Tibor Del Grosso makes season debut at Strade Bianche

Tibor Del Grosso starts his season on Saturday at Strade Bianche. For the Alpecin-Premier Tech talent, it marks his debut in the Italian gravel classic. It’s his first road race after a long winter focused on cyclocross.

The 22-year-old Dutchman last competed at the Cyclocross World Championships in Hulst. After over a week of vacation, Del Grosso began his road season preparation on February 14 in Spain. This coming weekend, he kicks off that campaign at Strade Bianche. Not surprisingly, as the rider from Drenthe excels on gravel. Although those races are of a different caliber, he showed strong form last year in offroad events such as the Antwerp Port Epic (fifth) and Dwars door het Hageland (third). In the autumn, he also finished second at the Dutch Gravel National Championships and third at Serenissima Gravel.

Cycling fans are eagerly anticipating Del Grosso’s spring season, who last year demonstrated his talent in these types of races with a sixth place in Dwars Door Vlaanderen and a tenth in the Brabantse Pijl. He also impressed in the tough stage to Geraardsbergen during the Renewi Tour, finishing fourth—not far behind stage winner and teammate Mathieu van der Poel, Arnaud De Lie, and Tim Wellens. After Strade Bianche, Del Grosso may remain in Italy for Tirreno-Adriatico. His schedule beyond that is not yet clear.