Everything is perfect at Piazza del Campo and Van Aert is ready to experience once again that race which carries with it the most beautiful memories of his career. The Belgian speaks of Siena and cites the names of the gravel sectors in perfect Italian, "Monte Sante Marie, Buonconvento, Tolfe. Because I love Italy, I've come here many times on vacation". Italy and professional road cycling discovered him precisely at the 2018 Strade Bianche, wearing the Crelan jersey, third on his debut, covered in dirt but happy on the ground of Piazza del Campo: this is where his professional career began after three consecutive cyclocross World Championships. Happy as in 2020 when he dropped everyone and triumphed, or in the Siena stage of the 2025 Giro, where he left no chance to Del Toro in the finale, for a tearful victory that brought him out of the tunnel.

"How are things? Good, very good. It's a step forward to be here, because I'm still looking for some answers – explains Wout Van Aert, 31 years old, leader of Visma-Lease a Bike - Coming back here to Siena is always special, it's always "cool". I decided to do this race myself, because it's a place with so many memories and besides, it's such a beautiful region". Van Aert hasn't raced Strade Bianche since 2021, when he finished fourth, and the course has changed slightly since then: "I tested it during the reconnaissance. This was a very hard race in the past and now I found it even harder, perhaps too hard. Here the strongest men always win, and tomorrow will be no different. As for the gravel, it's epic, beautiful, as always. There's been some rain over the last week and I didn't find it dusty, I liked it. I'd say the conditions will be perfect, this is a course that suits me".

Van Aert will race alongside Californian Matteo Jorgenson, but it's clear that all eyes will be on him and on the battle with Pogacar and Del Toro. "With Matteo we'll try to help each other. From Montalcino onwards, every gravel sector is crucial, and at Monte Sante Marie the attacks will start flying. I'm aiming to deliver my best possible performance".