With old grudges and new rivalries playing out on the gravel roads of Tuscany, Strade Bianche offered up plenty to talk about in this month’s episode of The Cycling Podcast Féminin. Rose Manley and Denny Gray are joined by cycling broadcaster Rebecca Charlton to discuss all the juicy details, plus they look ahead to the return of Milan-Sanremo with a mini-feature about the race’s predecessor, the Primavera Rosa.

Ever since Demi Vollering's move to FDJ-Suez and Anna Van der Breggen announced her return to the peloton last year, anticipation of a fierce rivalry between the pair has been rising. After Strade Bianche and their first meeting at Setmana Valenciana, it is fair to say that the match-up has already more than exceeded expectations. Van der Breggen has proven to be the only rider in the peloton capable of matching Vollering for power and tactical nous, although Vollering has thus far always come away with the spoils.

Strade Bianche also saw former world champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot take third place, in her first spring Classic since 2018. Plus the race was a welcome showcase for the top riders in the peloton after something of a stalemate at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad which saw a surprise victory for Lotte Claes. 

In anticipation of the inaugural Milano-Sanremo Donne, we take a look back at the race’s precursor – the Primavera Rosa – which ran for seven editions from 1999 until 2005. The race took place on the last 118 kilometres of the men’s Milan-Sanremo, on the same day and included the same Poggio and Cipressa climbs and Via Roma finish. We offer up a potted history of those editions and hear some first-hand accounts from people that were there including Marion Clignet, podium finishers Chantal Beltman and Ina Teutenberg, 2005 champion Trixi Worrack and photographer Mario Prato.

Also on the agenda, hippopotamus races, bumping into your ex with 30 toilet rolls and the battle of the names: Nienke Vinke vs Lotte Claes.

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The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.