Alex MacQuoid
Van Aert Returns to the White Roads of Tuscany
Wout van Aert returns to Strade Bianche this Saturday for the first time since 2021. The Belgian powerhouse personally requested the race’s inclusion in his early season program after a multi-year absence from the iconic gravel event in Siena.
Speaking via Team Visma | Lease a Bike, Van Aert confirmed the deliberate shift in strategy.
“It’s been a while since I last lined up at the start of Strade Bianche. Together with the team, we decided to skip the race for a few seasons, but this year it’s back on the schedule at my request.”
Also read: How to Watch Strade Bianche 2026
A Proven Track Record on Gravel
The race profile aligns perfectly with Van Aert’s skill set. Despite only four career starts, he secured podium finishes in three of them. His palmares includes a 3rd place debut in 2018, another 3rd in 2019, and a dominant solo victory in 2020. During that winning run, he dropped his rivals on the dusty sectors before climbing the Via Santa Caterina to finish in the Piazza del Campo. His most recent appearance ended with a 13th place finish three years ago.
The technical demands of the sterrato sectors favor Van Aert, whose cyclocross expertise provides a distinct advantage during high-speed positioning battles and punchy climbs.
Navigating Fitness Concerns and Team Strategy
While the motivation is high, Van Aert enters the weekend with some uncertainty following a winter disrupted by injury and illness. He recently competed at Le Samyn but acknowledges he is not yet at peak condition.
“I’ll arrive at the start in Siena with more question marks than I had hoped. I had marked Strade Bianche as the first real big goal of the season, but we’ll have to see how I feel on Saturday.”
Also read: Strade Bianche 2026 Odds and Favorites
Team Visma | Lease a Bike carries multiple tactical options into the race. Matteo Jorgenson joins the roster after showing strong form in recent French events. Sports director Maarten Wynants noted that the chaotic nature of the white roads makes pre-race planning vital because communication from the team car is often restricted by the terrain.
Van Aert views the combination of Strade Bianche and Tirreno-Adriatico as essential conditioning for his primary spring objectives. Follow TipsGG for comprehensive cycling coverage and race results.