As it Happened – Final sprint to the Piazza del Campo decides 2026 women’s Strade Bianche after punctures and mechanicals shake up race

Koch on the front as they leading eight begin the climb

2026-03-07T12:55:41.478Z

The Via Santa Catarina is one of the most iconic stadia in cycling. The gradients top 20% on the approach to the Piazza del Campo.

Who has got something left to give? Longo Borghini and Niewiadoma looked strongest on Le Tolfe, but they have both invested so much into this race already.

Siena is in sight. The riders discard bottles in preparation for the final skirmish.

2026-03-07T12:51:59.654Z

The riders are coasting now. All focus is on the final climb.

Koch is on the front keep control of things

2026-03-07T12:50:46.985Z

The group slows and Trinca Colonel comes back, attacking straight off the front but followed by Chabbey.

Tense stuff here as the riders wait for the final climb.

2026-03-07T12:49:27.989Z

Koch tries an attack but is brought back. She sits back on the front of the group, with Chabbey at the back.

The front three stall and the chasers have come back. It’s a front group of seven heading into the finale.

2026-03-07T12:47:04.396Z

Almost disaster for Longo Borghini who catches the back wheel of Pieterse. She keeps it vertical though as the gap drops below 10 seconds.

2026-03-07T12:45:52.354Z

Vallieres and Koch are doing a lot of the pulling behind and the gap is coming down on a short drag.

10 seconds between the groups.

2026-03-07T12:44:56.553Z

Niewiadoma had a small crash earlier today, but on balance these are the three strongest riders who all avoided incident on the roads of Tuscany. That’s what bike-racing can all come down to.

Vos and Koch have got back to Vallieres and Chabbey.

It’s four chasing three with 19 seconds of a gap.

2026-03-07T12:42:20.753Z

It’s an up-and-down approach to Siena now ahead of the decisive final ramp.

2026-03-07T12:41:36.806Z

Chabbey and Vallieres at still chasing hard and will believe they can come back.

Behind them is another group of four: Koch, Van Anrooij, Trinca Colonel and Vos.

Niewiadoma attacks on a short, steep climb, but can’t get clear.

2026-03-07T12:40:06.166Z

This trio have a decisive lead now and are continuing on with the pace.

Vallieres and Chabbey are around 20 seconds behind.

2026-03-07T12:38:56.330Z

Longo Borghini is on the front, but Pieterse is now coming back to the leading pair.

2026-03-07T12:38:12.222Z

What a battle between the Polish and Italian champions. They have a lead over the top of Le Tolfe. Will they work together?

2026-03-07T12:37:32.235Z

Pieterse’s legs buckle beneath her. It’s now Longo Borghini and Niewiadoma in the lead.

2026-03-07T12:36:58.975Z

Pieterse moves to the front as the climb bites, Niewiadoma in her wheel.

Final sector. Chabbey is taking it on ahead of the uphill section.

2026-03-07T12:35:35.241Z

Now Trinca Colonel accelerates with Vos in the wheel, but she can’t get clear.

2026-03-07T12:35:01.796Z

Koch tries an attack as soon as her team-mate Chabbey is caught, but isn’t given any room.

With the gap decreasing, Niewiadoma attacks to bring the group back to the front.

2026-03-07T12:33:34.154Z

Behind, Rüegg is now leading the chase. It looks like the Swiss and world champion Vallieres have now swapped roles, with Rüegg now in support.

The Italian champion is getting frustrated with Chabbey’s refusal to come through. Will she continue to drive the pace? The gap is coming down slightly.

2026-03-07T12:31:03.431Z

Longo Borghini and Chabbey are on the tarmac descent now. Chabbey is refusing to come through, she has Koch waiting patiently in the group behind.

2026-03-07T12:30:23.438Z

20 seconds for the leading pair at the top of Pinzuto. Just Le Tolfe to go ahead of the Via Santa Caterina climb in the final kilometre.

2026-03-07T12:28:37.323Z

It’s a 20-second lead for Longo Borghini and Chabbey as Vallieres pulls the chasing group. She has Rüegg, who was 9th last year, in the group.

2026-03-07T12:27:35.170Z

Immense effort from Longo Borghini and Chabbey. They are pulling clear.

2026-03-07T12:26:59.632Z

Fisher-Black is trying to bridge across but is fading. She is swept up by a chasing group.

2026-03-07T12:26:00.213Z

Chabbey and Longo Borghini are going clear on the hardest section. Pieterse is being dropped.

