Van Aert triumphs at Strade Bianche

Wout Van Aert proved his class as he took victory in the 2020 Strade Bianche – 184 km with a start and arrive in Siena – leaving his mark on the much-anticipated World Tour cycling comeback. On Saturday August 1st, 2020, the Team Jumbo-Visma rider beat Davide Formolo and Maximilian Schachmann, dropping the hammer on the fellow leaders 12 km from the line. Van Aert dug deep on the gravel ascents and threw himself into the descents in the final 10km, with his advantage over the chasers fluttering between 10 and 15 seconds. Formolo and Schachmann saw their chances fade inside the last 5km and Van Aert raised his hand on the iconic finish line in Piazza del Campo.

“I think the victory in the Tour de France was really big, but Strade Bianche is one of the greatest one-day races on the calendar. I really feel in love with this race two years ago and it was my goal to win. I’m 25 and I’ve already done it. I’m really happy” said Van Aert at the end of the race.

Wout Van Aert upgraded his two consecutive third-place finishes, restarting the 2020 road season in the best possible way. The Belgian cyclist rode his Oltre XR4 to his first road victory after the nasty crash in the Pau time trial at the 2019 Tour de France.

“If you get two third places in a row, of course you have confidence to come here. Today was one long day of suffering and nobody felt that great. The heat was exhausting but I really focussed on hydration and keeping cool and, in the end, I got something left” Van Aert said in the post-race interview.

Van Aert’s victory at Strade Bianche further confirmed the efficiency of the Bianchi CV system applied on the Oltre XR4. The Bianchi CV system cancels up to 80% of road vibration thanks to the use of a unique composite material integrated in Bianchi’s high-performance carbon frames and forks. Especially in races on uneven terrains like Strade Bianche, the advantages for the rider are more control, less muscle fatigue and, ultimately, more energy.