Strade Bianche predictions and cycling betting tips: Ineos hold all the aces

Free cycling tips, best bets and analysis for Strade Bianche 2022.

Where to watch Strade Bianche

Eurosport & GCN+, 10.30am Saturday

Best bets

Tom Pidcock to win Strade Bianche
2pts 6-1 Betfred

Richard Carapaz to win Strade Bianche
0.5pt each-way 33-1 bet365

Strade Bianche 2022 preview

The eponymous white roads of Tuscany form a beautiful setting for the 16th edition of Strade Bianche - a race that has quickly become a favourite of cycling fans.

Won by two of the sport's burgeoning superstars, Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel, in the last two years, the 184km test around the hills of Tuscany is often decided on the 63km of gravel tracks that characterise the region.

Van der Poel isn't defending his crown and Van Aert is also absent, leaving 2019 winner Julian Alaphilippe as favourite. The world champion was second to Van der Poel last year, falling away on the final steep climb to the finish in Siena's Piazza del Campo.

You can never discount the Frenchman but at 3-1 his odds are cramped and the same can be said of double Tour de France winner Tadej Pogacar, who finished seventh last year.

Two places in front of the Slovenian was rising British star Tom Pidcock. The Yorkshireman has quickly ascended to the top of the sport, particularly in one-day races, and, like Van der Poel and Van Aert, appears to be able to do anything on two wheels.

Pidcock took gold in the mountain bike event at last summer's Tokyo Olympics and in January dominated a decent field at this year's Cyclocross world championships in the USA.

His Ineos team have a few cards to play. Olympic road race champion Richard Carapaz could be an each-way alternative at a big price, but Pidcock goes into the race as their number-one rider.

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