Van Aert believes Visma | Lease a Bike can fight for a top result at Strade — here’s the team around the Belgian

Van Aert knows what it takes to win Strade Bianche: he took victory in Siena in 2020. More recently, he also won the gravel stage into Siena at the 2025 Giro d’Italia. But with the likes of Tadej Pogačar expected at the start, another win on the Piazza del Campo will be a major challenge. Van Aert himself is cautious about where he stands, as he explained on the team’s website.

“I’ll arrive at the start in Siena with more question marks than I had hoped,” said Van Aert. “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. In any case, I’m highly motivated to show myself.”

Van Aert shares leadership duties in Strade with the in-form Jorgenson. The American rode a strong Ardèche weekend, finishing fourth and then second, and appears to have a clearer handle on his condition than his Belgian teammate. Visma also highlight Kielich as a rider who can handle the white roads well.

Also in the line-up are Tijmen Graat, Pietro Mattio, Tim Rex and Filippo Fiorelli. Sports director Maarten Wynants expressed confidence in the squad: “We can rely on a strong line-up. Several of our riders starting have a background in cyclocross or mountain biking. That’s definitely an advantage on a course like this.”

Wynants also emphasised preparation. “As with other races, meticulous preparation is essential here. Because of the chaos, it’s not easy to make adjustments from the team car, so it’s important to have a clear plan beforehand.” He concluded on an upbeat note: “We’re looking forward to it.”