Wout van Aert missing 'last percentage points' at Strade Bianche

SIENA ITALY MARCH 06 Mathieu Van Der Poel of Netherlands and Team Alpecin-Fenix Quinn Simmons of United States and Team Trek Segafredo Wout Van Aert of Belgium and Team Jumbo Visma Julian Alaphilippe of France and Team Deceuninck QuickStep during the Eroica 15th Strade Bianche 2021 Mens Elite a 184km race from Siena to Siena Piazza del Campo Breakaway Gravel Strokes Dust StradeBianche on March 06 2021 in Siena Italy Photo by Tim de WaeleGetty Images
Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) rides between Julian Alaphilippe and Quinn Simmons in final 25km of 2021 Strade Bianche (Image credit: Getty Images Sport)

Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) reputedly produced prodigious numbers during his recent training camp at Mount Teide but he acknowledged that he was still a percentage point or two short of his best after he placed fourth at the 2021 Strade Bianche.

The Belgian had never finished off the podium in his previous three outings at Strade Bianche, and he lined up on Saturday as the defending champion. 

Barry Ryan
Head of Features

Barry Ryan was Head of Features at Cyclingnews. He has covered professional cycling since 2010, reporting from the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and events from Argentina to Japan. His writing has appeared in The Independent, Procycling and Cycling Plus. He is the author of The Ascent: Sean Kelly, Stephen Roche and the Rise of Irish Cycling’s Golden Generation, published by Gill Books.