Road Vs Gravel: Which Bike Is Better?

Strade Bianche has quickly become one of the most popular bike races around, mixing tough terrain with epic scenery and, of course, the infamous gravel! But which bike is really best to take it on; gravel bike or road bike? Ollie and Manon are in Tuscany to ride the entire route and find out!

In association with @WilierTriestina

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Which would you choose to ride Strade Bianche? Let us know in the comments below!👇

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#gcn #cycling #roadbike #StradeBianche #Wilier #EpicRide

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[stephthuemen]

Manon crushed this ride. So much respect for her fighting through and being a champ for women cyclists. Watching this video convinced me to try my longest ever ride this spring. Well done Manon!

[lucafwn]

So, in less than one week, Ollie climbed the Sassi-Superga, ran the Milano-Sanremo, and ran the Strade Bianche.
Is there something this guy cannot do?

[petewillmot]

What an inspiration these two are! Manon for completing her longest ever ride (Legend) and Ollie for not getting dropped this time! Seriously though it spurs me (and others) on to ride further this year watching films like this! More content like this please!

[neilcoles]

It's only in these longer rides you see how fit Ollie is... definitely an endurance king

[jamiefarrell]

Manon saying "my 'ead's gonna fall off" reflected exactly how I feel on most climbs, let alone after what she'd already smashed out! Great video GCN, great work Oli and Manon - thanks for making it interesting, inspiring and relatable.

[esenel]

17:30: Ollie discussing the bikes, meanwhile Manon was probably joining me in wondering "How is he still talking?!" 🤣
Awesome accomplishment for both, and Congrats Manon on a new longest ride 😀
200km next? or going straight for 250? (keep setting those targets/challenges!)

[stewarthinsley]

Felt Mannons pain there, good on. Ollie's enthusiasm could get anyone up a hill I reckon 👌

[neilcoles]

Incredible mental strength from Manon. You could see she was suffering but was never going to quit. I only did a 3000m in a day once in my late 20s but in a ride of this length with all that gravel that's a monster effort.

[MrGrenadeMcBoom]

Ollie making commentary going up that 14% climb.... Just wow. Cheers Ollie!

[cardiaccyclist]

There is something incredibly emotional and inspiring about seeing someone really pushing the limits. Incredible job Ollie. As for Manon, there was a real beauty in that colossal effort, thanks for the inspiration!!

[Digi]

For those conditions a plush big slick tire, like the 40c challenge strada bianca or panaracer gravelking on the gravelbike should be the best choice. you loose almost nothing in terms of rolling efficiency and road handling, yet gain loads of comfort on the gravel and cobble sections.

[northanorth]

Manon is such a trooper! Well done both of you.

[Relevant_Irrelevance]

Ollie just taking the ride in stride while Manon's struggling but fighting. What champs these two are. Go Ollie!

[wgranja]

The most charismatic presenters on GCN. Dan, you come right after! But these two could make a 3h long video and we would still watch it all! Congrats,
This was an amazing ride!!

[bretfurgason]

Manon is a beautiful amazing beast of a bicyclist. Both still smiling after all that, Bravo !!!

[bikenbeers]

I rode around this area back in September 2019 and rode parts of the Strada Bianche around Buonconvento on a road bike and 25mm tyres. Very challenging staying upright and I was slow down the gravel declines. Slip sliding away. But boy it was fun.

[rolldabonz]

Yay Manon!!! What a ride, thanks for sharing! Can’t wait for this Canadian winter to be over and go on a killer ride like that.

[Rose_Butterfly]

Having your longest ride ever have off-road terrain as well is about the toughest thing to do on a road bike great job Manon!
And great job to Ollie for pulling 20+ more watts the whole way!
My longest rides also had gravel and dirt paths but I was on a 140mm full sus MTB going really slow barely feeling any bumps. I doubt I was ever pushing 200 watts anywhere.

[Mububban]

Amazing effort from Manon to ride the men's pro course! Brutal.
And once again, let's appreciate how fit Ollie is, when Manon was shattered, he was still standing up tall, no slouch or tired shoulders etc. Amazing how fit he is, which again highlights what freaks pro cyclists are that they make him look slow!

[plepgeat]

Thanks for the ride, Magnificent Manon and Ollie Optimism!