Twice a winner of this race (2008 and 2012), Fabian Cancellara cut a frustrated figure last season as his attempts to up the ante in the chasing bunch bore little fruit.

But with another assault on the Classics planned this season, Trek Factory Racing’s team leader will be after a third victory on the gravel roads of Tuscany. The 32-year-old proved during his cobbled Classics campaign last year, when he won both the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, that he has lost little of the power and technical ability which has seen him dominate the one-day scene with Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) in recent years.

Injured and ill over winter, Spartacus admitted he was not in the best of shape as the season started but he has gradually ramped up his preparations, completing all three races in the Middle East last month – Dubai, Qatar and Oman. The Strade Bianche – for which he will be backed by a strong team including veteran hard man Jens Voigt – will be his first one-day race of the season and will be a clear indication of his form ahead of the bigger races to come.