Wout van Aert satisfied after brutal Strade Bianche test in 'race for second place'
Wout van Aert leaves Siena with mixed emotions but also with reassurance. After injury and illness disrupted his winter, the Belgian saw the Strade Bianche as an important benchmark. A tenth place finish confirmed he is moving in the right direction, even if the very best were still out of reach.
Van Aert rode attentively for most of the race but could not follow the decisive acceleration when the strongest riders made their move. Still, he left Tuscany convinced that his form is moving in the right direction.
“That has to be the case,” he said afterwards to Sporza. “I rode the race that I had in my legs.”
The race exploded on the Monte Sante Marie, the long gravel sector that often shapes the outcome of Strade Bianche. When the pace surged there, the front group split apart and several favourites moved clear. Van Aert felt he was just short of joining them.
“It was extremely hard,” he said. “I am still missing something, but not that much to be in the group behind Pogačar. I am satisfied with that.”
Van Aert admitted he had hoped to stay with the leading group a little longer, but he also accepted that the moment of truth came in a fair way.
“Of course I wanted more, but the selection on the Monte Sante Marie was very fair,” he said. “I still need to take one more step to be there with that group.”
Once Tadej Pogačar accelerated, the race quickly developed into a fight for the places behind him. The Slovenian once again proved untouchable on the Tuscan gravel roads and the Visma | Lease a Bike rider could only admire the performance.
“Words fail you,” he said. “You expect it in a way, but he proves it again every time.”
According to the 31-year-old Belgian, Pogačar’s presence changes the dynamic of the race almost immediately. “You notice that the race suddenly becomes about second place. He forces that situation as well. Yes… impressive again.”
For Van Aert, however, the main objective of the day was to measure his condition after a disrupted preparation. In that sense, the race provided encouragement, even if the result itself was not what he ultimately hopes for in the coming weeks.
The Belgian now turns his attention to Tirreno-Adriatico next week, where he plans to continue building his form ahead of the big Spring Classics. “We have started,” he concluded with a wink.
Result: Strade Bianche 2026
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