar as he returns to racing (Image credit: Getty Images) 2024-03-02T10:13:24.303Z
The drivers rolled from the unofficial start into the neutralized zone. We are eagerly awaiting the official launch!
2024-03-02T10:11:58.082Z
In addition to Pogačar, defending champion Tom Pidcock is also among the favorites, while others to keep an eye on include in-form young talent Lennert Van Eetvelt, Ben Healy and Sepp Kuss, who will be testing himself on the unfamiliar gravel roads. For a more detailed look at each one's chances, read our preview analyzing the competitors.
2024-03-02T10:05:35.181Z
Only five minutes until the neutralized start and the excitement is palpable.
2024-03-02T10:04:54.556Z
As one of the biggest prizes of the season, the entry list is packed with talent. But one name stands out above all others: Tadej Pogačar. It seems an eternity since we last saw the big man racing, and in fact that was almost five months ago, last fall at Il Lombardia – which he inevitably won. He also won in his last appearance at the Strade Bianche in 2022 and is once again the hot favorite for this victory in the absence of Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel.
2024-03-02T09:57:38.409Z
This year's Strade Bianche route will be the longest to date, exceeding 200km for the first time in the race's 17-year history. An additional loop near Siena means 15 sections of the race's iconic gravel roads will be tackled, up from 11 last year. Today we'll find out whether this adds to the spectacle or upsets the balance of the race by making it too demanding.
2024-03-02T09:51:41.560Z
While we wait for the men, the women are already out and running – you can follow all the action from this race here.
2024-03-02T09:49:43.276Z
Only half an hour left before the men head off to what many now consider to be the first great classic – and possibly even a monument – of the season – Strade Bianche! Whether or not it deserves this particularly weighty level has been debated more and more heatedly in recent years, but in any case it is undoubtedly one of the spectacles of the season.
2024-03-01T16:30:25.305Z
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the 2024 Men's Strade Bianche