Trek Segafredo will be looking for success in Siena for both the men's and women's teams at Saturday's Strade Bianche, with Quinn Simmons leading the men's team for the second time and 2017 winner Elisa Longo Borghini and world champion Elisa Balsamo will lead the way.

On Friday before the race, both Longo Borghini and Simmons commented on the high level of the peloton, with the Italian noting that women's cycling as a whole is getting stronger, something she has noticed so far in 2022.

"In the first few races of the season, I saw that the level of the peloton is much higher than it was a year ago and that there is more organization among the teams.

"We are only a few months into 2021, but the growth is evident. The group is getting stronger and all teams are becoming more competitive. This is good for the movement as a whole."

Simmons, meanwhile, noted that the race across the Tuscan Stellato is now for climbers as well as for classic riders with powerful physiques like himself.

"Every year as the level goes up, climbers like Alaphilippe show more speed on the climbs. But to be a classic rider, you still need power."

Longo Borghini will co-lead one of the strongest teams in the women's peloton, even in the absence of Lizzie Deignan on Saturday. Audrey Cordon-Lago, Taylor Wiles, Lauretta Hanson, and Shirin Van Unrooy will be on the starting line with her and Balsamo.

The Italian, who won in rainy Siena five years ago, said the women's race will be more balanced after Anna van der Breggen retired.

"With van der Breggen gone, the race will be more balanced. 'I am sure that Annemiek van Vleuten is already very strong, but I think the race will be open to different options. Some teams will try to impose their way of driving without necessarily waiting."

"Personally, I saw Lotte Kopecky having a strong race, as well as Marta Cavalli and Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig; FDJ may be the team that will invigorate the race more than any other."

She noted that they are approaching the race differently for 2022, as a more relaxed prelude to Saturday's 136-km battle, which includes eight stellato sections and countless climbs.

"Compared to previous years, our approach to Strade Bianche is softer and more relaxed," he said. But that doesn't mean I'm less confident or less motivated." I am always excited to race in Strade Bianche. I also want to emphasize that as Trek-Segafredo, we will be at the start of the race fully prepared. Besides myself, I have several other options."

Longo Borghini, 30, just signed a two-year contract to stay with Trek-Segafredo, adding that her years of experience will only help in unpredictable races like Strade Bianche. She has been part of the women's peloton since 2011 and has competed in six of the seven editions held so far, never once finishing lower than fifth place.

"The experience in these races is very important," she said. 'The same goes for the head. You need to race intelligently and not overuse yourself early in the race. For once, I might not be the first to attack or react. When I think back to last year, I still have regrets.

"Second place (last year) stung because of the way the race unfolded. On the other hand, I learned how to play better; if I'm in the lead group of two, I don't feel obligated to pull."

Much has been said in recent months about gravel roads and their place in road racing, with Matteo Trentin and Chris Froome leading the voices in the peloton that gravel roads are not appropriate for stage racing. Mauro Schmid, the 2020 Giro d'Italia stellato stage winner, recently told Cycling News that they may be right, too.

Simons, like Schmid, said he enjoys racing on gravel and thinks there is a place for road racing because of the entertainment value that chaos and unpredictability bring. In last year's race, he was part of the lead pack with 50 km to go, but a flat tire and crash forced him out of the race.

"It's a different and nice experience to ride gravel," he said. Some riders are complaining about adding gravel to the race now. Cycling needs interesting races."

"Sure, it's not a monument because it's still young, but by all accounts it's one of the nicest races of the year. Because it's something different and interesting."

"You have to learn to float a little bit and not panic when you start to slide," he said of riding on the white gravel roads, which are expected to be dry, compact, and fast on Saturday.

"The problem is that when you start to slide, you panic and hit the brakes. On the road, slowing down will save you a little bit. On gravel, it's best to stay away from the brakes, step on them and relax. You're using your body weight to control the bike, not the bars.

In 2020, Simmons was suspended by Trek-Segafredo for comments on social media deemed "divisive, inciting, and harmful," and he and his team (Gianluca Brambilla, Edward Theuns, Dario Cataldo, Toms Skuzinsch, Alexander Kamp) said they will try to win Saturday.

"Definitely, we came here to win. But we have one goal, and we'll keep racing until that happens."

"I look forward to watching it every year and it's almost a shame now that I won't get to see it as a rider. I really enjoyed getting up in the morning and watching it over a cup of coffee.

"For me, the first two hours are still hectic with large groups and I don't really like the panic and tension. But once you get to the selected group and everyone gets a little tired, it really starts to be fun. But I don't really enjoy the points leading up to the race."