Ten months after his stellar stage win at the Giro d'Italia, Mauro Schmid returns to the white gravel roads of Tuscany's Strade Bianche. The young Swiss will support Quick-Step Alfa Vinyl leader and 2019 race winner Julien Alaphilippe on Saturday.

But despite Schmid's aptitude and likability for gravel roads, which led to his first pro win in Montalcino last May, the 22-year-old recently told Cycling News that it might be best to leave Stellato off the Grand Tour route.

The topic was recently covered in the media when Chris Froome and Matteo Trentin questioned the inclusion of gravel roads in stage races. Trentin told Cycling News, "I think it's too much of a spectacle that we don't need," while Froome said in a Youtube video, "It adds excitement to the race, but it's also a big risk [for GC riders]."

Speaking to Cycling News at the Tour of Oman in February, Schmidt said that his frustration with gravel roads in stage races is understandable, and suggested that gravel roads are best left to fill the routes of one-day races such as Strade Bianche and the Paris Tour He suggested that it might be best to keep gravel roads to fill one-day race routes such as Strade Bianche and Paris-Tour.

"I think I understand them perfectly," he said.

"Any place where there's a chance of a puncture could make a huge difference, a time difference. It can change the race like cobblestones can."

"I think to ultimately win a Grand Tour you have to be a rider who can do it all. If you get a flat tire, or your bike breaks, or you crash, you can't do anything that day. But in a Grand Tour, it could ruin three weeks of racing.

Schmid's view was a nuanced one, addressing the pros and cons of including gravel roads and cobblestones in the Grand Tour, but with the Tour de France set to visit the cobblestones of Paris-Roubaix this July, this debate is not going away anytime soon.

At least Schmid himself says he enjoys racing on gravel, no matter what the race. He returns to Quick Step Alfavinil on Saturday with Alaphilippe, Caspar Asgreen, Pieter Serry, Louis Verweke, Mikel Honoré, and Dries Devenyns, looking to recapture the title he also won in 2014 and 2015.

"It certainly feels really good to be back here in Strade. 'It's one of my favorite races of the year. I enjoyed it last year and I enjoyed it in the Giro as well. I enjoyed it last year and I felt the same way in the Giro. It's kind of strange to be back on this road, but I think I'll really enjoy Saturday."

"I just love it. I think some days I like gravel and some days I don't like it. The race stays open, but I've really enjoyed it so far.

Schmidt and his teammates' main goal is to beat last year's runner-up, world champion Alaphilippe, but he added that if the changeable nature of the race drives him into contention, he could see himself taking a chance.

"I think the main goal is to get good results with the team," he said. Julien and I are one of the best opponents on the team, and my main goal is to win this race and to get a good result with him. My main goal is to win this race and to get a good result with Julien, and my main goal is to work as hard as I can and support him. [But at Strade, you always have to have Option B ready, because a lot of things can happen, like crashes and punctures. [But the main goal is to support Julien. 0]

The race's 184-km route has 11 stellato sections and countless hills lying between it and the finish line at the Piazza del Campo in Siena.

Schmidt singled out the 11.5 km Monte Sante Marie Stellato section in particular as a section of interest.

"I think Monte Sante Marie will be the main sector where the biggest splits and the biggest attacks will happen," he said. 'I think if some good riders go, you need to be in a good position to cover their moves. [The sectors are] really compact and pretty dry. The wind will also play a big role. The wind could split early in the race."

"I think the last spurt after Sainte Marie will be a bit more controlled because the wind is blowing and it will be difficult to attack alone or in a small group. So it could be a long race with a favored group."

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