The Strade Bianche, which takes place tomorrow, gets its name from the compacted white stones en-route ©Getty Images

Tiesj Benoot of Lotto-Soudal has recovered from his recent crash and will seek a second consecutive victory in the Strade Bianche race - part of the International Cycling Union (UCI) WorldTour - that starts and finishes in Siena tomorrow.

The 184-kilometres route, much of it on dirt roads in the Crete Senesi hills and on the compacted white gravel that gives the event its name, is the same as last year.

But what will not be the same as last year will be the weather conditions.

In 2018 mid-week snow turned the race into a mudbath which only 53 riders finished, with a similar number being ruled outside the time limit and many failing to finish. 

Tiesj Benoot of the Lotto-Soudal team is back to defend his title in the UCI WorldTour Strade Bianche race that starts and ends in Siena tomorrow ©Getty Images
Tiesj Benoot of the Lotto-Soudal team is back to defend his title in the UCI WorldTour Strade Bianche race that starts and ends in Siena tomorrow ©Getty Images  

Benoot's team-mate Tim Wellens is also expected to challenge strongly.

Also in the field will be British Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas, who will line up for Team Sky alongside team leader Gianni Moscon.

Vincenzo Nibali will lead the Bahrain-Merida team and Greg Van Avermaet will feature for the CCC team, while Alexey Lutsenko will be one to watch from the Astana team.

Three-times world road race champion Peter Sagan suffered badly during last season's cold and rain, finishing two minutes adrift of the leader and compromising his form for the Spring Classics.

He is not here this year - Rafal Majka replaces him as Bora-Hansgrohe’s leader.

A women's WorldTour race is also being held.