'The gravel is a lot looser than usual' – Riders prepare for a fast, dusty and furious Strade Bianche

The peloton tackles the gravel hills of the 2023 Strade Bianche – this year the roads should be dry, dusty, and fast.

Tadej Pogačar, Kasia Niewiadoma, Demi Vollering, Puck Pieterse and Quinn Simmons were just a few of the riders enjoying the warm, sunny and dry Tuscan spring weather as they carried out a final Strade Bianche recon ride on Thursday.

Many rode the key sectors of gravel roads and then stopped for a selfie or a coffee in Siena's Piazza del Campo, which famously hosts the Palio horse race and the finish of Strade Bianche. There was a sense of happiness, excitement and tension amongst the riders as the hours counted down to a day of painful but spectacular racing.