This race is bursting at the seams with talent. The likes of Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez), Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime), Elisa Longo-Borghini (UAE Team ADQ), Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM), Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck) and many more are all in attendance today.

Today is a big day for two riders on their return to road racing... Pauline Ferran-Prevot (Visma-Lease a Bike) hasn't quite had the explosive return some may have predicted, but she is on course to what she thought would happen.

Meanwhile, Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-ProTime) has been looking good after returning from retirement. Her team see this race as a key moment on seeing if a return was right for her or not. Read the article below...

>>> 'This course doesn’t lie' – SD Worx-Protime sees Strade Bianche as key measure of Anna van der Breggen’s return level

Two non-starters to mention:

Hannah Ludwig (Cofidis)
Ariannna Fidanza (Laboral Kutxa-Fundación Euskadi)

Attack!

Franziska Brauße (Ceratizit)
Virginia Bortoli (Top Girls Fassa Bortolo)

They hold a slim advantage over the peloton.

Brauße and Bortoli have 12" on the peloton as they go onto the first gravel section of the race, the Vidritta. Which is 4.4km long and largely flat.

The gap to the leading duo has gone out to 18".

Crash!

Franziska Brauße (Ceratizit)

The German rider in the break comes down but is already back riding again. A nightmare moment for her. No confirmation that she has been caught as of yet.

Break caught

Unsurprisingly, after Brauße's crash, the break have been dragged back by the peloton.

Just in time for the first of the uphill gravel sections, the Bagnaia. 4.8km of gravel, here.

Everything appears to have calmed down for the time being. With no new moves going off the front.

100km to go

The race is being controlled by the big name teams of Canyon-SRAM, FDJ-Suez and SD Worx-Protime.

Multiple attacks and a crash have been reported!

🔥 Some riders are trying to create a breakaway, but nothing concrete, as we approach the 3rd sterrato. There was a small crash in the peloton, involving a rider from Human Powered Health, as well as Volkerwessels. #StradeBianche @CA_ItaMarch 8, 2025

Onto the next section of gravel, the 4.4km long Radi. The race is still all together.

Now onto the 6.4km long gravel stretch of La Piana. The bunch is still all together.

Multiple new attacks off the front of the peloton. No confirmed names as of yet.

Now the race heads onto the second longest section of gravel, the 9.3km long Serravalle. The longest section comes immediately after and is just 100 metres longer on length.

No team is really taking it upon themselves to take up the pace setting. The riders are just spread across the road with all the favourites right up towards the front.

It appears that European champion, Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-ProTime) has been sent to the front of the peloton to work with Visma-Lease a Bike.

Both teams have potential winners in their ranks, such as Anna van der Breggen, Mischa Bredewold, Pauline Ferrand-Prevot and Fem van Empel.

The riders have just headed onto the longest gravel section of the race. The 9.4km long Martino in Grania. This has flat, steep uphill and downhill sections and, of course very rough and slippy gravel.

70km to go

Demi Vollering's FDJ-Suez team have now hit the front of the peloton alongside Visma-Lease a Bike.

The peloton is shrinking all the time as the difficulties of riding on gravel become too much for some riders.

The pace being set by the FDJ-Suez, Visma-Lease a Bike and Movistar are proving to be too much for some.

The riders are now off the longest section of gravel and have a reasonably long time on asphalt. However, the roads are far from flat and easy.

The crash that involved a small amount of riders about an hour ago has sadly seen Human Powered Health rider, Ruth Edwards, abandon.

Unfortunately Ruth Edwards has crashed out of #StradeBianche and is on her way to the hospital. Please wish her well ❤️‍🩹 📸 @GettySport pic.twitter.com/HYxTE98Y9DMarch 8, 2025

Rear puncture

Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez)

Just at the end of the last section of gravel, the race favourite had an issue. She is back in the group again, though with her team controlling the pace.

Attack!

Nikola Nosková (Cofidis)

Immediately closed down. Christina Schweinberger (Fenix-Deceuninck) goes over the top but is also dragged back.

