“Words fall short” - Wout van Aert can only admire another Tadej Pogacar masterclass at Strade Bianche

The latest edition of Strade Bianche produced another extraordinary display from Tadej Pogacar, and even his rivals were left struggling to find the words afterwards.

Among them was Wout van Aert, who could only admire the world champion’s long-range solo after finishing tenth on the Tuscan gravel roads.

Pogacar attacked with 78 kilometres remaining on the Monte Sante Marie sector before riding alone to Siena to win the race by one minute. It was yet another dominant performance from the Slovenian, who continues to shape the race in his own image with his trademark aggressive racing style.

Van Aert, meanwhile, was left reflecting on his own race after crossing the line just outside the top ten. “I’m super satisfied,” Van Aert said after the finish. “It was incredibly tough. I’m still missing something to be able to ride with the group behind Pogacar.”

Despite missing the decisive selection that formed behind Pogacar, Van Aert remained realistic about his performance in the race.

The Belgian admitted that while he would always hope for more, his current condition still leaves room for improvement as the spring Classics campaign begins to build momentum. “Of course, I always hope for more, but there’s definitely another step to take,” he explained.

For Van Aert, Strade Bianche marked another step in his gradual build-up toward the biggest objectives of the spring. “Now it’s Tirreno-Adriatico, then Milano-Sanremo. We’ve started.”

While Van Aert was focused on his own progress, the scale of Pogacar’s performance still left a strong impression on the Belgian rider.

The Slovenian’s move on Monte Sante Marie effectively decided the race with nearly 80 kilometres remaining, a distance that once again underlined the extraordinary level he can reach in one-day races.

For Van Aert, it was a performance that continues to redefine expectations in modern cycling. “Words fall short,” he said of Pogacar’s latest display. “By now you expect it from him, but he still has to prove it every single time.”