Strade Bianche really hurt for Canyon//SRAM Zondacrypto on Saturday. Going into the race with enthusiasm and genuine hope for a win, their day unraveled in a cruel way with team leader Kasia Niewiadoma Phinney crashing out and their highest place finisher being Alice Towers in 38th place. The team is ready to bounce back as they head to the Lombardy region of Northern Italy for the 26th edition of Trofeo Alfredo Binda – Comune di Cittiglio, a beloved fixture on the UCI Women’s WorldTour calendar.
The team has named a strong roster for this race. The team will comprise: Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig, Neve Bradbury, Alice Towers, Soraya Paladin, Ricarda Bauernfeind, and Antonia Niedermaier.
Cecilie has been consistently inside the top 10 in her last five appearances, securing three third-place finishes, and will be keen to improve her track record.
Soraya has also enjoyed an impressive run at Trofeo Alfredo Binda, finishing 9th followed by four consecutive top-five finishes in the last five editions, including third in 2022 and fourth in 2024. It’s a race that she never fails to circle on her calendar, and this year she’s especially driven a tough Strade Bianche. Soraya said “Strade was a really bad day for us. We were confident and on track to fight for the win with Kasia, but cycling showed us how cruel it can be sometimes. It hurt in the moment, but we’re tough. Personally, I’m ready and motivated to race and do my best. Binda is a race I really enjoy, and this year it’s even harder than before with an extra lap and more strong climbers at the start line. I’m expecting a lot of action, and it will be hard to control the race, so we need to be smart and ready to be in the right move. While we won’t have Kasia as planned, we’re still a strong team, and if we work well together, we can fight for the win.”
Ricarda Bauernfeind is on her way back after serious knee issues that left her sidelined for over 300 days. Ahead of her second race back she said “It was a great feeling to be back on the start line at Trofeo Oro in Euro, racing with the team, and crossing a finish line again. Of course, I’m still lacking race toughness and fitness, but I’m on the right track and will definitely be working very hard in the coming weeks. I’m really happy that I get to race Trofeo Binda. It’s a WorldTour race, so it’s definitely a much tougher race. I know that I won’t play a role in the final because I’m simply not at that level yet. That’s why I hope to support my team at the start so that they can have enough power for the finale. Trofeo Binda is always a tough race because the two climbs on the circuit are ridden fast, and there are constant attacks. I think the extra lap will make it even more of an elimination race, and in the end, it will be tough for the sprinters. That’s why I think only a small group will make it to the finish.”
Trofeo Alfredo Binda, a race with a long and rich history that also includes a junior women’s event, has firmly held its place as one of the few female-centric events continuing to stand as the landscape of women’s cycling evolves around it.
The race always culminates on a dynamic circuit through the small towns scattered near Cittiglio, nestled in the mountainous valleys around Lake Maggiore. The course features a short, sharp 800m ascent and a longer, 3km gradual climb, complemented by fast urban descents, tight winding roads, and interspersed road infrastructure. Stretches of flat, uninterrupted riding are minimal, making it difficult to chase breaks effectively.
The lead-in to the circuit is often varied, and this year the race begins in Luino, a lakeside town, with an opening phase that takes the peloton down the lake and back up a gradually rising road with scenic views. Afterward, they’ll tackle the regularly called-upon Rancio climb (4.4km at 4.7%) and meander their way through the hills to six laps of the circuit.
This year promises a challenging 152 kilometres with 2427m of climbing – a true test for riders in a race where both sprinters and climbers have historically found victory. In the past, the race has ranged between 120-142km, and this is the first time more than five laps of the circuit will be completed. Just last year alone, the laps were increased from four to five.
