Strade Bianche is undeniably one of the best races on the pro calendar, consistently produces the best photos, and it also tends to be one of the most interesting tech-wise – although road cycling is trending towards race bikes that have no issues on light gravel anyway.
We sent photographer James York down to the start of the women’s race to see what the teams are riding this year, and found a few secrets hiding in plain sight.
Basque team Laboral Kutxa-Fundación Euskadi are on the Basque Orbea bikes and Orbea’s own Oquo wheels.
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Like the men’s peloton, Vittoria Corsa Pros are incredibly prevalent in the women’s field, though you won’t find many tyres narrower than the 28mms here.
Women’s saddles are always interesting to look out for, with the Fizik Argo a popular choice.
The Orbea Orca Aero is full of aero styling cues, including those deep, flat handlebars.
It wasn't just the Orca Aero that was out; the lighter weight Orca was probably more suited to the tough Tuscan climbs.
The Fundacion Euskadi team got the full Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 set-up and even had an OSPW system to finish things off.
Cofidis's Look bikes are quietly some of the nicest in the pro peloton.
Their Shimano components are paired with custom chainrings from The Mechanic Parts, a Look crank and an SRM power meter.
White bar tape on the black bike is a nice touch.
Although it looks very slim in profile, the Look 795 Blade RS has plenty of aero design features.
Sella Italia continues to roll out 3D printing technology in its saddles. The latest to receive the treatment is the Novus Boost shown here.
There aren't too many Michelin tyres knocking about at races these days.
Human Powered Health's new Factor Ostro VAM's are sure to be some of the quickest bikes in the pro peloton.
Lovely Arundel cages, Goodyear tyres and Wahoo Speedplay pedals finish the frameset off.
Very nice Supacaz bar tape wrapped around Black Inc's super light integrated cockpit.
Ruth Edwards uses a Specialized Power with Mirror saddle.
'Rockin' All Over the World' isn't that bad.
Uno-X Mobility's Dare bikes are some of the most distinctive bikes in the peloton.
Their drivetrains are equally idiosyncratic: a Shimano backend is coupled with a power-equipped FSA crankset.
The choice of the Schwalbe Pro One Aero tyres is interesting – these were co-developed with Syncros to pair with its Capital SL wheels, and use different tyre designs front and back.
The DT Swiss ARC wheels used by the team are known to be some of the fastest on the market.
Kasia Niewiadoma's Canyon Ultimate has a lovely paintjob and an Ergon saddle.
No surprise that Canyon-SRAM have all the SRAM and SRAM-adjacent (Time pedals, Zipp wheels, Quarq power meter) kit.
Niewiadoma was also riding with SRAM's second-tier Force shifters and brake levers, despite being SRAM-sponsored, having SRAM Red components elsewhere and rumours of new SRAM Red swirling. Must be personal preference.
Just the normal Schwalbe Pro Ones for Niewiadoma, though the blue line may signify an updated design.
Hammerhead is also owned by SRAM, and there are rumours a new version of its Karoo computer may soon be available.
Lotte Kopecky's World Champion edition Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8 is pretty special.
It even has custom Time pedals.
Most of the women's peloton uses SRAM drivetrains, including SD Worx-Protime.
Kopecky has her hoods turned in for aero gains (but not so far that it's illegal).
Nice reminder that somehow she didn't win in 2023. Not sure there was a leadership debate this time out.
Specialized sponsorship means Specialized tyres and Roval parts.
Just in case she forgets her name mid-race.
She even gets the rainbow chain and cassette. Lovely.
FDJ-Suez's setup is very steady, with Shimano sponsorship meaning groupset and wheels are sure things.
Grace Brown was riding a 52/36 crankset.
And Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR tyres.
Marianne Vos's Cervélo R5 has a few quirks, such as the two-piece cockpit.
It has clearly had some use.
No laminate for Vos, her race notes are written on microfibre tape.
She also uses a small Garmin Edge computer and has it tied around the bars in case it comes off the chunky mount.
Vos uses a Fizik Tempo Argo saddle.
Elisa Longo Borghini finished second on this Trek Émonda, kitted out with a SRAM groupset and Bontrager parts.
She's another rider who prefers the adjustability of a two piece bar and stem rather than an integrated cockpit.