Multiple riders have already been dropped including Marlen Reusser (Movistar) and Mavi Garcia (Liv-AlUla-Jayco).

Attack!

Eva van Agt (Visma-Lease a Bike)

The 27-year-old has got a small gap over what's left of the peloton.

Van Agt (Visma-Lease a Bike) has been joined by former European champion Mischa Bredewold (SD Worx-ProTime). Multiple other riders are also bridging across.

All the main teams are represented in this new break with several strong riders making the move. Bredewold and Van Agt have been joined by Amanda Spratt (Lidl-Trek), Dominika Włodarczyk (UAE Team ADQ), Christina Schweinberger (Fenix-Deceuninck) and a handful of other riders.

Onto the next gravel section, the 600 metre long Monteaperti. The leaders have just maybe 5" on the peloton.

Attackers caught

That lead group has been caught. At the back, Nikola Nosková (Cofidis), Urška Žigart (AD Insurance-Soudal), Marie Le Net (FDJ-Suez) and several others lose touch at the back of the peloton.

Crash!

Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM)
Alice Towers (Canyon-SRAM)
Agnieszka Skalniak-Sójka (Canyon-SRAM)

The Tour de France Femmes defending champion is down and staying down and receiving medical attention.

At the front of the race, they are on the Colle Pinzuto. 2.4km long with a maximum slope of 15%.

Attack!

Femke Gerritse (SD Worx-ProTime)

She shows a lot of power to gap the peloton and immediately gets a large gap on the final metres of the Colle Pinzuto.

Multiple riders are now trying to bridge to Gerritse but don't appear to be working well together. Around six riders split into two groups of three.

In the chasing group:

Yara Kastelijn (Fenix-Deceuninck)
Liane Lippert (Movistar)
Dominika Włodarczyk (UAE Team ADQ)
Juliette Labous (FDJ-Suez)
Silke Smulders (Liv-AlUla-Jayco)
Marte Berg Edseth (Uno-X Mobility)

Amanda Spratt (Lidl-Trek), Evita Muzic (FDJ-Suez) and Mischa Bredewold (SD Worx-ProTime) are also trying to bridge to the lead.

Onto Le Tolfe they go. A very steep descent before kicking up onto an extremely steep slop maxing at 18%.

The chasing groups have been caught by what's left of the peloton with Gerritse still up front solo on the steepest part of Le Tolfe.

Three Visma-Lease a Bike riders dropped along with one from FDJ-Suez losing touch.

Lippert drags the group of favourites back up to Gerritse with Elisa Longo-Borghini (UAE Team ADQ) at the back of this front group. One to keep an eye on.

Attack!

Mavi Garcia (Liv-AlUla-Jayco)
Evita Muzic (FDJ-Suez)
Yara Kastelijn (Fenix-Deceuninck)
Femke Gerritse (SD Worx-ProTime)

They have a handful of seconds on the peloton.

Attack in peloton

Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (Visma-Lease a Bike)

The former world champion bridges across to the leaders with Kim Le Court (AG Insurance-Soudal and Marte Berg Edseth (Uno-X Mobility).

FDJ-Suez chasing behind.

40km to go

Onto the 700 metre long Strada del Castagno gravel section. Juliette Labous (FDJ-Suez) leads the chasing group for Demi Vollering.

Leaders:

Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (Visma-Lease a Bike)
Kim Le Court (AG Insurance-Soudal)
Yara Kastelijn (Fenix-Deceuninck)
Femke Gerritse (SD Worx-Protime)
Evita Muzic (FDJ-Suez)
Mavi Garcia (Liv-AlUla-Jayco)
Marte Berg Edseth (Uno-X Mobility)

They have 37" on the peloton.

Crash!

Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (Visma-Lease a Bike)

The multiple mountain bike, road and cyclocross world champion over cooked it into a corner but got back up immediately and is still in the leading group.

In the chase, Silvia Persico (UAE Team ADQ) appears to be attacking, but, she is really just dragging the group along.

She did just have a conversation with her leader, Longo-Borghini, after the Italian champion looked to be struggling on Le Tolfe.

