Wout van Aert Wins Stage 3, Keeps Red Jersey at Vuelta

Belgium’s Wout van Aert retained his overall lead at the Vuelta a España with a strong sprint finish to win stage three on Monday. Van Aert, representing Visma-Lease a Bike clinched victory on the 191.2km route from Lousa to Castelo Branco in Portugal. This win came as revenge against Australian rider Kaden Groves, who had bested him in stage two a day earlier.

Notably, Van Aert’s triumph not only marked his first win since February but also his 10th stage victory at a Grand Tour. He managed to hold off Groves, who finished second, and Spanish rider Jon Aberasturi from Euskaltel-Euskadi, who took third place. In his post-race comments, Van Aert expressed satisfaction with his performance, emphasizing that his patience and early sprint, launched before the final 200 meters, proved effective.

Additionally, he praised his team for their excellent control throughout the race and the perfect positioning that allowed him to secure the win. Looking ahead to stage four, Van Aert will shift focus from leading to supporting roles. Specifically, he will assist his Visma team-mate and defending Vuelta champion, Sepp Kuss who trails Van Aert by one minute and six seconds in the general classification.

Meanwhile, race favorite Primoz Roglic, who is seeking his fourth Vuelta title is currently 30 seconds behind Van Aert. Consequently, the upcoming stages will be crucial as Van Aert transitions to a supportive role while Kuss aims to close the gap.