Longo Borghini and Chabbey are trying to drive this group clear on the steep slopes of Colle Pinzuto.

Will Vos, Longo Borghini, Pieterse or Niewiadoma take the glory in the Piazza del Campo?

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-03-07T12:22:26.781Z

Fisher-Black has taken Chabbey, Rüegg, Vos and Longo Borghini with her, but the gap is small.

Fisher-Black attacks on a steep section of tarmac.

Perhaps unsurprisingly after all the work she has done, Włodarczyk is dropped.

2026-03-07T12:20:50.478Z

They are off that sector now and Włodarczyk is back on the front once more, trying to set up Italian champion Longo Borghini.

They are off the Montichlaro and are heading towards the final double-header of Colle Pinzuto and Le Tolfe.

2026-03-07T12:18:18.717Z

Włodarczyk takes a corner wide on this descent and Vallieres does the same on the next bend.

Włodarczyk is still on the front. She’s not asked for any help at all over the last 15 kilometres.

Three sectors left. This one is almost all downhill. Descents can be just as selective as ascents on the gravel.

2026-03-07T12:13:40.195Z

Well, with that, it’s down to the front 13 to contend for the win.

Here’s a run-down of who’s left:

Chabbey, Koch (FDJ-SUEZ), Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto) Vallieres, Rüegg (EF Education-Oatly), Pieterse (Fenix-Premier Tech), Van Anrooij, Fisher-Black (Lidl-Trek), Trinca Colonel (Liv-AlUla-Jayco), Lippert (Movistar), Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike), Longo Borghini and Włodarczyk (UAE Team ADQ).

2026-03-07T12:08:27.429Z

Group 2 is out of contention now. They are almost three minutes behind the leaders after that incident.

2026-03-07T12:07:54.049Z

The riders were instinctively following the motorbike ahead of them and turned right instead of left. Ferrand-Prévot had just re-joined this group and also went the wrong way.

2026-03-07T12:06:52.609Z

The riders have gone a long way down that track on a descent. They are now climbing back up and onto the course with a deficit of almost two minutes.

2026-03-07T12:05:52.312Z

The chase group has gone the wrong way. They have been directed down a gravel sector that was not part of the route.

2026-03-07T12:02:59.542Z

Włodarczyk is impressive. After being on the attack, she is really driving this group on now.

2026-03-07T12:01:39.695Z

That was a breathless half hour.

The question is, who has been impacted the least? Who has saved the most energy for the final three sectors and the crucial concluding rise to the Piazza del Campo?

Kopecky is riding on the front of the chase group, but they are now almost a minute behind.

2026-03-07T11:58:16.089Z

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The front pair are in sight now as Pieterse pulls the group.

With Longo Borghini caught, Vos attacks and the group is splitting up on the descent off Le Tolfe.

It is coming back together, but there are only 12 left in this group now with Vollering off the back with Kraak trying to help her return.

2026-03-07T11:51:21.314Z

It’s chaos out there. Letizia Borghesi goes wide on a corner and is collected by the waiting spectators. She didn’t come down and will have to chase back now.

Vollering having problems now at the top of the climb and she is slipping back.

Italian champion Longo Borghini attacks. She’s trying to get up to her team-mate Włodarczyk.

It looks like Ferran-Prévot is out of contention as she has a mechanical issue on Le Tolfe. She’s waiting for the team car.

2026-03-07T11:48:37.016Z

A nervy moment for Włodarczyk whose back wheel slides out on a gravel corner.

2026-03-07T11:47:44.839Z

Kopecky moves herself to the front ahead of Le Tolfe, giving herself some sliding room.

Another tough sector of sterrato with some steep sections.

2026-03-07T11:45:51.846Z

FDJ-SUEZ have a rider up the road, so it’s now Visma-Lease a Bike leading the chasing group with super domestique Femke de Vries. Ferrand-Prévot and Vos are sitting in for now.

Kopecky and her companions have returned to the group as Włodarczyk and Chabbey extend their lead once more. It’s now 25 seconds.

2026-03-07T11:41:37.718Z

Chabbey and Włodarczyk are being closed down because of the relentless attacking behind. They are now off the Colle Pinzuto and are heading towards Le Tolfe, another four-star sector.

2026-03-07T11:40:30.961Z

World Champion Magdeleine Vallieres attacks but is chased down. Next it’s Van Anrooij and Vos once more.

2026-03-07T11:39:19.088Z

Kopecky, Lippert, Couzens and Nelson are all dropped from the chasing group.

