10 amazing photos from a grizzly edition of Strade Bianche

The peloton covered in mud on the La Piana section. Photo: Sirotti

Zdenek Stybar on Monte Sante Marie. Photo: Sirotti

The Lucignano d'Asso sterrato section. Photo: Sirotti

Simon Clarke's pink kit was still recognizable covered in mud. Photo: Sirotti

It looks vintage but the 2018 edition of the race was one of it;s most memorable because of the weather.

Alejandro Valvderde finished fourth. Photo: Sirotti

Tiesj Benoot was the strongest rider on the day. Photo: Sirotti

World champion Peter Sagan opened his European campaign at Strade Bianche. Photo: Sirotti

Michal Kwiatkowski was unable to defend his title.

An unexpected podium with Tiesj Benoot on top flanked by Romain Bardet and world cyclocross champion Wout van Aert. Photo: Sirotti

The 2018 edition of Strade Bianche will go on to live in cycling fans memories. As snow from earlier in the week gave way to rain, the white sterrata of Tuscany were sloppy with mud. Riders clothing, bikes, helmets and faces were covered in the white roads as wheels flung the dirt into the air.

It was a day of attrition and Tiesj Benoot of Lotto-Soudal imposed himself to take his first professional win. Amazing performances by Romain Bardet (Ag2R-La Mondial) and three-time world cyclocross champion Wout van Aert (Veranda’s Willems-Crelan) saw the pair of first time Strade Bianche competitors finish on the podium. Van Aert’s legs cramped up on the final slopes into the Piazza del Campo in Siena barely managing to remount to cross the line.

Rivivi le grandi emozioni di Strade Bianche @NamedSport 2018 con gli highlights della gara di ieri! | Live again the amazing emotions of 2018 Strade Bianche #NamedSport with the highlights of yesterday's race! #StradeBianche pic.twitter.com/o3J8MvJ3DU

— Strade Bianche (@StradeBianche) March 4, 2018