After enjoying breakaway action in last year’s edition, riding up the road with the eventual winner Pidcock, experienced Italian Alessandro De Marchi will captain a mixed Team Jayco AlUla squad, alongside former national champion Filippo Zana, at this weekend’s 18th edition of Strade Bianche.
After a strong start to the season with multiple top-10 placings already, young 21-year-old Italian Davide De Pretto heads into the race looking to learn as much as possible and mix it with the best in his debut appearance at his home race.
Alongside the Italian trio will be experienced American Lawson Craddock and Dane Chris Juul-Jensen, hoping to perform and support the team well throughout the challenging 215km course, which features no less than 71.5 kilometres spread across 15 gravel sectors. Rounding-out the seven-rider team will be German and Australian neo-pro’s Felix Engelhardt and Rudy Porter.
Filippo Zana:
“For Strade Bianche, I hope to be a protagonist and to be amongst the best riders. It is a very beautiful race; I think it’s my favourite race in the season. I am coming from an altitude training camp in Tenerife, I am feeling fine, and I think with the training in Tenerife, I did an excellent job to get to Strade in a very good condition. We will see on Saturday, it may rain and that could make things difficult.”
Dave McPartland – Sport Director:
“Last year De Marchi had a strong race going in the breakaway, he knows the race very well and will once again looking to be aggressive and lead our boys into battle. For us, we have a mixed team and we’re looking forward to seeing what guys like De Pretto and Engelhardt can do in their debut appearances and keep Zana protected. As always, it will be a monstrous day with no hiding, there’s 71km of gravel this year so as always, you’re going to need a bit of luck to survive all the elements. Everybody is fit and healthy and we’re ready to attack the white roads.”
Team Jayco AlUla at the 2024 Strade Bianche:
Lawson Craddock (USA)
Alessandro De Marchi (ITA)
Davide De Pretto (ITA)
Felix Engelhardt (GER)
Chris Juul-Jensen (DEN)
Rudy Porter (AUS)
Filippo Zana (ITA)
Photo: Sprint Cycling
