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San Gimignano chosen as new start town for Strade Bianche

2014 edition takes place on 8 March - Cavendish, Evans and Gilbert among those riding

San Gimignano, the town in Tuscany famous for its medieval towers, has been chosen as the new start location for the Strade Bianche, which will have its eighth edition on Saturday 8 March 2014.

The route of the race, announced earlier this week, includes 50km of the white gravel roads that give the event its name. As in previous years, the finish will be in Siena’s Piazza del Campo.

Besides those sections of strade bianche, there are also a number of steep climbs to negotiate, with the gradient hitting up to 16 per cent in the final kilometre in the narrow streets of Siena.

Mauro Vegni, head of cycling at RCS Sport, said: “The Strade Bianche is a jewel in the international cycling scene.

“This year the route is technically more difficult than in the past, given the greater number of sections of earthworks at the start, while the end is modelled on the traditional route, with the finish in the Piazza del Campo in Siena.

“We are confident that by working together with all the institutions involved we can get the best possible outcome for all.”

The field for the race will include three former world champions – Cadel Evans, Mark Cavendish and Philippe Gilbert.

The latter won the race in 2011, while Evans triumphed in a Giro d’Italia stage that included stretches of Strade Bianche. Cavendish, meanwhile, has a home in Tuscany hand so is familiar with the roads.

Last year's race was won by Cannondale Pro Cycling's Moreno Moser, with team mate Peter Sagan second.

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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6 comments

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NJA | 10 years ago
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I toured there two years ago, everything about the area is 'Classic'. We spent a week and covered hundreds of kilometers of white roads. It is one of the best places I have ever ridden.

The Strade Bianche race is up there with Paris Roubaix as a spectacle.

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Twybaydos | 10 years ago
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Stayed there two years ago - delightful.

Faithfully represented in Assasin's creed 2 if anyone has played that game

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MrGear | 10 years ago
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Beautiful part of the world.

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monty dog | 10 years ago
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The stretch-up to Monte Sante Marie after Asciano is brutual - a stretch of strade bianche with a succession of steep ramps with washboard descents and deep gravel on the bends. The location alone means this deserves "classic" status.

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timb27 | 10 years ago
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I would love to take a trip out for this. Amazing race in an amazing landscape with lovely people, great food...

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Stumps | 10 years ago
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Stayed here twice, the roads are fab and just go on forever, up and down all the time.

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