Włodarczyk now chasing for Longo-Borghini on the front of the second group that includes Vollering and Van der Breggen.

30km to go

The leading group of seven has over a minute on the chasing group. This is looking really good for the leaders at the moment.

Onto the next section of gravel, the 3.3km long Montechiaro. The leaders have a gap of 1'20" on the chasing group.

Elisa Longo-Borghini (UAE Team ADQ) is just losing touch with the chasing group. She is clearly not on a good day.

Dropped from chase group

Elisa Longo-Borghini (UAE Team ADQ)
Lauretta Hanson (Lidl-Trek)
Lea Curinier (FDJ-Suez)

20km to go

Juliette Labous (FDJ-Suez) leading the chasing group behind for Demi Vollering. The time gap has dropped to 53" as the race start the penultimate gravel section of the Colle Pinzuto.

This is the second time up this 2.4km long section with a 15% max gradient.

Dropped from lead group

Femke Gerritse (SD Worx-Protime)

She can't hold on anymore.

Attack in chase group

Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez)
Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck)

Vollering appears to have gear issues as she sat up and looked at her bike shortly after accelerating.

Garcia tried a move in the lead group but was quickly closed down. Meanwhile, Vollering is unable to get clear from the rest and isn't looking 100%.

Labous comes back to the front and is dragging the group of six riders back to the leaders with 16km to go.

Chase group:

Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez)
Juliette Labous (FDJ-Suez)
Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime)
Noemi Ruegg (EF Education-Oatly-Cannondale)
Niamh Fisher-Black (Lidl-Trek)
Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck)

They join the leading group of six riders with 15km to go.

Attack!

Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime)

Onto the final gravel section of Le Tolfe and Anna van der Breggen goes clear on the descent!

The former world champion kicks hard and pushes on solo!

Vollering, Ferrand-Prevot and Labous make it back to Van der Breggen with Vollering attacking over the top!

Attack!

Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez)
Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime)

The student vs the master!

10km to go

Vollering and Van der Breggen lead. Behind, just 16" down, is Ferrand-Prevot, Kastelijn and Labous.

Four more riders join the chasing trio. Garcia, Berg, Pieterse and Fisher-Black join the chase. Kastelijn now working for Pieterse.

Van der Breggen and Vollering have 50" on the chasing group now and this looks like it will between these two superstars of the sport.

5km to go

Anna van der Breggen and Demi Vollering have a gap of 1'09" over the chasing group.

Inside the final 3km and this is absolutely between the leading duo unless something bizarre happens. A gap of 1'32" now.

Flamme Rouge!

Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez) and Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime) head onto the final climb into Siena. Maximum gradients of 16% up to the finish in Piazza del Campo.

Attack

Van dr Breggen tries to go clear but Vollering is locked onto her wheel.

Attack!

Demi Vollering goes solo and will win!

Demi Vollering of FDJ-Suez wins Strade Bianche 2025! A superb performance and a brilliant battle with Anna van der Breggen of SD Worx-Protime.

Pauline Ferrand-Prevot holds off Juliette Labous to take third with Mavi Garcia taking fifth.

Top 10

1. Demi Vollering (NED) FDJ-Suez 3:49'04"
2. Anna van der Breggen (NED) SD Worx-Protime +18"
3. Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (FRA) Visma-Lease a Bike +1'42"
4. Juliette Labous (FRA) FDJ-Suez S.T.
5. Mavi Garcia (ESP) Liv-AlUla-Jayco +1'47"
6. Yara Kastelijn (NED) Fenix-Deceuninck +1'48"
7. Puck Pieterse (NED) Fenix-Deceuninck +1'49"
8. Niamh Fisher-Black (NZL) Lidl-Trek +1'54"
9. Noemi Ruegg (SUI) EFO +1'55"
10. Silke Smulders (NED) Liv-AlUla-Jayco +1'59"

Head to the post race report for quotes and more reaction from the racing today...

>>> Strade Bianche Women: Demi Vollering powers away from Anna van der Breggen to take thrilling victory in Siena