Fabian Cancellara to have stretch of Strade Bianche named after him if he wins this weekend

Fabian Cancellara (Trek-Segafredo) could be the first rider to have a stretch of the famous white gravel roads of the Strade Bianche one-day Classic named after him...if he manages to take the win this coming Saturday.

It was confirmed to Cycling Weekly this week that Spartacus would indeed have his name forever attached to a section of the race if he becomes the first rider to win three editions.

Cancellara won two previous editions of the race in 2008 and 2012, and is looking for a third victory in his final year as a professional; though he'll face some stiff competition from a mix of Grand Tour contenders and Classics riders.

The race was only introduced to the calendar in 2007, with the inaugural edition being won by Russian Alexander Kolobnev, but has already established it as a favourite on the calendar because of its mix of climbs, gravel roads and scenery.

But it's not just Cancellara, the only rider to have won two editions so far, who's eligible for a bit of gravel to be named in their honour.

Any rider who goes on to win three editions of the race will get the same treatment, and while it's not quite a hairpin on Alpe d'Huez, it's still a pretty good statement of your career to have to look back on when you retire.