2026-03-07T11:38:50.815Z

Vos is attacking to get across, but Koch covers the move for Vollering. Now Lidl-Trek chase.

2026-03-07T11:37:54.405Z

The group is shattering on this sector. Chabbey and Włodarczyk have a ten-second lead.

2026-03-07T11:36:56.665Z

Chabbey attacks at the foot of Pinzuto with Włodarczyk in pursuit.

A key sector. The riders will take the Colle Pinzuto on twice.

2026-03-07T11:35:13.528Z

Puck Pieterse and Millie Couzens (Fenix-Premier Tech) are both in this front group.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-03-07T11:33:54.252Z

The front group are on the descent towards the four-star Colle Pinzuto.

2026-03-07T11:30:32.549Z

The group stretched out over that climb, but all stayed together. FDJ-SUEZ are keeping the squad in tact with key sections still to come.

A short but steep sector of gravel. FDJ-SUEZ continue to use their numbers on the front.

Two hours of racing done. The riders are shifting along at a 38.8 km/h average.

2026-03-07T11:24:39.376Z

Kopecky is at the back of the group seeking some attention from the car. She’s all alone.

2026-03-07T11:23:24.778Z

There are five FDJ-SUEZ riders in this front group. It’s a real show of strength from the French team today.

Visma-Lease a Bike have a strong trio in Ferrand-Prévot, Vos and De Vries. Lidl-Trek also have three as do UAE Team ADQ.

The riders are in the valley now with the next sector six kilometres away

2026-03-07T11:17:42.296Z

Missing from this front group is Kim Le Court-Pienaar. It appears that Anna van der Breggen is also distanced after her earlier crash. Lotte Kopecky is there though for SD Worx-ProTime.

2026-03-07T11:16:24.670Z

FDJ-SUEZ are present in this front group with numbers. Amber Kraak is currently on the front keeping the pace high. Elise Chabbey is there too, as is Franziska Koch and one other to support Vollering.

The gap back to the chasing group is getting bigger. It looks like this split could be decisive.

2026-03-07T11:11:37.113Z

They are on the descent now off the San Martino in Grania. The front group is now around 20 riders as three attempt to break clear on this fast downhill.

The riders are approaching the end of San Martino in Grania and there is still a group of around 30 riders at the front. A chase group is trying to get back on after several crashes split the bunch.

2026-03-07T11:05:24.150Z

One of the many winding descents the riders have to take on today.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Another fall in the bunch with multiple riders on the groud. EF Education–Oatly, Movistar and Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto all have riders held up.

2026-03-07T10:59:30.575Z

Around 30 riders are at the front of the race as they take on another rise.

2026-03-07T10:58:46.849Z

The peloton is breaking up on San Martino in Grania as they take on the first little climb on the sector. However, so often at Strade Bianche, it can be the tricky gravel descents that can cause separation.

2026-03-07T10:56:15.684Z

Riders from Visma-Lease a Bike and Fenix-Premier Tech came down in that crash.

2026-03-07T10:54:26.747Z

There has been a crash in the peloton and Anna van der Breggen has had a mechanical issue in the early part of this sector.

It’s the big one.

The longest sector of the race contains three distinct climbs within it. Things could blow apart here, or at the very least form the foundation of what’s to come.

2026-03-07T10:47:17.230Z

The big teams are keeping the pace high on this flatter section. They know that the next hour of racing will be important. The next gravel sector is coming up in three kilometres.

Less than 10 kilometres until San Martino in Grania.

2026-03-07T10:40:06.484Z

Jackson has been caught.

There really is no appetite to let a break go today.

2026-03-07T10:35:17.133Z

Attack by Alison Jackson (St Michel-Preference Home-Auber 93).

The former Paris-Roubaix champion only has a few seconds over the bunch.

2026-03-07T10:34:13.424Z

A few of the smaller teams are trying to send riders up the road, but the big teams are not letting anything go at the moment.

2026-03-07T10:32:39.391Z

It’s the build-up to the big one now.

San Martino in Grania is the only five-star sector of the race, and it is less than 20 kilometres away. Will anyone try to use it as a springboard?

They will be off it as quickly as they get on it. It’s time for the fourth sector, which is just 400 metres long. It’s not officially classified as a sector of gravel.

2026-03-07T10:29:04.596Z

Vollering’s FDJ-SUEZ team were on song last weekend at Omloop het Nieuwsblad. The French squad have been attentive in the opening hour, leading the bunch through Léa Curinier.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

It’s been a fairly quick opening hour of racing, with the riders holding an average speed of 36 km/h over the lumpy terrain.

