Five riders to add to your 2026 Strade Bianche fantasy team

Our selections are based on our partner Cycling Fantasy, where players have a 5,000 credit budget to build a nine rider team for Strade.

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Paul Seixas has enjoyed an excellent start to his 2026 season, already taking two victories at the Volta ao Algarve and Faun Ardèche Classic. The latter was the more impressive of the two, thanks to a solo move of more than 40 kilometres to claim victory in the Ardèche. 

The way the 19-year-old distanced Matteo Jorgenson was a spectacle, calmly riding away from the American while taking a sip from his bidon.

At 200 credits, Seixas looks close to a must pick for your fantasy team. His ceiling is genuinely high, with top five potential and even an outside shot at the podium depending on race dynamics. If you are building a team around value and upside, he is the standout selection.

Another 200 credit option, Gianni Vermeersch brings proven gravel class and a strong record on the Tuscan white roads. He finished seventh at Strade Bianche in 2025 while riding for Alpecin-Deceuninck, before moving to Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe for 2026. With the resources and ambition of his new team, his role and opportunities could expand.

Vermeersch is well suited to aggressive racing and it would not be surprising to see him involved in key moves. His fifth place at the Clásica Jaén in mid February, after attacking from 54 kilometres out, underlines both his form and intent. For 200 credits, he offers serious return potential with minimal downside.

Quinn Simmons has had rotten luck at Strade Bianche lately, crashing out of the last two editions. When he has finished, though, the results have been strong: seventh in 2022 and just outside the top ten in 2023. He also showed at Il Lombardia in 2025 that he can survive deep into a hard race from the break and keep pressure on the favourites for a long time.

Simmons costs 400 credits, which puts him in a bracket where you need clear upside. The upside is there, especially if the race opens early and a strong group gets clear. His 2026 start has been a bit quieter, but Strade often rewards riders who commit early and ride on instinct, which suits him.

Florian Vermeersch is an intriguing wildcard in a team stacked with options. The 2025 Gravel World Champion has started 2026 well, highlighted by third place at Omloop Nieuwsblad where he tried to take on Mathieu van der Poel. On paper he will be in support of Tadej Pogačar, but his gravel skill set is perfectly suited to Saturday’s terrain and he could still score well even from a helper role.

At 200 credits, he is a smart way to add durability and late race punch to your roster, especially if you want to spend big elsewhere.

Lennert Van Eetvelt heads to Strade Bianche after a strong block at the UAE Tour, where he sat in the top ten on general classification and delivered a standout ride on Jebel Hafeet to take third on the stage. He has also been consistent in Tuscany, finishing ninth in 2025 and eleventh the year before.

The reduced parcours should suit him, as he is one of the riders on the start list who can still produce a sharp acceleration late in a hard race. At 600 credits, he sits in the mid to high bracket, but he looks worth it for a rider with a reliable floor and genuine top ten potential.

Is your team ready? Don't forget to join the Domestique Fantasy League.