Italy’s iconic white gravel roads of Tuscany were anything but white on Sunday morning as Alberto Nardin claimed victory at the 2026 Gran Fondo Strade Bianche, crossing the finish line cover in brown mud with a time of 3:46:14 to take the top honour in one of cycling’s most celebrated amateur races.
From a field of near 2000 competitors Nardin, racing for MG.K VIS-Promotech-FMB, put together a commanding 138km performance across muddy and gritty terrain that makes this event legendary. The Italian rider held off a hard charging chase by Giovanni Loiscio, who came home 11 seconds behind in second place to claim second. Patrick Facchini of completed the podium in third, finishing 34 seconds adrift in 3:46:48.
The race unfolded over a course that wound through the breathtaking Sienese countryside, with riders tackling the signature white gravel sectors that demand both technical skill to avoid crashing and raw endurance just to finish. The top five finishers were separated by under a minute, showcasing the fierce competition that defines this epic event.
Fourth place went to Simone Impellizzeri in 3:46:53, just 39 seconds behind the winner, while France’s Julien Antomarchi rounded out the top five in 3:47:03.
In the women’s race, Martina Cavallo claimed victory, edging out a highly competitive field. Racing for OM.CC the Italian rider powered across the finish in 4:23:16 to take a popular win cheered on by legions of fans lining the final climb to the line.
Canada’s Michelle Gagnon pushed Cavallo hard throughout, ultimately finishing one minute and six seconds behind in second place with a time of 4:24:22. Virginia Becchetti completed an Italian one-three, taking the final podium spot in 4:25:11, one minute and 55 seconds in arrears of Cavallo. The Netherlands’ Anouk De Jong was close behind in fourth at 4:25:37.
Poland’s Ela Muench rounded out the top five, crossing in 4:32:08 to complete an international podium from Italy, Canada, the Netherlands, and Poland — a true testament to the worldwide appeal of gravel racing and Gran Fondo Strade Bianche.
Complete 2026 Gran Fondo Strade Bianche results HERE
Photo Credit: Facebook/GFStradeBianche
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