Wider tyres is the new trend that took over Strade Bianche

View at the new trend of wider tyres on the event Strade Bianche that occured lately

Each year, as the Strade Bianche approaches, a familiar pattern emerges within discussions: Someone inevitably wonders about the innovative tech solutions riders might deploy to navigate the challenging, dusty white roads of the race. We collectively anticipate witnessing some groundbreaking technology that astonishes us, yet, time and again, we find that the most notable adjustment from the mechanics is simply the shift to broader tyres. Invariably, amidst these discussions, the suggestion that Strade Bianche deserves monument status also comes up.

This year’s race didn’t stray from this narrative. As Lotte Kopecky triumphed over Elisa Longo Borghini, and Tadej Pogacar launched his solo attack 81 kilometers from the finish, our observations remained consistent. The anticipation of tech marvels yielded to the reality that, sometimes, success in such a unique race comes down to subtle changes, like opting for wider tyres to tackle the treacherous terrain.

Despite the Strade Bianche’s unique challenges already behind us, the anticipation for the true Monuments of cycling is still building. This means tyre selection and bike configuration continue to be critical considerations for riders and their teams as they experiment to find the optimal setup.

Some teams were on the scene to cover both the men’s and women’s races in detail. They explored the pits to investigate the choices made by the teams. Notably, Soudal-Quickstep adopted a mixed strategy, with some of their riders opting for tubeless tyres, while others stuck with traditional inner tubes. The shift towards wider tyres is becoming more apparent, as the once-preferred 28c tyres are increasingly replaced by the bulkier 30c options, indicating a trend towards prioritizing comfort and stability on challenging terrains.

Additionally, we took an exclusive five-minute tour of Pogacar’s bike, offering you an intimate glimpse into the comprehensive setup of the young champion’s machine.

Kicking off with Christophe Laporte from Visma-Lease a Bike, who rides a Cervelo adorned with the colors of the European champion and equipped with 30c Vittoria Corsa Pro tyres. Intriguingly, Laporte opts for these ‘all-rounder’ tyres instead of choosing between the speedier Corsa Pro Speed and the more robust Corsa Pro Control.

Astana Qazaqstan also were using the Corsa Pro tyre, and had the same 30c width of the tyre. (Image credit: Stephen Farrand)

EF Education-EasyPost, however, chose the sturdier Corsa Pro Control tyre, albeit they too went for the 30c width. (Image credit: Stephen Farrand)

Team Liv AlUla are also using the Coprsa Pro Control tyres, but interestingly they chosed to use the older version, rather than the new ‘Pro’ model. (Image credit: Stephen Farrand)

Pirelli tyres feature the width marked on their sidewalls, although the notation is quite small and challenging to spot. To simplify matters, the mechanics at Lidl-Trek have taken to indicating the tyre width more visibly using a white pen.

Continental’s tyres have a similar problem, and it looks like Movistar mechanics have done the same. (Image credit: Stephen Farrand)

All the Bahrain Victorious team used the same 30c Continental GP5000 S TR tyre. (Image credit: Stephen Farrand)

And as the Movistar Team did. The colour-matched Time pedals there look amazing, too. (Image credit: Stephen Farrand)

Intermarché-Wanty also uses the same tyres, but what caught our attention was the sticker from their sealant sponsor, Effetto Mariposa. This clever addition allows mechanics to easily keep track of the amount of sealant used and the date it was applied.

Clearance is tight in some frames and it’s the downside to such big tyres – in this case also 30c. (Image credit: Stephen Farrand)

Team Uno-X daringly opted for Schwalbe’s ‘Aero’ tyres, which feature a unique design with front- and rear-specific tyres. This setup prioritizes maximum aerodynamic performance for the front tyre and minimizes rolling resistance for the rear.

Just a few years back, 28c tyres were considered wide, yet they’ve become a rarity at Strade Bianche. However, we still encountered a few, including the Michelin Power Cup tyre on a Cofidis bike. This might be attributed to the French team’s persistent use of tubular tyres, which seldom surpass the width of 28c.

Another seen here on the bike of Shirin Van Arooij at Lidl-Trek. (Image credit: Stephen Farrand)

The majority of riders opted for tubeless tyres, like those from Muc Off, seen on EF-Education EasyPost’s bikes, complete with color-matched valves.

In the Soudal-Quickstep camp, inner tubes were predominantly seen. While the Specialized-sponsored teams have experimented with tubeless setups, they often lean towards clincher tyres and inner tubes, even as tubeless options gain popularity elsewhere.

Despite this, the Belgian team’s stance on the optimal tyre solution seems flexible, as Kasper Asgreen was observed riding with tubeless tyres.

This choice might be up to individual riders, evidenced by Julian Alaphilippe also opting for tubeless tyres.

Post-race, Lotte Kopecky’s Specialized-sponsored bike was seen equipped with inner tubes, coated in a thick layer of Italian dirt from the race.

After crossing the finish line, the UCI tags the winners’ bikes, marking them for retention by commissaries to check for motor doping.

The dedication of the riders is unmistakable. Kasia Niewiadoma, visibly exhausted, was spotted with an aero trip strip base layer peeking from her sleeve.

Kristen Faulkner, after securing a 6th place finish, was found collapsed on the ground in Piazza del Campo.

The victor of the men’s race, Tadej Pogacar, made his strategy known in a pre-race interview, promising an attack around 80km from the finish, which he executed flawlessly to solo to victory.