2026-03-07T10:22:13.454Z

The peloton is all together, with FDJ-SUEZ, Lidl-Trek and EF Education-Oatly riding on the front.

2026-03-07T10:17:37.678Z

The peloton kicking up dust on an early sector.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-03-07T10:15:41.319Z

The riders are off the Radi sector now. There are around 11 kilometres until another short sector, almost a blip on the route map. After that, there are another 17km until the highest-ranked sector, the San Martine in Grania.

With that small sector aside, this is the longest stretch of tarmac in the race today.

2026-03-07T10:11:06.920Z

A mechanical issue for Josie Talbot (Liv-AlUla-Jayco) on the gravel. Radi is almost complete.

2026-03-07T10:07:41.754Z

Here’s a shot of the riders leaving Siena earlier.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

EF Education-Oatly lead the bunch onto the undulating Radi sector with 105km to go.

2026-03-07T10:04:52.337Z

Rijnbeek’s move was short-lived. She’s been caught ahead of the third sector of sterrato.

2026-03-07T10:03:22.795Z

All eyes on the defending champion.

Demi Vollering looked focused this morning as she rode to the sign-on area.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-03-07T10:01:48.374Z

Rijnbeek has a 17-second lead over the peloton.

Just over 20km complete and we have our first attack. It’s Maud Rijnbeek (VolkerWessels) trying to break clear of the bunch.

2026-03-07T09:57:44.733Z

The riders are all together, although EF Education-Oatly’s Henriette Christie has had a mechanical problem.

2026-03-07T09:57:10.412Z

The second sector of gravel is complete and the riders are heading for the third.

2026-03-07T09:55:44.355Z

Puck Pieterse is making her road season debut at Strade Bianche, five weeks after finishing third at the Cyclo-cross World Championships.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

The riders are mid-way through the three-star Bagnaia sector

2026-03-07T09:52:03.860Z

Bagnaia is a tough sector, with ramps up to 15%. Being so early in the race, it shouldn’t have too much bearing on the final result.

2026-03-07T09:51:13.843Z

The peloton is back together on the climb.

2026-03-07T09:50:33.011Z

The first two groups are now back together, with at least one group further back.

Ferrand-Prévot was among those distanced, but she is back now. It’s unclear whether she was part of that early fall.

The riders are now onto the second sector, one of the steepest of the day.

With the peloton already in pieces following the early crash and first gravel sector, it could be chaos after this one.

They are off the first sector and the bunch has split into three groups. There are reports of a crash on the Vidritta section with multiple teams involved.

2026-03-07T09:44:35.486Z

It won’t be long until the peloton hits the second sector, which is much more challenging.

2026-03-07T09:43:39.227Z

Vidritta is regarded as one of the easiest sectors of the race as it’s almost pan-flat.

The riders are on the one-star Vidritta section, their first taste of the gravel.

2026-03-07T09:41:19.552Z

SD Worx-ProTime’s Lotte Kopecky is a two-time winner of this race, in 2022 and 2024. However, following back problems over the last year, she has been well short of that form of late.

Here’s what she had to say this week ahead of Strade Bianche:

The riders are off. There are just 10 kilometres until the first gravel sector, so not long to get settled in.

2026-03-07T09:18:04.093Z

In all, there are eleven gravel sectors for the riders to contend with today. There is one five-start sector, the San Martino in Grania and two very important four-star stretches of gravel, Colle Pinzuto and Le Tolfe, which are the final two sectors before the finish.

Here’s a full list:

Vidritta (2.4km)
Bagnaia (4.8km)
Radi (4.4km)
S.Martino in Grania (9.4km)
Monteaperti (0.6km)
Colle Pinzuto (2.4km)
Le Tolfe (1.1km)
Strada del Castagno (0.7km)
Montechiaro (3.3 km)
Colle Pinzuto (2.4km)
Le Tolfe (1.1km)

The riders have a short neutral zone before getting going

2026-03-07T09:14:01.452Z

It’s set to be unseasonably warm today in Siena, with temperatures reaching around 16 degrees celsius. Could that mean we’re in for a quick edition?

2026-03-07T09:12:07.861Z

Since finishing third last year, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot has gone on to win both Paris-Roubaix and the Tour de France Femmes. Teaming up once more with Marianne Vos for Strade Bianche, the Frenchwoman is feeling confident in Tuscany.